Jayapάla.

Kanakaphala

Vern. Jaypάl, Beng. Jamalgota, Hind.

The seeds of Croton Tiglium are considered heating, drastic, and useful in fever, constipation, intestinal worms, enlargements of the abdominal viscera, ascites, anasarca, etc. They are boiled in milk and their outer skin and embryo are removed before being used internally. Croton oil is not mentioned by any Sanskrit writer and was unknown to the ancient Hindus. Croton seeds enter into the composition of a great many medicines for the diseases mentioned above. The following are a few illustrations.

Ichchhάvedivatikά.2 Take of mercury, sulphur, borax and black pepper, one part each, ginger three parts, croton seeds nine parts; rub them together with water and make into two-grain pills. These are given in fever with constipation as also in ascites and anasarca.

Rukkesa rasa.3 Take of chebulic myrobalan five parts, croton seeds one part, soak them in the milky juice of Euphorbia neriifolia (snuhi), and make into four-grain pills. These are given with a decoction of the root of Ipomoea Turpethum (trivrit), or Balios-permum montanum (danti), as a drastic purgative in obstinate constipation.

Mahάnάrάcha rasa.1 Take chebulic myrobalan, pulp of Cassia Fistula, emblic myrobalan, root of Baliospermum montanum (danti), Picrorrhiza Kurroa (tikta), milky juice of Euphorbia neriifolia (snuhi), root of Ipomcea Turpethum (trivrit) and the tubers of Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), each one tolά; pound them to a coarse powder and boil in four seers of water till the latter is reduced to one-eighth. Then take a tola of husked croton seeds, tie them in a piece of thin cloth and boil them in the above mentioned decoction till the latter is reduced to the consistence of a fluid extract. To this extract add a powder composed of eight parts of purified croton seeds, three parts of ginger and two of black pepper, mercury and sulphur, in quantity sufficient to make a pill-mass; rub them together for twelve hours, and make into two-grain pills. These are given with cold water in tympanitis, colic, ascites, etc., as a drastic purgative. After the operation of this medicine, rice should be given with curdled milk and sugar.