Regimen Of Diet

The patient should partake of fruits, edible roots, etc. which grow in his country and take cordials, Shadavas † Ragas ‡ and other palatable dishes which are congenial to his physical temperament and which he is accustomed to. He should also be made to take (articles of) different Rasas § in different ways and his food should be at the same time light, Ruksha and agreeable to his taste. 13.

The due applications of Asthapana-Vasti, purgatives and of light head-purgatives (errhines) arc efficacious in the disease under discussion. The drugs known as Tryushana, Rajani (D. R. - the two kinds of Rajani) and Tri-phala pounded together and mixed with powdered Yava-kshdra and honey, should be used as a tooth-powder in washing the mouth. Any other drugs of bitter and pungent taste may be likewise prescribed for the purpose. 14 - 15.

* According to Dallana the four lambatives should be used in cases of Vataja, Pittaja, Kaphaja and Tri-doshaja types of Arochaka respectively.

† "Shadava" - It is a preparation with a variety of articles of sweet, acid and saline tastes.

‡ "Raga" - It is a preparation of a cordial with sugar, Souvarchala-salt, Saindhava, turmeric, Parushaka, black-berry and mustard, etc.

§ Dallana interprets "Rasa" by meat-soup but we are inclined to take it in the sense of articles of different tastes (Rasa).

Use of Decoction, Arishta and Asava:

-Decoctions of the drugs of the Mustadi and Aragya* dhadi or Das'a-mula groups as well as the different lambatives with honey, the different Asavas prepared with any officinal urine and with treacle as well as the different Arishtas and the different Asavas prepared from any Kshara and resembling in scent, the wine prepared from honey, should be used in conquering an attack of Arochaka. The aforesaid measures should also be employed for the purpose of re-kindling the digestive fire (appetite) impaired through the action of deranged Vayu and Kapha. 16.

Treatment Of Manasa Arochaka

In a case of impaired digestion due to the effects of any ungratified desire, fear, grief, etc., the lost longing for food should be restored in the patient by holding out to him the near prospect of its realisation and by consoling him with the prospects of fresh joy and safety. In a case due to the loss of a splendid fortune, the bitter apathy and loathsomeness of the patient towards taking any food should be removed by infusing fresh hopes into his heart and by narrating to him the balmy stories of the Puranas. A case due to dejection or despondency should be conquered by sincere sympathy and cheering up. In short any impairment of appetite due to any disturbed or agitated state of the mind should be remedied with discourses gratifying to the patient under the circumstances. 17.

Thus ends the fifty-seventh chapter in the Uttara-Tantra of the Sus'ruta Samhita which deals with the (symptoms and) treatment of Arochaka.