The 10th chapter of Chikitsasthana of Sushruta Samhita is named as Mahākuştha Cikitsitam Adhyaya. This chapter deals with Treatment of Major Skin Diseases.
अथातोमहाकुष्ठचिकित्सितंव्याख्यास्यामः।।१।।
यथोवाचभगवान्धन्वन्तरिः।।२।।
We will now propound Mahākuştha Chikitsa – treatment of major leprosies, as revealed by the venerable Dhanvantari.
कुष्ठेषुमेहेषुकफामयेषुसर्वाङ्गशोफेषुचदारुणेषु।।
कृशत्वमिच्छत्सुचमेदुरेषुयोगानिमानग्र्यमतिर्विदध्यात्।।३।।
An intelligent physician should administer the following highly effective medicinal formulae in the treatment of the below mentioned conditions –
– kustha – leprosy / skin diseases
– meha – diabetes,
– kaphamaya – diseases of kapha origin,
– daruna sarvanga sopha – severe oedema of the entire body (dropsy)
– medureshu – in people who are overly obese individuals who are desirous of becoming thin
Mañtha kalpa – gruel from corn flour
क्षुण्णान्यवान्निष्पूतान्रात्रौगोमूत्रपर्युषितान्महतिकिलिङ्गेशोषयेत्,एवंसप्तरात्रंभावयेच्छोषयेच्च,ततस्तान्कपालभृष्टान्सक्तून्कारयित्वा,प्रातःप्रातरेवकुष्ठिनंप्रमेहिणंवासालसारादिकषायेणकण्टकिवृक्षकषायेणवापाययेद्भल्लातकप्र-
पुन्नाडावल्गुजार्कचित्रकविडङ्गमुस्तचूर्णचतुर्भागयुक्तान्;एवमेवसालसारादिकषा-
यपरिपीतानामारग्वधादिकषायपरिपीतानांवागवाश्वाशकृद्भूतानांवायवानां –
सक्तून्कारयित्वाभल्लातकादीनांचूर्णान्यावाप्यखदिरासननिम्बराजवृक्षरोही-
तकगुडूचीनामन्यतमस्यकषायेणशर्करामधुमधुरेणद्राक्षायुक्तेनदाडिमामल-
कवेतसाम्लेनसैन्धवलवणान्वितेनपाययेत्;एषसर्वमन्थकल्पः।।४।।
यावकांश्चभक्ष्यान्धानोलुम्बककुल्माषापूपपूर्णकोशोत्कारिकाशष्कुलिकाकुणावीप्रभृतीन्सेवेत;यवविधानेनगोधूमवेणुयवानुपयुञ्जीत।।५।।
The husk of Yava – barley is removed. The de-husked Yava is kept soaked in cow’s urine at night. In the next morning, the contents are filtered using a big basket made of bamboo reeds and the Yava is dried in shade.
The same process is repeated for seven consecutive days.
After seven days, this Yava is fried on a pan and later the fried barley is made into flour.
The powder of the below mentioned herbs should be prepared –
– Bhallataka,
– Prapunnada,
– Avalguja,
– Arka,
– Citraka,
– Vidanga and
– Musta
The flour of Yava prepared as explained above should be consumed mixed in the decoction of herbs belonging to Salasaradi Gana group of herbs or Kantaka Vrksas (trees having thorns such as Khadira, Badara etc). This recipe should be consumed after adding the powder of Bhallataka etc (mentioned above) taken in one fourth the quantity of Yava flour.
This recipe shall be consumed every morning by the patients suffering from kustha and prameha.
In the same manner, Yava can be consumed in the below mentioned forms –
Yava soaked in decoctions of herbs belonging to the Sālasāradi gana or Aragvadhädi gana should be consumed.
Yava fed to cows or horses and later obtained from their dungs and made into flour should be consumed.
Both the above mentioned recipes shall be mixed with one-fourth of the powder of Bhallataka etc herbs mentioned above. This should be consumed with Nimba, Rajavrksa, Rohita Saka, Guduci or similar such herbs after having added with sugar, honey or draksa – raisins or dadima – pomegranate, amalaka, amlavetasa and saindhava lavana – rock salt.
Thus, the preparation of mantha – gruel of flour has been described.
