Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/817

Rh Uses : — "The root of P. zeylanica is said to increase the digestive power, to promote the appetite, and to be useful in dyspepsia, piles, anasarca, diarrhœa, skin diseases, &c." (Hindu Mat. Med.). " A tincture of the root-bark has been employed as an antiperiodic. Dr. Oswald says that he has employed it in the treatment of intermittents with good effect. It acts as a powerful sudorific." (Pharm. Ind., p. 1701.)

Mahomedan writers describe it as caustic and vesicant, an expellant of phlegmatic humors ; useful in rheumatism and spleen, digestive ; it also causes abortion. For external administration, it is made into a paste with milk, vinegar or salt and water. Such a paste may be applied externally in leprosy and other skin diseases of an obstinate character, and be allowed to remain until a blister has formed

In the Concan, the following formula is used : — Chitrak root, Emblic myrobalans, small black myrobalans (Bal-hartaki), long pepper, pepper root, rhubarb and rock salt. Powder and give 6 mássás with hot water every night at bed time, in flatulence with rheumatic pains (Dymock).

Taylor comments on its sialogogue properties. The milky juice is used as an application to unhealthy ulcers and in cases of scabies. (Dr. Thornton in Watt's Dictionary.)

Sans : — Rakta chitraka.

Vern : — Lal-chitra (H); Rakto-chitá (B.) ; Lál-chitrakmûl (Dec.) ; Sheucodie vayalie, Shivappu-chittira (Tam.) ; Yerra-cithra-moolum (Tel.) ; Schettie-codivalie ; Choovonda-coduavalie (Mal.).

Habitat :— Valleys in Sikkim and Khasia, often cultivated in gardens.

An evergreen, perennial shrub, 2-4ft. high, " very rarely annual " (Boissier). The plant when grown in gardens and conservatories is much more handsome than when it grows under a blazing sun, whereby its leaves invariably suffer in form and substance. Root fibrous, outwardly dusky-yellow or greenish, acccording to Rumphius. On section yellowish, when fresh,