The Treatment of Women's Diseases

Verse 1 (garuda.1.172.1)

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् १७२ धन्वन्तरिरुवाच । स्त्रीरोगादिचिकित्सां च वक्ष्ये सुश्रुत तच्छृणु । योनिव्यापत्सु भूयिष्टं शस्यते कर्म वातजित्

śrīgaruḍamahāpurāṇam 172 dhanvantariruvāca strīrogādicikitsāṁ ca vakṣye suśruta tacchṛṇu yonivyāpatsu bhūyiṣṭaṁ śasyate karma vātajit

Dhanvantari said: O Sushruta, I shall now speak of the treatment of women's diseases; listen to that. In disorders of the yoni (genital tract), remedial action against vata is generally recommended.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.172.2)

वचोपकुञ्चिकाजातीकृष्णावासकसैन्धवम् । अजमोदायवक्षारं चित्रकं शर्करान्वितम्

vacopakuñcikājātīkṛṣṇāvāsakasaindhavam ajamodāyavakṣāraṁ citrakaṁ śarkarānvitam

Vacha, upakunchika, jati, long pepper, vasa, rock salt, ajamoda, barley-alkali, chitraka, and sugar —

Verse 3 (garuda.1.172.3)

पिष्ट्वालोड्य जलाद्यैश्च खादयेद्धृतभर्जितम् । योनिपार्श्वार्तिहृद्रोगगुल्मार्शो विनिवर्तयेत्

piṣṭvāloḍya jalādyaiśca khādayeddhṛtabharjitam yonipārśvārtihṛdrogagulmārśo vinivartayet

— ground and mixed with water, then fried in ghee and eaten, remove pain in the vaginal region, heart disease, abdominal tumours, and piles.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.172.4)

बदरीपत्रसंलेपाद्योनिर्भिन्ना प्रशाम्यति । लोध्रतुम्बीफलालेपाद्योनेर्दार्ढ्यं करोति च

badarīpatrasaṁlepādyonirbhinnā praśāmyati lodhratumbīphalālepādyonerdārḍhyaṁ karoti ca

A paste of jujube leaves applied to a torn yoni brings healing. A paste of lodhra and the tumbi fruit makes the yoni firm.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.172.5)

पञ्चपल्लवपिष्टाह्वमालतीकुसुमैर्घृतम् । रविपक्वमसृग्धारं योनिगन्धविनाशनम्

pañcapallavapiṣṭāhvamālatīkusumairghṛtam ravipakvamasṛgdhāraṁ yonigandhavināśanam

Ghee made with the panchapallava, naga-kesara, and malati flowers, matured in the sun, destroys bleeding and foul odour from the yoni.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.172.6)

सकाञ्जिकं जपापुष्पपुष्पं ज्योतिष्मतीदलम् । दूर्वापिष्टं च संप्राश्य चित्रकं शर्करान्वितम्

sakāñjikaṁ japāpuṣpapuṣpaṁ jyotiṣmatīdalam dūrvāpiṣṭaṁ ca saṁprāśya citrakaṁ śarkarānvitam

Grinding fermented rice-water, japa flowers, jyotishmati leaves, and durva grass, and taking this combined with chitraka and sugar —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.172.7)

धात्र्यञ्जनाभयाचूर्णं तोयपीतं रजो हरेत् । सदुग्धा लक्ष्मणा पीता नस्याद्वा पुत्रदा ऋतौ

dhātryañjanābhayācūrṇaṁ toyapītaṁ rajo haret sadugdhā lakṣmaṇā pītā nasyādvā putradā ṛtau

— removes menstrual disorders. Powder of amalaki, anjana, and haritaki, taken with water, likewise clears menstrual disorder. Lakshmana, taken with milk, or given as nasal drops during the fertile period, grants conception.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.172.8)

दुग्धस्यार्धाढकं चाज्यमश्वगन्धा च पुत्रदा । वन्ध्या पुत्रं लभेत्पीत्वा घृतेन व्योपकेसरम्

dugdhasyārdhāḍhakaṁ cājyamaśvagandhā ca putradā vandhyā putraṁ labhetpītvā ghṛtena vyopakesaram

Half an adhaka of milk, ghee, and ashwagandha grant conception. A barren woman, by drinking the three pungents and saffron with ghee, obtains a son.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.172.9)

कुशकाशोरुचृकानां मृलैर्गोक्षुरकस्य च । शृतं दुग्धं सितायुक्तं गर्भिण्याः शूलनुत्परम्

kuśakāśorucṛkānāṁ mṛlairgokṣurakasya ca śṛtaṁ dugdhaṁ sitāyuktaṁ garbhiṇyāḥ śūlanutparam

