THE 



MATERIA MEDICA 



OF THE HINDUS. 



/ 





Plants which during their growth are supported 



. INTRODUCTION. 



MATERIAL OBJECTS AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICINES. 



Charaka divides material objects into three classes, namely, 

 mineral, animal and vegetable. Minerals consist of gold, silver 

 and other metals; diamond, emerald and olher gems; realgar, 

 orpiment and other ores ; and the various sorts of earths. Vege- 

 tables are divided into four classes, namely, Vanaspati, Vn"ksha y 

 Virudh and Oshadhi. Those plants which produce fruits, without 

 first showing their flowers, are called Vanaspatu Plants which 

 produce fruits from flowers, which are known by their flowers and 

 fruits, and which wave small branches from their trunks, are 

 called Vrihsha. 



by other plants, like orchids are called Virudh, Pratunavatya or 

 Vallili. Lastly, those grasses, etc., which die after maturing their 

 fruits, are called Oshadhi. Animals are divided into four classes, 

 namely, Jarnyuja or mammalia, Andaja or oviparous, Svedaja or 

 those produced from animal excretions, as parasites, etc., and 

 Udbhijja or those produced under ground or from vegetable 

 matter, as for example Indragopa, a sort of red insect. 



All parts of vegetables may be used in medicine, namely, 



Root, as of Chitraka (Plumbago Zeylanica*) 



Under ground stem, as of Sarana (Amorphophallus campanulatus.) 



Leaves, as of V<'isaka ( Justicia Adhatoda. ) 



Fruits, as the three Myrobalans. 



Flowers, as of Dhdtaki ( Woodfordia floribunda. ) Malati eic. 



Extract, as Catechu, Opium, etc. y 



Bark, as of Kurclii ( Holarrhena antidytpuf erica. ) Asoka etc. 



Wood, as of Ddrvi ( Berberis Asiatica or aristata. ) Chandan 



(sandal) etc. 



Gum, as Myrrh, Assafcetida, etc. 



