Palăśa (Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.) and its medico-historical study.

Palăśa (Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.) is considered sacred both by Hindus and Buddhists. It is known to the Hindus under the Sănskrt name Palăśa as it possesses valuable medicinal properties. This sacred tree is being called the treasurer of the gods and of sacrifice. It grows throughout India except in very arid parts and is a medium sized deciduous tree. Parts used are bark, leaf, flower, seed and gum. It is mainly useful as antihelmenthic appetizer, aphrodisiac, laxative etc. Thus its medico- historical aspects are being presented in this paper.

Medico-historical study of "aśvattha" (sacred fig tree).

Aśvattha (Ficus religiosa Linn.) is a tree which has got mythological, religious and medicinal importance in Indian culture since ancient times. As per Vedic Index Aśvattha means horse stand, a place or site or an object where or under which horses stand. Aśvattha is also known as Pipal and Bodhidrma. This tree is the oldest depicted tree in India. In Vedic times it was used to make fire by friction and considered sacred. Atharvavĕda associates it with the third heaven. It discusses medicinal properties of Aśvattha along with Soma and Kuştha. Aśvattha is associated with the triad of Gods-Brahma, vişņu and siva. Reference to Aśvattha is found in Rămăyaņa, Mahăbhărata, Bhagavadgĭta, Buddhistic literature, Arthaśăstra, Purănăs, Upanişads etc. non-medical literature also. According to Ayurvĕda it has several synonyms. Most of them symbolize its sacredness. Aśvattha is useful in various ailments like consumption, vomiting, ulcers in oral cavity, burns, gynaecological problems etc. Thus its medico-historical importance, regional nomenclature, morphological features in brief etc. are being presented in this article with few illustrations.

Diet, dietetics and flora of the Holy Bible.

The study of history of medical science from non-medical sources needs no apology. At first the discussion of what was thought in the past rather than what is known now appears to be of merely antiquarian value. The knowledge of Diet, Dietetics, medicinal plants dates back to the remote antiquity of mankind. The Hebrews can be proud of having preserved in the Old Testament many old medical practices and traditions, which throw light on ancient medicine. The Bible is genuinely documented book representing the wisdom, medical knowledge and the culture, of a nomadic race. This article contains information of some medicinal plants, which are useful for treating different kinds of ailments and some with nutritious qualities.

Sărangadhara--his contribution in Ayurvĕdic literature.

Sărangadhara was an erudite scholar who wrote the famous Sărangadharasamhita. It is the earliest Indian medical treatise to mention nădĭparĭkşa as a method of diagnosing the diseases. This classic treatise is also important for several other reasons, which can be deduced from its inclusion in the minor triad of authoritative works called Laghutrayĭ. The Samhită is designed to serve as a practitioner's handbook as the author himself states at the end of the work. The particulars of the author Sărangadhara are not known, apart from his name mentioned in one of the introductory verses and at the end of the work as the son of Dămodara. The period of Sărangadhara can be fixed probably to the early part of 14th century A.D.

Medicinal plants referred in Vămana Purăna.

Purăna and Itihăsa (history) have been the allied subjects since the early Vĕdik times. They have been regarded as supplementary to each other. The word 'Purăna' as an adjective means ancient or old. Its earliest use as a noun in the sense of 'ancient lore or old narrative' (or works containing ancient lore's or old narratives) is found in the Atharvavĕda and the Brăhmanas. This Vămana Purăna contains information on medicinal plants which are used in ăyurvĕda for treating different kinds of ailments. This article carries the list of medicinal plants referred in Vămana Purăna with their scientific names, context and references.

Medico-historical review of drug Kustha.

