Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra

by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna | 1916 | 113,078 words

This current book, the Uttara-tantra (english translation) is the supplementary part of the Sushrutasamhita and deals various subjects such as diseases of the eye, treatment of fever, diarrhea, diseases resulting from superhuman influences, insanity, rules of health etc. The Sushruta Samhita is the most representative work of the Hindu system of m...

Chapter XXIII - Therapeutics of nasal diseases

Now we shall discourse on the chapter which deals with the therapeutics of nasal diseases (Nasa-gata-Roga-Pratishedha). 1.

Treatment of Apinasa and Puti-nasya:—

In cases of the first-mentioned disease (i.e., Apinasa) and in those of Puti-nasya, applications of Sneha and of Sveda to the affected part, and application of emetics and purgatives should be made. The diet should be light and moderate in quantity. The water for drinking should be boiled before use, and inhalation of smoke (Dhuma-pana) should be indulged in at the proper time. Hingu, Trikatu, Indra-Yava, Shivati[1], Lakska, Katphala, Vaca, Kushtha, Shobhanjana, Vidanga, and Karanja should be used daily with benefit in the manner of Avapida-Nasya. Mustard oil should be duly cooked with the aforesaid drugs together with cow’s urine and be used as an errhine (Nasya). 2–3.

Treatment of Nasa-paka, etc.:—

In cases of Nasa-paka, all the Pitta-subduing measures both for internal and external use should be duly employed. Barks of the Kshiri (milk-exuding) trees mixed with clarified butter should be duly employed as wash and plaster after a local bleeding. The medical treatment of Shonita-pitta (Hemorrhaege) from the nose shall be hereafter[2] described. A case of Puya-Rakta (discharge of bloody pus from the nose) should be treated as a case of sinus (Nadi)[3] for all practical purposes, and Avapida-nasya as well as inhalations of smoke (Dhuma) of keen-potencied drugs and Nasya (snuff or errhines) of drugs of correcting or purifying virtues should be used after the satisfactory exhibition of emetics. 4–5.

Treatment of Kshavatu and Bhramshathu:—

Powders of head-purgaing drugs in the form of snuff should be administered into the nostrils through a pipe in cases of Kshavathu and Bhramshathu. The head should be duly fomented with Vayu-subduing drugs and inhalation of Sneha-Dhuma[4] as well as similar other medicinal measures remedial to the deranged bodily Vayu should be resorted to. All the Pitta-subduing measures should be employed in a case of Dipta, and all cooling remedies and the drugs of sweet taste should also be prescribed. 6–7.

Treatment of Nasa-naha, etc.:—

The internal use of Sneha (Sneha-pana) forms the principal remedy in a case of Nasa-naha, in which fumigations with lardacious drugs as well as head-purgings may be likewise employed. The use of Bala-Taila or any other Vayu-subduing remedy mentioned in the chapter on the treatment of Vata-vyadhi (Ch. V. Chikitsita Sthana) may be similarly used with beneficial results. Powdered snuff should be introduced into the nostrils through a pipe or tube, and strong and keen Avapida-Nasya should be used in cases of Nasa-Srava. Strong fumes of (burnt) Deva-daru and Citraka should be applied to the affected part. Goat’s flesh is also found beneficial in such cases. 8–9.

Treatment of Nasa-Shosha:—

The use of clarified butter churned out of milk, as well as that of the oil as an errhine prepared in the manner of Anu-taila are pre-eminently the best cures in a case of Nasa-Shosha. Potions of clarified butter, meals with Jangala meat-soup, applications of Sneha and of Sveda, and fumigating the affected part with lardacious drugs may be similarly prescribed with best advantage. The remaining nasal diseases should be duly treated according to the specific treatment of each case as described before. 10–11.

 

Thus ends the twenty-third chapter of the Uttara-Tantra in the Sushruta Samhita which deals with the treatment of the diseases of the nose.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Śivāti may mean either white Punarnavā or Śephālikā. Neither Cakrapāni nor Vrinda reads it in the text.

[2]:

See ch. XLIV of the Uttara-Tantra.

[3]:

See ch. XIV of the Chikitsita-Sthāna.

[4]:

See ch. XVII of the Chikitsita-Sthāna.

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