Below mentioned are the different forms in which Yava can be consumed –
– Bhakşya – snacks,
– Dhānā – fried dry corn,
– Ulumbaka – fried moist corn,
– Kulmāsa – steam cooked corn,
– Apūpa – cake fried in oil,
– Pūrnakośa – stuffed cake,
– Utkārika – pancake,
– Saskuli – corn paste fried in oil,
– Kuņavi – dry flakes of corn flour,
– Godhūma – wheat,
– Veņuyava – seeds of bamboo tree
They may also be used in the same manner as that of Yava described so far.
Arişta kalpana – fermented decoctions
अरिष्टानतोवक्ष्यामः- पूतीकचव्यचित्रकसुरदारुसारिवादन्तीत्रिवृत्रिकटुकानांप्रत्येकंषट्पलिकाभागाबदरकुडवस्त्रिफलाकुडवइत्येतेषांचूर्णानि,ततःपिप्पलीमधुघृतैरन्तःप्रलिप्तेघृतभाजनेप्राक्कृतसंस्कारेसप्तोदककुडवानयोरजो-ऽर्धकुडवमर्धतुलांचगुडस्याभिहितानिचूर्णान्यावाप्यस्वनुगुप्तंकृत्वांयवपल्लेसप्तरात्रंवासयेत्,ततोयथाबलमुपयुञ्जीत,एषोऽरिष्टःकुष्ठमेहमेदःपाण्डुरोगश्वयथूनपहन्ति।एवंशालसारादौन्यग्रोधादावारग्वधादौचारिष्टान्कुर्वीत।।६।।
Next, the preparation of Arista i.e. fermented decoction will be described.
Each of the below mentioned ingredients are taken in six pala (240 grams) quantity –
– Pūtīka,
– Cavya,
– Citraka,
– Suradāru,
– Sāriva,
– Dañti,
– Trivrt, and
– Trikațu
Each of the below mentioned are taken in one kudava (160 grams) quantity –
– Badara
– Triphala
The powders of all the above said ingredients are prepared.
This powder is added to seven kudava (1120 grams) of water. Half Kudava (80 grams) of Ayo Raja (iron fillings or ash of iron) and half Tula (2 kg) of guda (treacle / jaggery) are also added to it. All ingredients are mixed well and filled into a big jar whose inside is smeared with paste of Pippali – long pepper, honey and ghee.
This pot is kept hidden in a heap of barley husk for a period of seven days and left in place. After seven days, the pot is taken out and the contents are filtered. The liquid obtained from this is used according to the strength of the person. This preparation i.e. Arista, which is a fermented decoction, is called by the name Pindarista by Acharya Dalhana.
Benefits – Pindarista cures the below mentioned conditions –
– skin diseases / leprosy
– diabetes,
– obesity,
– anaemia and
– dropsy
In the same manner, arista may be prepared from the herbs belonging to the below mentioned groups also –
– Sālasārādi gana,
– Nyagrodhādi gana and
– Aragvadhädi gaņa
Āsava kalpana – fermented infusions
आसवानतोवक्ष्यामः- पलाशभस्मपरिनुतस्योष्णोदकस्यशीतीभूतस्यत्रयोभागाद्वौफाणितस्यैकध्यमरिष्टकल्पेनविदध्यात्,एवंतिलादीनांक्षारेषु;शालसारादौन्यग्रोधादावारग्वधादौमूत्रेषुचासवान्विदध्यात्।।७।।
Now, Asavas will be described.
The ash of Palasa is made into a solution with hot water. The hot solution is then cooled. To three parts of this Palasa solution is added two parts of phanita (molasses / half cooked juice of sugarcane) and all are mixed well. The mixture is processed in the same way as explained in the method of preparing arista (described above). This is the method of preparing the asava which may be used later.
Following the same method, asava may be prepared from ash of tila etc., herbs belonging to Salasaradi, Nyagrodhadi or Aragvadhadi Gana group of herbs and urines of animals.
