Shodhana Plasters

A Kashaya † decoction) of Shankhini, Ankota, Sumanah, Karavira, and Suvarchchala, or of drugs belonging to the group (Ganas) known as the Aragvadadi-Varga, should be used in washing and purifying (asepsising) the contents of an ulcer, or a secreting swelling.

Shodhana Varti

A lint saturated with a plaster of Ajagandha, Ajashringi, Gavakshi, Langalahva-ya, Putika, Chitraka, Patha, Vidanga, Ela, Renuka, Tri-katu, Yavakshara, the five kinds of salt, Manahshila, * The plaster should be applied all round the swelling, leaving its head free and exposed.

† A decoction with one part of a drug mixed with four, eight or sixteen parts of water, the whole being boiled down to a quarter part of the entire quantity.

Kasisa, Trivrita, Danti, Haritala and the Saurashtra-mrittika, and inserted into an ulcer or an open swelling, brings about the purification of its interior, and these drugs and substances should be regarded as the ingredients of Shodhana Vartis (aseptic plugs).

Shodhana Kalka

A kalka (aseptic paste), composed of the preceding drugs and substances, is possesed of the virtue of purifying the interior of an ulcer, or open swelling.

Oil or clarified butter prepared with the aforesaid Ajagandha, Ajashringi, etc, and Kasisa, Katurohini, Jatikanda, and the two kinds of Haridra, and applied to an ulcer or open swelling, purifies its interior. The medicated Ghritam prepared with the expressed juice of Arka roots, Uttama, the milky juice of Snuhi plants, drugs abounding in alkalis, Jati-roots, the two kinds Haridra, Kasisa, Katurohini and the aforesaid plug-drugs (Sodhana-Varti) pasted together, should be regarded as possessed of a virtue similar to the preceding one.

A medicated oil prepared with Mayuraka, (Apang), Rajabriksha, Nimva, Koshataki, Tila, Vrihati, Kantakari, Haritala, Manahshila, and the aforesaid plug-drugs (purgative drugs according to others), should be used for the purpose of purifying the interior of an ulcer. A pulverised compound consisting of Kasisa, Saindhava, Kinva, Vacha, the two kinds of Haridra, and the component drugs of the aseptic plug powdered together, should be used for the purification of the cavity of an ulcer. For the same purpose a condensed extract (Rasa-Kriya) * should be made of the essence of the drugs belonging to the Salsaradi, Patoladi, and Triphaladi groups.

Dhupanam

A wise physician should fumigate (Dhupanam) an ulcer with the fumes of a compound consisting of Sriveshtaka, Sarjarasa, Sarala, Devadaru, and the drugs belonging to the Salsaradi group, pulverised together and made into an (aseptic) fumigating compound.

A cold infusion (Shhita-Shritam) of trees (Vata, Audumvara, Ashvattha, etc.) which are cooling and astringent in their virtue, should be used in healing or setting up a process of granulation in an ulcer.

The Ropana-Varti

Plugs of drugs such as Soma, Amrita (Gulancha), and Ashvagandha, or of those belonging to the Kakolyadi group, or of the sprouts of milk-exuding trees (Kshirivrikshas such as, Vata, Audumvara, etc.) and inserted into an ulcer tend to help its granulation (Ropana). A paste (Kalka) of Samanga, Soma, Sarala wood, Soma-Valka, (red)

* The process consists in mixing the drugs with water weighing eight or sixteen times their combined weight, and then boiling them down to an eighth or sixteenth part of the entire quantity.

Chandana, and drugs belonging to the Kakolyadi group, is recommended for the healing of an ulcer.

A medicated Ghritam, prepared with the Prithak-parni, Atmagupta, Haridra, Daruharidra, Malati, Sita, and drugs belonging to the Kakolyadi group, is renowned for its healing properties. A medicated oil prepared with Kalanusari, Aguru, Haridra, Daru-Haridra, Devadaru, Priyangu, and Lodhra, is possesed of a similar efficacy.

A pulverised compound consisting of Kanguka, Triphala, Lodhra, Kasisam, Shravana and the barks of Dhava and Ashvakarna powdered together, is possessed of a similar healing property. The use of a pulverised compound consisting of Priyangu, Sarjarasa, Pushpa-kasisa, Tvaka, and Dhava powdered together is commended for the healing of an ulcer. A condensed extract (Rasakriya) of the bark of milk-exuding trees (such as Vata, Ashvattha etc.) and the drugs known as the Triphala, should be successively used for the healing of an ulcer.

Utsadanam

The drugs known as Apamarga, Ashvagandha, Talapatri, Suvarchhala and those belonging to the Kakolyadi group, should be used for the growth of flesh in an ulcer (Utsadana).

Avasadanam

A compound consisting of Kasisa, Saindhava (rock salt), Kinvam, Kuruvinda, Manahshila, the shell of a hen's egg, the blossoms of Jati flowers, the seeds of .Shirisha, and Karanja, and powders of the abovesaid metals (Dhatus) mixed together, should be used in destroying the fleshy super-growths of an ulcer (Avasadanam).

A wise physician should use all the drugs and substances as have been enumerated in connection with the healing or establishing of suppuration, etc. in an ulcer, or as many of them as would be available at the time.

Thus ends the thirty-sixth Chapter of the Sutrasthanam in the Sushruta Samhita which treats of miscellaneous remedies for inflammatory swellings.