Sans.

Guggulu. Vern. Guggul. Beng. Hind.

Guggulu or Indian bdellium is obtained by making incisions in the tree, through which the gum resin exudes. According to Sanskrit writers, new or recently exuded guggulu is moist, viscid, fragrant and of a golden colour. It burns in the fire, melts in the sun and forms a milky emulsion with hot water. Old guggulu is dry and without flavour or colour; it should not be used in medicine.

Guggulu is said to be demulcent, aperient, alterative and a purifier of the blood. It is used in rheumatism, nervous diseases, scrofulous affections, urinary disorders, and skin diseases. In rheumatism it is used in a great variety of forms. The following called Yogarάja guggulu is a favourite preparation.

Yogarάja guggulu.1 Take of plumbago root, long pepper root ajowan, seeds of Nigella sativa (kάlάjirά), baberang seeds, seeds of Carum Roxburghianum (ajamodά), cumin seeds, Pinus Deodara (devadaru), Chavica officinarum (chavya), cardamoms, rock salt, root of Aplotaxis auriculata (kushtha), root of Vanda Roxburghii (rasnά), fruits of Tribulus terrestris (gokshura), coriander, the three myrobalans, tubers of Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), long pepper, black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, root of Andropogon muricatus (usira), yavakshάra (impure carbonate of potash), leaves of Pinus Webbiana (talisapatra) and the leaves called tejapatra, one part each, in fine powder, bdellium in quantity, equal to all the above ingredients. Rub them together with clarified butter and preserve the preparation in an earthen pot smeared with clarified butter. Dose from a half to one tola. It is given in rheumatic affections and other diseases supposed to be caused by deranged air in unhealthy ulcerations, affections of the joints etc. Another preparation called Trayodasanga guggulu is similar in composition to the above. It is made with thirteen aromatic adjuncts, hence its name, and is recommended for use in rheumatism affecting the loins and the sacrum. In rheumatism affecting the joints and bones the following preparation called A'dityapaka guggulu2 is used. Take of the three myrobalans and long pepper each eight tolas, cinnamon and cardamoms four tolas each; powder the ingredients finely and soak for seven days in a decoction of the ten drugs, called dasa-mula (see Desmodium gangeticurri). Then add forty tolάs of guggulu and beat together into a uniform mass. Dose, half to one tolά.

Vatάri rasa l This preparation is used in paralysis and nervous diseases. To prepare, it take of mercury one part, sulphur two parts, the three myrobalans, three parts in all, plumbago root four parts and pure guggulu five parts. Rub them together with castor oil for twelve hours, then add to the mass the compound powder, called Hingvastaka (see Assafoetida), in weight equal to all the above ingredients, and again rub together for twelve hours. Dose, about half a drachm.

Kaisara guggulu.2 Take of pure bdellium, gulancha and the three myrobalans, each two seers, water ninety-six seers. First boil the gulancha and the myrobalans in the water till the latter is reduced to one-half, and strain the decoction ; to the strained fluid add the bdellium and boil in an iron vessel till the whole is reduced to the consistence of treacle. Now add to it the following substances in fine powder, namely, the three myrobalans, each sixteen tolas, gulancha eight tolάs, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each six tolas, bάberang seeds four tolάs, root of Balio-spermum montanum (danti) and Ipomcea Turpethum (trivrit), each two tolάs, and beat them together into a uniform mass. Dose from a quarter to one tolά, to be taken with a decoction of madder, tepid milk or water. This medicine is said to be useful in various skin diseases from deranged or vitiated blood. It is said to act as an alterative tonic and to improve the nutrition of the body,

Sadanga guggulu.1 In affections of the eyes with pain, swelling and inflammation, (rheumatic ophthalmia?) bdellium is recommended to be given with a decoction of the three myrobalans, root of Momordica dioica (patala), nim bark, and the leaves of Adhatoda vάsica (vasaka). A similar preparation is recommended for secondary syphilitic ulcerations. In unhealtlry ulcerations, the following, called Amrita guggulu2 is recommended. Take of gulancha, root of Momordica dioica (patala), the three myrobalans, long pepper, black pepper, ginger, and baberung seeds in equal parts, guggulu, in quantity equal to all the above ingredients and beat them together into a mass. Dose about a drachm every morning.