Surā kalpana – preparing beer
अथसुरावक्ष्यामः – शिंशपाखदिरयोःसारमादायोत्पाट्यचोत्तमारणीब्राह्मीको-
शवतीस्तत्सर्वमेकतःकषायकल्पेनविपाच्योदकमाददीतमण्डोदकार्थ,किण्वपिष्ट-मभिषुणुयाच्चयथोक्तम्।एवंसुराःशालसारादौन्यग्रोधादावारग्वधादौचविद्ध्यात्।।८।।
Now, the preparation of sura – beer will be explained.
The Pith (heart wood) of Simsipa and Khadira are taken and cut into small pieces. Uttamarani, Brahmi and Kosavati are added to this. Decoction of these ingredients is prepared by boiling all these ingredients together. The supernatant fluid of the decoction is separated out and taken.
Kinva – yeast and Pista – flour of corn like barley, wheat, rice etc are added to this fluid (described above). All these are filled into a big pot and the pot should be kept undisturbed for fermentation.
This is the method of preparing sura – beer from herbs belonging to Sālasāradi, Nyagrodhādi and Aragvadhādi gana.
Avaleha kalpana – preparing confections
अतोऽवलेहान्वक्ष्यामःखदिरासननिम्बराजवृक्षशालसारक्वाथेतत्सारपिण्डाञ्छ्लक्ष्णपिष्टान्प्रक्षिप्यविपचेत्,ततोनातिद्रवंनातिसान्द्रमवतार्यतस्यपाणितलंपूर्णमप्रातराशोमधुमिश्रंलिह्यात्;एवंशालसारादौन्यग्रोधादावारग्वधादौचलेहान्कारयेत्।।९।।
Now, the preparation of Avaleha i.e. confection will be described.
Decoction is prepared with the below mentioned ingredients –
– Khadira
– Asana
– Nimba
– Rajavrksa and
– Salasaradi Gana group of herbs
A nice paste of the same herbs is added to the above mentioned decoction. The contents are cooked till the mass attains a consistency which is neither very liquid nor very solid. Then, it is removed from the oven.
This paste is licked in a dose of panitala (1 karsa = 10 grams), mixing it with honey, without taking breakfast i.e. on empty stomach, early in the morning.
Avaleha may also be prepared in a similar manner from the herbs belonging to Salasārādi, Nyagrodhāi and Aragvadhādi gana.
Curna Kalpana – preparation of powders
अतश्चूर्णक्रियांवक्ष्यामः – शालसारादीनांसारचूर्णप्रस्थमाहृत्यारग्वधादिकषायपरि -पीतमनेकशःशालसारादिकषायेणैवपाययेत्;एवंन्यग्रोधादीनांफलेषु,पुष्पेष्वारग्वधादीनांचूर्णक्रियांकारयेत्।।१०।।
Now, the preparation of curna – powders will be described.
Thick decoction is prepared with herbs belonging to Sālasārādi gaņa group of herbs. This thick decoction is then covered into powder.
One prastha i.e. 640 grams of this powder is soaked many times in the decoction prepared with herbs belonging to Aragvadhādi gana.
This powder should be consumed by the patient with the decoction prepared from the herbs belonging to Sālasārādigaņa itself.
Similarly, powder may be made from any of the below mentioned and used –
– fruits of herbs belonging to Nyagrodhādi gana and
– flower of herbs belonging to Aragvadhādi gana
Ayaskrti – preparation of formulae of iron
अतऊर्ध्वमयस्कृतीर्वक्ष्यामः – तीक्ष्णलोहपत्राणितनूनिलवणवर्गप्रदिग्धानिगोमयाग्निप्रतप्तानित्रिफलाशालसारादिकषायेणनिर्वापयेत्षोडशवारान्,ततःखदिराङ्गारतप्तान्युपशान्ततापानिसूक्ष्मचूर्णानिकारयेद्धनतान्तवपरित्रावितानि,ततोयथाबलंमात्रांसर्पिर्मधुभ्यांसंसृज्योपयुञ्जीत,जीर्णेयथाव्याध्यनम्लमलवणमाहारंकुर्वीत,एवंतुलामुपयुज्यकुष्ठमेहमेदःश्वयथुपाण्डुरोगोन्मादापस्मारानपहत्यवर्षशतंजीवति,तुलायांतुलायांवर्षशतमुत्कर्षः,एतेनसर्वलौहेष्वयस्कृतयोव्याख्याताः।।११।।
Now we will describe Ayaskrti – formulae of iron
Paste of Lavana Varga – a group of salts is smeared over the thin sheets of Tiksna Loha – magnetic iron. These sheets are then heated in the fire of cow dung heaps. Later these heated iron sheets are immersed in decoction of Triphala and herbs belonging to Salasaradi Gana for sixteen times.
