% 



OPHELIA CHIRATA, 201 



STRYCHNOS POTATORUM, Linn fiL 



Sam. mt% KataJea, wgmt, Ambuprasdda. Vem. Ntrmali, B. 



The use of these seeds for the purpose of clearing muddy 

 water is as old as Susruta, who mentions it in his chapter on 

 water. Medicinally it is ohiefly used as a local application in 

 eye-diseases. The seeds are rubbed with honey and a little 

 oamphor, and the mixture applied to the eyes in laohrymation or 

 oopious watery disoharge from them. Rubbed with water and 

 rook salt they are applied to ohemosis in the oonjunotiva. They 

 enter also into the composition of several complex preparations 

 for ulcer of the cornea, etc. 1 



i 



NAT, ORDER GENTIANACE/E. 



OPHELIA CHIRATA, Grisebach. 



Syn. Gentiana Chirayita, Boxb. 





Sans. faiMfaw, Kircitatikta, ^nsf, Bhunimba. 



Vem. Chiret&f Beng. Hind. 



In* 



The Ophelia Chirata is indigenous to the "mountainous regions 

 of Northern India from Simla through Kumaon to the Morung 

 district in South Eastern Nepal." Its Sanskrit name hiratatiJcta, 

 means "the bitter plant of the Kiratas, an outcast race of moun- 

 taineers in the north of India." It is also called Andryatikta or 



in Nepal, and describes it as a febrifuge. 



Bhavaprak 

 ipdla, that 



Chiretd is regarded as tonic, febrifuge and ! 



worms 



etc. It is much used in fevers of all sorts in a variety of forms 

 and in combination with other medicines of its class. The follow* 

 mg are a few illustrations. Take of chiretd, gulancha, raisins, 

 emblio mjrobalan and zedoary root, equal parts and prepare a 



*« *nr: ^Hh»r ^hpw: mm\ tta^r wr i fafl4i<M$«i1 *r whm*i«j1 11 



*wt:i 



26 



