Muktά. Pearls.

Pravάla, Coral.

These gems have been used in medicine from a very ancient period and are mentioned by Susruta. Pearls are purified by being boiled in the juice of the leaves of Sesbania aculeata (jayanti), or of the flowers of Agati grandiflora (vaka). Coral is purified by being boiled in a decoction of the three myrobalans. Both are prepared for medicinal use by being calcined in covered crucibles and then reduced to powder. The properties of both these articles are said to be alike and they are generally used in combination. They are said to be useful in urinary diseases, consumption etc, and to increase the strength, nutrition, and energy of weak persons. The following are examples of prescriptions containing pearls and coral.

Pittάntaka rasa.2 Take of nutmegs, mace, jatamansi root, root of Aplotaxis auriculata (kushtha), leaves of Pinus Webbiana (tάlisa patra, aconite, iron pyrites, iron, talc and realgar, one part each, prepared pearls equal in quantity to all the above ingredients. Beat them together into a paste with the aid of water and make into four-grain pills. This medicine is said to be useful in diseases supposed to be caused by deranged bile, such as dyspepsia, jaundice, biliousness, vomiting of bile, etc.

Vasanta Kusumάkara rasa.1 Take of prepared gold and camphor, each two parts, of prepared tin, lead and iron, three parts each, prepared talc, pearls and coral, four parts each. Rub these ingredients together in a mortar and soak the powder seven times successively in each of the following fluids, namely milk, sucar-cane juice, juice of Adhatoda Vasica (vάsaka ), decoction of lac and of Pavonia odorata ( bάlά ), juice of the flowers and root-stock of the plantain tree, of the root-stock of Nelumbium speciosum (padma) and of the flowers of Aganosma caryophyllata (mάlatipuspa). Lastly soak in an infusion of musk prepared by macerating one part of musk in eight parts of warm water for twelve hours. Divide this mass into four-grain pills. They are given with sugar, honey and ghee in urinary diseases, impotence, gleet, diabetes, consumption and general debility. This medicine is regarded as a valuable alterative tonic in chronic gonorrhoea and spermatorrhoea and is much prescribed in these complaints in combination with an extract called KusVvalehά (see Sugar cane).