The sheets are later heated in burning coal of Khadira – Acacia catechu tree. They are made into powder once they get cooled and later filtered through a thick cloth.
This nice powder should be mixed in ghee and honey taken in suitable doses and licked. The recipe should be taken in accordance with the strength of the body (of the patient or person consuming it) Foods appropriate to the disease should be consumed without the addition of sours and salt, after the medicine has been digested.
Dose and Benefits –
In this manner, one should consume one tula (4kg) of this powder in total.
This recipe would cure the below mentioned diseases –
– skin diseases / leprosy
– diabetes,
– obesity
– dropsy
– anaemia,
– insanity and
– epilepsy
It would also bestow a lifespan of a hundred years.
Year after year, the dose of the powder should be increased by one tula.
Thus, the method of preparing and using Ayaskriti from all the metals has been described.
Auşadha ayaskrti
त्रिवृच्यामाशिमन्थसप्तलाकेबुकशङिनीतिल्वकत्रिफलापलाशशिंशपानांस्वरसमादायपालाश्यांद्रोण्यामभ्यासिच्यखदिराङ्गारतप्तमयःपिण्डत्रिसप्तकृत्वोनिर्वाप्यतमादायपुनरासिच्यस्थाल्यांगोमयाशिनाविपचेत्,ततशतुर्थभागावशिष्टमवतार्यपरित्राव्यभूयोऽशितप्ताययःपत्राणिप्रक्षिपेत्,सिध्यतिचास्मिन्पिप्पल्यादिचूर्णभागंद्वौमधुनस्तावद्धृतस्वोतिदद्यात्,ततःप्रशान्तमायसेपात्रेस्वनुगुप्तंनिदध्यात्,ततोयथायोगंशुक्तिंप्रकुञ्झंखोपयुझौत,जीणेयथाव्याध्याहारमुपसेवेत।एषौषधायस्कृतिरसाध्यंकुष्ठंप्रमेहंवासाधयति,स्थूलमपकर्षति,शोफमुपहन्ति,सन्नमनिमुद्धरति,विशेषेणचोपदिश्यतेराजयक्ष्मिणां।वर्षशतायुधानयापुरुषोभवति।शालसारादिक्वाथमासिच्यपालाश्यांद्रोण्यामयोघनांस्तप्तानिर्वाप्यकृतसंस्कारेकलशेऽभ्यासिच्यपिप्पल्यादिचूर्णभागंक्षौद्रंगुटमितिचदत्त्वास्वनुगुप्तंनिदध्यात्,एतांमहौषधायस्कृतिंमासमर्धमासंवास्थितांयथाबलमुपयुञ्जीत।एवंन्यग्रोधादावारेवतादिषुचविदध्यात्।।१२।।
A big pot should be prepared from the wood of the Palasa tree.
Fresh juice (deoction) of the below mentioned ingredients should be prepared and poured into this pot –
– Trivrt,
– Syāma,
– Agnimañtha,
– Saptalā,
– Kebuka,
– Sankhini,
– Tilvaka,
– Triphalā,
– Palāśa and
– Simsipa
Balls or sheets of iron are made red hot in the burning coal of the wood of Khadira – Acacia catechu tree. These heated balls / sheets are immersed in the juice / decoction (prepared as above) for seven times.
After this, the same balls / sheets are heated in the fire of dry cow dung heaps and immersed in the same juice / decoction.
Finally, when only one fourth part of the juice remains, it should be filtered. The iron sheets are taken out and heated well for many times. Later they are made into powder.
The below mentioned are thoroughly mixed and filled into an iron vessel –
– one part of the powder (prepared as explained above)
– two parts of the powder of herbs belonging to Pippalyadi Gana and
– equal quantity of honey and ghee
The iron vessel filled with the mentioned ingredients should now be hidden in a heap of husk for some days.
