Page:The materia medica of the Hindus (1877).djvu/241

 BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA. 221 NAT. ORDER AMARANTACE.E. AMARANTHUS SPINOSUS. Linn. Sans, a^,", Tandu- liya. Vern. Kantdnatid 9 Beng. CJwldi, Hind. This thorny weed is considered light, cooling and a promoter of the alvine and urinary discharges. Its root is said to be an efficaceous medicine for menorrhagia, in which disease it is given with rasot and boney.i It enters also into the composition of other medicines for this disease, as for example in the preparation called Asoka ghrita. ACHYRANTIIES ASPERA, Linn.* Sans. ^rTTTnr, Apdmdrga. ^T^url 1, Kharamanjari. Vern. A'pdng, Beng. Latjird, chirchird, Hind. THIS troublesome weed is chiefly valued on account of its ashes which contain a large quantity of potash. These are used in the preparation of alkaline medicines and caustic pastes, ( see Alkaline ashes ). The ashes mixed with orpiment are applied as a caustic to warts on the penis and other parts of the body. Apdmdrga taila. 2 Take of sesamum oil four seers, the alka- line water prepared from the ashes of Achyrantlies aspera sixteen seers, the ashes of the plant one seer, and boil them together in the usual way. This oil is poured into the meatus in cases of noise in the ears and deafness. The weed itself is described as heating like fire, laxative and a promoter of secretions; it is used in combination with other medicines of its class in ascites and anasarca, (see Cedrus Deodara). NAT. ORDER NYCTAGINACE^. BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA, Linn. Sans. S'WT, Punarnavd, ^ft^lfft, Sothaghni. Vern. Svetapunarnabd, Beng. Sdnt, Hind. BOTH the red and white varieties of this plant are noticed by Sanskrit writers but the white is preferred for use. Its root is as this. G. K.
 * The closely allied species A. bidentata, Bl. is probably used as frequently