10S SANSKRIT MATERIA MEN . 



NAT. ORDER. BERBERIDE/C. 



, BERBERIS ASIATICA AND OTHER SPECIES. 



Sans, ^mfctCT, B<rnih,ari<Irn. ^l^f, DdrvL 



Yern. Ddrtilialdi. 



I 



The wood, root-bark and extract of Indian Barberry have been 

 used in Hindu Medicine from a very remote period. Its properties 

 are said to be analogous to those of turmeric. The extract, called 

 Itasdnjana* in Sanskrit and rasot in the vernacular, is directed to 

 be prepared by boiling together equal parts of a decoction of 

 Indian barberry and milk, till reduced to the consistence of an 

 extract.t The extract thus prepared, is said to be particularly 



useful in affections of the eyes. Indian barberry and its extract 

 rami are regarded as alterative and deobstruent, and are used in 



skin diseases, menorrhagia, diarrhoea, jaundice and above all, i« 

 affections of the eyes. 



Easdnjanddi ckurna? or compound powder of rasot. Take of 

 ranot, dtis, the bark and seeds of Holarrhena antirfyscnterica, flower 

 of Woodfordia floribunda (dhdtahi) and ginger, in equal parts. 

 Powder and mix. Dose, about a drachm, with rice water 



i mduUmbu) and honey. This powder is said to be useful id 

 bilious diarrhoea. 





* Galena or the sulphide of lead ore is sometimes called "raSMnjana" in 

 Sanskrit and some physicians in Bengal nse the lead ore or "rasanjana," 

 whenever this term occurs in a prescription. In the Upper Provinces how- 

 ever, "rasanjana" is invariably translated rasot in the vernacular. This, no 

 doubt, is the correct practice. The mistake on the part of the Bengali 

 physicians, probably occurred from their not being acquainted with rasot, 

 which is the produce of plants indigenous to the Himalayan range. 



trc* fr<m ii 



1. wwt?* *4n ism „f„ w jgm ^ s ^ n , w vi 