Afterwards the medicine is taken out.
Dose – The medicine should be used daily in the dose of either one sukti (20 gms) or one prakunca (40 gms). It should be taken according to one’s strength.
Foods suitable to the diseases should be consumed after the medicine gets digested.
Benefits – This Aushadha Ayaskriti cures the below mentioned diseases –
– skin diseases / leprosy
– diabetes,
Other benefits –
– it makes obese persons thin,
– mitigates dropsy
– augments digestive fire
– specially advocated for pulmonary tuberculosis patients
– bestows longevity of one hundred years
Mahāaușadha ayaskrti
Red hot iron balls / sheets are immersed many times into the pot of Palasa wood in which the decoction prepared from herbs belonging to Salasaradi Gana has been filled.
The prepared liquid (decoction) is now put into a pot whose inside has been smeared with ghee. To this are added one fourth of powder of herbs of Pippalyadi Gana, honey and jaggery. The pot is now closed and kept concealed for a period of one month or one and half months. This recipe is known by the name Mahausadha Ayaskriti.
Benefits – This recipe may be consumed according to one’s strength.
Similarly the recipes may be prepared from herbs belonging to Nyagrodhadi gana and Arevatädi gana.
Khadira särakalpa – formula from khadira
अतःखदिरविधानमुपदेश्यामः – प्रशस्तदेशजातमनुपहतंमध्यमवयसंखदिरंपरितःखानयित्वातस्यमध्यमंमूलंछित्त्वाऽयोमयंकुम्भंतस्मिन्नन्तरेनिदध्याद्यथारसग्रहणसमर्थोभवति,ततस्तंगोमयमदाऽवलिप्तमवकीर्येन्धनैर्गोमयभित्रैरादीपयेद्यथाऽस्यदह्यमानस्यरस:खवत्यधस्तात्,तद्यदाजानीयात्पूर्णभाजनमिति,अथैनमुद्धृत्यपरिस्राव्यरसमन्यस्मिन्पानेनिधायानुगुप्तंनिदध्यात्,ततोयथायोगंमात्रामामलकरसमधुसर्पिभिःसंसृज्योपयुञ्जीत,जीर्णेभल्लातकविधानवदाहार:परिहारश्च,प्रस्थेचोपयुक्तेशतंवर्षाणामायुषोऽभिवृद्धिर्भवति।खदिरसारतुलामुदकद्रोणेविपाच्यषोडशांशावशिष्टमवतार्यानुगुप्तंनिदध्यात्,तमामलकरसमधुसपिभिःसंस्ज्योपयुञ्जीत।एषएवसर्ववृक्षसारेषुकल्पः।खदिरसारचूर्णतुलांखदिरसारक्वाथमात्रांवाप्रातःप्रातरूपसेवेत,खदिरसारक्वाथसिद्धमाविकंवासर्पिः।।१३।।
A Khadira – Acacia catechu tree which has been grown in an auspicious place should be selected. This tree should not have been eaten away by the worms.
One should dig a pit around the tree so as to reach its central root. This central root is now cut. Beneath the cut root of Khadira, an iron vessel should be placed. The juice coming out of the cut root would collect in the pot / iron vessel.
After this, the root of Khadira is coated with a paste of crow dung and mud. It is later heated by fire of dry cow dung heaps.
The pot is taken out once it gets filled with the juice coming from the root. The liquid / juice is now transferred to another vessel and kept concealed.
Afterwards, this liquid is mixed with suitable quantities of Amalaka – Emblica officinalis fruit juice, honey and ghee. This recipe is consumed in appropriate doses.
Foods and activities should be advised to be followed as explained for Bhallataka recipes. One prastha (640 grams) of this juice when consumed would bestow longevity of one hundred years (enhances lifespan by hundred years).
Alternatively, one tula (4kg) of Khadira wood should be boiled in one drona (10.24kg) of water. It is reduced to one sixteenth part so as to prepare its decoction. This decoction is put into a pot and kept concealed for some days. Later, it is consumed after mixing amalaka juice, honey and ghee with it.
In this method, sara – the essence of all the trees – should be prepared.
Every morning, one tula powder of Khadira or the decoction of the same should be consumed in suitable doses.
