Puspayurvedah (Flowers in Health and Disease)

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Item Code: NAI409
Publisher: Chaukhambha Visvabharati , Varanasi
Author: P.V.Sharma
Language: Sanskrit Text With English Language
Edition: 2022
ISBN: 9789381301685
Pages: 144
Cover: Paperback
Other Details 9 inch X 5.5 inch
Weight 300 gm
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Book Description
About the Book

This is the latest work of Prof. Sharma which deals with flowers of various plants and their role in health and disease. The text in sanskrit is followed by English translation by the author.

The subject matter is divided into the following five chapters:

1. General description of flowers.

2. Properties and actions of flowers.

3. Use of flowers in health.

4. Therapeutic uses of flowers.

5. Preparations of flowers.

Thus it opens a new vista in the study of Dravyaguna (medicinal plants) highlighting the practical importance of a particular part which is the most beautiful and attractive one. The book would be useful for all those who love flowers and realise their affinity with life apart from the physicians and scientists who would utilise them in different conditions.

 

About the Author

Prof. P. V. Sharma is well known for his valuable contributions in the field of Ayurveda. During the last five decades he has written in various aspects of Ayurveda-literary as well as scientific, conceptual as well as historical.

Born on 1st November, 1920, in a small village near Patna, in the family of traditional vaidyas he gradually acquired highest degree in Ayurveda, Sanskrit and Hindi and held highest posts in academic and administrative fields. In Bihar, he was, for many years, Principal of the Govt. Ayurvedic college, and Dy. Director of Health Services (I.M.). Finally, he was appointed as Professor of Dravyaguna, also as Head, and later Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Indian Medicine, also Dean of the Faculty of Indian Medicine in the Banaras Hindu University. He retired in 1980.

Prof. Sharma has been participating in international conferences abroad and has been associated with several committees on Ayurveda on national level. He has authored 40 books and has about 450 published papers to his credit.

 

Preface

Flower is the most attractive part of the plant which bewitches with its beautiful harmony, colours and fragrance. It symbolises blossoming of universal consciousness and the smile of spirit hidden in Nature. This is the reason why flowers occupy an important place in individual and social life. Poets pour their emotional outburst and fine expressions on the charming apperance of flowers and that is why have honoured spring as the king of seasons (Rturaja) and friend and associate of Love-god (Kama).

The Mother was very fond of flowers so much so that often she identified herself with them. She realised their blooming as her own smile. She also discovered spiritual significance of flowers and labelled each flower with specific name based on the quality which they represented. She has also indicated, at some places, use of flowers in ailments.

In Ayurveda, flowers have distinct place and are used in health and disease from time immemorial. It is learnt that there was some text on Puspayurveda. In introductory remarks the editor, Pt. V. P. Shastri, of the Kalyanakaraka by Ugradityacarya (pub. Sholapur, 1940) informs that there was a text entitled 'Puspayurveda' which contained the use of flowers of eighteen thousand species and varieties and a manuscript of which is available in Kannada script. He also relates it to Samantabhadra, a renowned Jaina scholar, who preceded Pujyapada (pp. 37-38). This is the only source of information on which several articles are published by different authors but I think nobody has seen the text (including myself) and exact informations on the manuscript are still lacking.

Nevertheless, the topic is interesting and it evidently shows the importance of flowers in relation to health and disease. With this view, I took up this work and collected relevant material from the Ayurvedic texts giving the shape of a book now in your hands.

The present text is divided into five chapters. The first chapter deals with description of the parts of flower and other general informations thereon. The second chapter contains properties and actions of different flowers as described in nighantus and other texts. The use of flowers in health and daily life has been given in the third chapter. The fourth chapter contains therapeutic uses of flowers in different disease-conditions. On overall observation it would be evident that flowers, as they are delicate and soothing, are useful mostly in aggravation of pitta, intrinsic haemorrhage, eye diseases and poisoning. The fifth and the last chapter describes die various pharmaceutical forms in which flowers are used.

The text is translated into English giving the Latin names of the flowering plants in the relevant chapter.

I have tried my best to represent and reconstruct the Puspayurveda which may serve as the ground work for the scholars working in this field.

I bow to the Mother with all numble offerings by whose divine inspiration this work was made possible.

