Ghritakumάri,

Kanyά.

Vern. Ghritakumdri, Beng. Ghikumdri, Hind. Aloes (called mushabbar in the vernacular), though now used in native medicine, was unknown to the Sanskrit writers. They mention only the fresh juice of the leaves which is regarded as cathartic, cooling, tonic and useful in fevers, enlarged lymphatic glands,spleen and liver, eye diseases, etc. The fresh juice is much used in making up various sorts of pill-masses and more particularly those of a purgative character, as for example the preparation called Taruna jvararl rasa, described under Mercury (see page 32). In glandular enlargements and spleen disease, the juice of the leaves is given with the addition of powdered turmeric.1