Also, sheep’s ghee prepared from sheep milk should be boiled with Khadira decoction and consumed.
Amrtavalli yoga
अमृतवल्लीस्वरसंक्वाथंवाप्रातःप्रातरूपसेवेत,तत्सिद्धंवासर्पिः,अपराणेससर्पिष्कमोदनमामलकयूषेणभुञ्जीत;एवंमासमुपयुज्यसर्वकुष्ठैर्विमुच्यतइति।।१४।।
Similarly, one among the below mentioned recipes should be consumed every morning –
– fresh juice of amrtavallī / gudūci – Tinospora cordifolia or
– fresh decoction of guduci or
– ghee boiled with guduci
The person should consume boiled rice with ghee along with soup prepared from Amalaka in the afternoon.
If these recipes are used in recommended form for one month, the person becomes free of all varieties of kustha.
Miśrakasneha
कृष्णतिलभल्लातकतैलामलकरससर्पिषांद्रोणंशालसारादिकषायस्यच,त्रिफलात्रकटुकपरूषफलमज्जविडङ्गफलसारचित्रार्कावल्गुजहरिद्राद्वयत्रिवृदन्तीद्रवन्तीन्द्रयवयष्टीमधुकातिविषारसाञ्जनप्रियङ्गणांपालिकाभागास्तानैकध्यंस्नेहपाकविधानेनपचेत्,तत्साधुसिद्धमवतार्यपरिस्राव्यानुगुप्तंनिदध्यात्,ततउपसंस्कृतशरीरःप्रातःप्रातरुत्थायपाणिशुक्तिमानंक्षौद्रेणप्रतिसंसृज्योपयुञ्जीत,जीर्णेमुद्गामलकयूषणालवणेनसर्पिष्मन्तंखदिरोदकसिद्धंमृद्रोदनमशीयात्खदिरोदकसेवी,इत्येवंद्रोणमुपयुज्यसर्वकुष्ठैर्विमुक्तःशुद्धतनुःस्मृतिमान्वर्षशतायुररोगोभवति।।१५।।
Below mentioned ingredients all together should be taken in a quantity of one drona (10.24 kg) –
– oils of krsnatila and bhallataka,
– juice of amalaka,
– ghrta (ghee) and
– decoction of herbs belonging to salasaradi gana
Paste of one pala each of the below mentioned ingredients should also be taken –
– tripahalā,
– trikatu,
– parūsaka
– phalamajja,
– vidanga phalasära,
– citraka,
– arka,
– avalgujā,
– two haridrā,
– trivịt,
– dañtī,
– dravañtī,
– iñdrayava,
– yastimadhuka,
– ativiņā,
– rasāñjana and
– priyañgu
All these should be cooked together and medicated ghee prepared. This recipe is known by the name Misraka Sneha.
This preparation is put into a vessel and kept concealed for some days.
The patient / person who has been subjected to purificatory therapies and his body prepared, should consume this medicine.
Does – This sneha should be taken in a dose of one panisukti (20 grams) added with honey. It should be taken every morning.
After the medicine gets digested, he can consume soft boiled rice. This rice should have been prepared from the decoction of khadira. It should be taken along with ghee and soup of mudga – green gram and amalaka – Emblica officinalis without adding salt. Following this, one should drink water boiled with khadira.
When consumed in one drona (10.24 kg) quantity in this manner, this sneha would cure all kinds of kustha. It purifies the body, bestows good memory and longevity of a hundred disease free years.
भवतिचात्र
One verse here
सुरामन्थासवारिष्टांल्लेहांश्चूर्णान्ययस्कृतीः।।
सहस्रशोऽपिकुर्वीतबीजेनानेनबुद्धिमान्।।१६।।
An intelligent physician can prepare hundreds of sura, mantha, asava, arista, leha, curna and ayaskriti from many herbs taking the guidelines and following the brief description of the same recipes made so far.
इतिसुश्रुतसंहितायांचिकित्सास्थानेमहाकुष्ठचिकित्सितंनामदशमोऽध्यायः।।१०।।
Thus ends the tenth chapter by name Mahākuştha Cikitsita in Cikitsā Sthāna of Susruta Samhita.