I extend my hearty thanks and best wishes to Dr. Pravina Chandra Pathak of Barauni for supplying the photograph. I am also thankful to the publishers for bringing out this book in a nice form.

 

Contents

 

  Chapter One: Description of flower    
1 Introductory verses   3
2 Derivation of 'Puspa'   4
3 Synonyms of 'Puspa'   4
4 Stages of flower   5
5 Parts of flower   6
6 Variations of shape, colour etc. in flowers   6
7 Flowering time   7
8 Collection of flowers   8
9 Flower as one of the five parts   8
10 Toxicity in some flowers   8
11 Five poisonous flowers   8
12 Symptoms of poisoned flowers and their treatment   9
  Chapter Two: Properties and actions of flowers    
1 Flowers in groups (ganas) of drugs   11
2 Agastya (Sesbania grandiflora Pers.)   13
3 Agnimantha (Premna mucronata Roxb.)   13
4 Atimuktaka (Hiptage benghalensis Kurz.)   13
5 Amlika (Tamarandus indica Linn.)   13
6 Arka (Calotropis procera (Ait) R. Br.   14
7 Alarka (Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) R.Br. ex Ait   14
8 Asoka (Saraca asoka Roxb. De wilde.   14
9 Asana (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.)   15
10 Amra (Mangifera indica Linn.)   15
11 Aragvadha (Cassia fistula Linn.)   15
12 Avarttaki (Cassia auriculata Linn.)   16
13 Ingudi (Balanites aegyptiaca (Linn.) Delile.)   16
14 Utpala    
  (A) Kumuda (Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f.)   16
  (B) Nilotpala (Nymphaea stellata Willd.)   17
15 Eranda (Ricinus communis Linn.)   17
16 Kadamba (Anthocephalus indicus Miq.)   17
17 Kadali (Musa paradisiaca Linn.)   18
18 Kapittha (Feronia limonia (Linn.) Swingle.)   18
19 Kamala (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)   19
20 Karira (Capparis decidua Edgew.)   19
21 Kaficanara (Bauhinia variegata Linn.)   20
22 Kovidara (Bauhinia purpurea Linn.)   20
23 Kasamarda (Cassia occidentalis LInn.)   20
24 Kunkuma (Crocus sativus Linn.)   20
25 Kutaja (Holorrhena antidysenterica (Linn.) Wall.)   21
26 Kunda (Jasminum multiflorum Andr.)   21
27 Kubjaka (Rosa moschata Herrm.)   21
28 Kumari (Aloe vera Toum ex Linn.)   22
29 Kurantaka (Barleria prionitis Linn.)   22
30 Ketaki (Pandanus odoratissimus Roxb.)   22
31 Khatmi (Althoea officinalis Linn.)   22
32 Gambhari (Gmelina arborea Linn.)   22
33 Campaka (Micheli a champaka Linn.)   23
34 Japa (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.)   23
35 Jati (Jasminun officinale Linn.)   23
36 Jivanti (Leptadenia reticulata W. & A.)   24
37 Jufa (Hyssopus officinalis Linn.)   24
38 Jhandu (Tagetes erecta Linn.)   24
39 Tala (Borassus flabellifer Linn.)   24
40 Tilaka (Wendlandia exerta DC.)   25
41 Tulasi (Ocimum sanctum Linn.)   25
42 Trayamana (Gentiana kurroo Royle.)   25
43 Dadima (Punica granatum Linn.)   25
44 Dhataki (Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz.)   26
45 Nagapuspa (Mesua ferrea Linn.)   26
46 Narikela (Cocos nucifera Linn.)   26
47 Nimba (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)   27
48 Nirgundi (Vitex negundo Linn.)   27
49 Nilini (Indigofera tinctoria Linn.)   27
50 Nepali (Jasminum sp.)   28
51 Panasa (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.)   28
52 Palasa (Butea monosperma (Lam.) Kuntze)   28
53 Patala (Stereospermum suaveolens DC.)   28
54 Paribhadra (Erythrina indica Linn.)   29
55 Punnaga (Calophyllum inophyllum Linn.)   29
56 Priyangu (Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.)   29
57 Bakula (Mimusops elengi Linn.)   30
58 Badara (Zizyphus jujuba Lam.)   30
59 Banafsa (Viola odorata Linn.)   30