Kustha is well known for its cures since ancient times. Atharvaveda considers this as a potent plant next to Soma (a divine plant) in curing several diseases. It is also called Takmanashana (which cures fevers) in Atharvaveda. It grows in Himalayas and Kasmir. In Ayurveda, root of Kustha is used for fevers, skin diseases, headache etc. Almost all Nighantus carry the description of Kustha with several synonyms. Some scholars consider two varieties of Kustha i.e. sweetish and bitter, but one with bitter taste is the real Kustha. Pushkarmool (Inula recemosa Hook.f.) is available in the market as sweet variety of Kustha. Thus its medico-historical importance and other details have been presented in this article.

Lessor known ayurvedic physicians from an Urdu book Rumoozul Atibba: part II.

Rumoozul Atibba, a rare Urdu book compiled by Hakim Fairozuddin is in two Volumes. It is published by Darul Kutub Rafiqul Atibba, printed in "Rifah-e-Aam press in 1913 at Lahore which contains short biographies of Ayurvedic and Unani physicians. It has been compiled to disclose the tested formulae hidden in the minds of eminent scholars of Ayurveda and Unani with their life sketches.The selection of this work has been aimed to enlight the Ayurvedic History prevailed in different languages. Twenty biographies of Ayurvedic Physicians were in first volume of 'Rumuzul Atibba', which were published prior to this article (Bulletin of Indian Institute of History of Medicine. Vol XXVI (1996).This article contains only three biographies of Ayurvedic physicians.

Indu and Bhattanarahari: the commentators of ayurvedic classical treatises.

Indu who wrote a valuminous and comprehensive commentary entitled 'Saśilekha' on Astānga Samgraha. It is the only commentary available at present. Later writers vastly mentioned this commentary. He wrote a commentary with the same title on Astānga Hrdaya also.

Ayurveda during Abbasid's period.

This is a historical paper which deals with a brief account of Abbasid's period. In this article the existence of Ayurveda in Arab countries, arrival of Ayurvedic physicians to Baghdad, their eminence, authenticity and literary additions in medical field has been studied and presented.

Gleanings from the travelogue of the traveller Nicholas Seen.

The traveller Nicholas Senn, visited India in the early part of this century, to make detailed enquiries about the development of medical science, general education and to obtain proficiency in the professions and arts. According to him revolutionary changes were taking place day to day in research and discoveries in the fields of science and also in the practice of medicine and surgery at the time. Scientific work was no longer confined to a favoured institutions, it may be seen in all parts of the civilized globe. A personal acquaintance with men who have earned a well-merited reputation in the advancement of medical profession is a source of great gratification and excites a new interest in the work he has accomplished.

Medicine in the Holy Bible.

The study of history of medical science from non-medical sources needs no apology. At first sight the discussion of what was thought in the past rather than what is known now appears to be of merely anti-quarian value. The Hebrews can be proud of having preserved in the Old Testament many old medical practices and traditions which throw light on ancient medicine in general and on Hebrew medical practices in particular. The Bible is a genuinely documented book presenting the wisdom, medical knowledge and the culture of a nomadic race.

Embryology in Holy Bible.

The knowledge of Embryology and its existence dates back to the remote antiquity of mankind. The theory of maternal impressions on Embryo has its sanction in the Holy Bible. Apart from this it is remarkable to find artificial incubation of the eggs of birds practised 'probably' as far back as about 3000 B.C. Other than these, the existence of midwives, cases of premature births, deliveries of the women of advanced age and the obstetric chair etc. are the expositions of the science of medicine in the Holy Bible.

Dalhana.

Dalhana, the celebrated commentator of the Sushruta Samhita, and the author of 'Nibandha Sangraha' is one of the ancient luminaries of the Indian system of medicine. Dalhana perhaps can be counted among the few ancient luminaries who attained the fame and commanded respect from the intellectual circles with just a single work. His contribution to the ancient Indian system of medicine as the author of 'Nibandha Sangraha' is priceless. He belonged to an illustrious family of vaidyas of the 12th century. Patronised by the King Sahajapala Deva. Dalhana made an extensive study of the works of the authors who belonged to the period before him. He has also evidently undertaken extensive tours throughout the country to get himself acquainted with the prevalent traditions and the systems of medicine.