60 Bandhiika (Pentapetes phoenicea Linn.)   30
61 Bimbi (Coccinia indica W. & A.)   31
62 Bilva (Aegle marmelos Corr.)   31
63 Madhiika (Madhuca indica J. F. Gmel.)   31
64 Mallika (Jasminum sambac Ait.)   32
65 Matulunga (Citrus medica Linn.)   32
66 Mucakunda (Pterospermum acerifolium Willd.)   32
67 Muskaka (Schrebera swietinioides Roxb.)   32
68 Miilaka (Raphanus sativus Linn.)   33
69 Yuthika (Jasminum auriculatum Vahl.)   33
70 Lavanga (Syzygium aromaticum (Linn.) Merr. & Per.)   33
71 Lodhra (Symplocos racemosa Roxb.)   34
72 Varuna (Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham.)   34
73 Vasaka (Adhatoda vasika Nees.)   34
74 Sana (Crotalaria juncea Linn.)   34
75 Satapatri (Rosa centifolia Linn.)   35
76 Sallaki (Boswellia serrata Roxb.)   35
77 Saka (Tectona grandis Linn. f.)   35
78 Salmali (Bombax ceiba Linn.)   36
79 Sigru (Moringa oleifera Lam.)   36
80 Madhusigru (Moringa concanensis Nimmo.)   36
81 Slesmataka (Cordia dichotonia Forst. f.)   36
  Chapter Three: Uses of flowers in Health    
1 Flowers garden and Park   37
2 Interior decoration   37
3 Flower among eight auspicious objects   38
4 Anutaila   38
5 Aromatic shampoo   38
6 Head-oil   39
7 Worship of gods   39
8 Offering to siddhas   40
9 Cosmetic pastes and powders   40
10 10.Paste after bath   41
11 Scenting clothes   42
12 Wearing flowers and garlands   42
13 Method of wearing flowers   43
14 Wearing flowers according to seasons   43
15 Period of wearing flowers   44
16 Forbidden garlands   45
17 Flowers in dining room   45
18 Wearing garland while taking food   45
19 Flowers in diet   46
20 Scenting water with flowers   46
21 Smoking stick   46
22 Flowers as aphrodisiac   47
23 In ritual for conception   47
24 In seasonal regimen   48
25 In samskaras (rites)   48
26 In social gatherings   48
27 In welcoming guests and offering presents   49
28 Entertainment and sports   49
29 Flowers as dye   49
  Chapter Four: Therapeutic uses of flowers    
1 Fever   52
2 Fever with diarrhoea   54
3 Diarrohea   55
4 Grahani disorder   57
5 Piles   59
6 Gulma (Abdominal lump)   60
7 Helminthiasis   60
8 Jaundice   60
9 Disorders of agni (Digestion)   61
10 Anorexia & excessive salivation   61
11 Vomiting   62
12 Thirst   62
13 Udara (Abdominal enlargement)   63
14 Raktapitta (Internal haemorrhage)   66
15 Consumption   69
16 Wasting due to chest-wound   70
17 Bronchial asthma   70
18 Cough   71
19 Heart-disease   71
20 Prameha   72
21 Calculus   73
22 Dysuria   73
23 Leprosy   74
24 Erysepelas   75
25 Eruptive boils   76
26 MInor diseases   78
27 Vatavyadhi   80
28 Vatarakta   80
29 Insanity   81
30 Alcoholism   82
31 Fainting   83
32 Excessive sleep   84
33 Head-diseases   85
34 Diseases of mouth   87
35 Diseases of teeth   87
36 Diseases of eye   91
37 Scrotal enlargements   95
38 Soft chancre   95
39 Wound   96
40 Diseases of women   98
41 Diseases of children   103
42 Poisons   108
43 Evacuative therapy   111
44 Rasayana   112
45 Aphrodisiacs and defects of semen   113
  Chapter Five : Pharmaceutical forms of flowers    
1 Flower-juice   114
2 Powder   115
3 Cold infusion   115
4 Hot infusion   115
5 Paste   115
6 Linctus   116
7 Asava   116
8 Oil   117
9 Inhaling Preparations   117
10 Arka (Distilled extract)   118
11 Scents   118
12 Flower-electuary   119
  Dietary Preparations    
13 Soups   119
14 Vegetable   120
15 Syrup   120
16 Sara (A soury preparation)   121
17 Vegetable curry   121
18 Concluding verses   121

Sample Pages









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