Milk boiled with the roots of kusha, kasha, sugarcane, and gokshura, combined with sugar, is an excellent remedy for colic pain in a pregnant woman.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.172.10)

पाठालाङ्गलिसिंहाम्यमयूरकूटजैः पृथक् । नाभिबस्ति भगालेपात्सुखं नारी प्रसूयते

pāṭhālāṅgalisiṁhāmyamayūrakūṭajaiḥ pṛthak nābhibasti bhagālepātsukhaṁ nārī prasūyate

Applying pastes of patha, langali, simhi, and mayura-kutaja separately to the navel, the bladder-region, and the vaginal opening enables a woman to give birth with ease.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.172.11)

सूताया हृच्छिरोबस्तिशूलमर्कन्द (क्वल्ल) संज्ञितम् । यवक्षारं पिबेत्तत्र मस्तु कोष्णोदकेन वा

sūtāyā hṛcchirobastiśūlamarkanda (kvalla) saṁjñitam yavakṣāraṁ pibettatra mastu koṣṇodakena vā

Pain in the heart, head, or bladder-region of a woman who has just given birth is called arka-kvalla; in this, barley-alkali should be taken with whey or lukewarm water.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.172.12)

दशमूलीकृतः क्ताथः साज्यः मूतिरुजापहः । शातिलण्डुलचूर्णं तु सदुग्धं दुग्धकृद्भवेत्

daśamūlīkṛtaḥ ktāthaḥ sājyaḥ mūtirujāpahaḥ śātilaṇḍulacūrṇaṁ tu sadugdhaṁ dugdhakṛdbhavet

A decoction of dashamula, together with ghee, destroys urinary pain. Powder of shali rice, taken with milk, increases the flow of breast-milk.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.172.13)

विदारी कन्दस्वरसं मूलं कार्पासजं तथा । धात्री स्तन्यविशुद्ध्यर्थं मुद्गयूपरसाशिनी

vidārī kandasvarasaṁ mūlaṁ kārpāsajaṁ tathā dhātrī stanyaviśuddhyarthaṁ mudgayūparasāśinī

The fresh juice of vidarikanda, the juice of cotton-plant root, and amalaki, should be taken together with mung-bean broth to purify breast-milk.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.172.14)

कुष्ठा वचाभया ब्राह्मी मधुरा क्षौद्रसर्पिषा । वर्णायुः कान्तिजननं लेह्यं वालम्य दापयेत्

kuṣṭhā vacābhayā brāhmī madhurā kṣaudrasarpiṣā varṇāyuḥ kāntijananaṁ lehyaṁ vālamya dāpayet

Kushtha, vacha, haritaki, and brahmi, made sweet and prepared with honey and ghee into a linctus that bestows complexion, longevity, and radiance, should be given to the infant.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.172.15)

स्तन्याभावे पयश्छागं गव्यं वा तद्गुणं पिवेत् । स्वेदनं नाग्निशोफार्ते मृदा स्यादग्नितप्तया

stanyābhāve payaśchāgaṁ gavyaṁ vā tadguṇaṁ pivet svedanaṁ nāgniśophārte mṛdā syādagnitaptayā

If breast-milk is deficient, one should drink goat's milk or cow's milk, both of similar properties. Fomentation of a swollen, painful breast should be done with earth not baked by fire.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.172.16)

लेहो मुस्तविपायाश्च वमिकासज्वरे पिबेत् । सुस्तशुण्ठीविषाविल्वकूटजैरतिसारनुत

leho mustavipāyāśca vamikāsajvare pibet sustaśuṇṭhīviṣāvilvakūṭajairatisāranuta

A linctus prepared with musta should be taken in vomiting, cough, and fever. A formulation of dry ginger, ativisha, bilva, and kutaja destroys diarrhoea.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.172.17)

मधु व्योषं मातुलुङ्गं हिक्काच्छर्दिनिवारणम् । कुष्ठेन्द्रयवसिद्धार्था निशा दूर्वा च कुष्ठजित्

madhu vyoṣaṁ mātuluṅgaṁ hikkācchardinivāraṇam kuṣṭhendrayavasiddhārthā niśā dūrvā ca kuṣṭhajit

Honey, the three pungents, and citron prevent hiccup and vomiting. Kushtha, indrayava, white mustard, turmeric, and durva grass destroy kushtha.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.172.18)

महामुण्जितिकोजीच्यकाथैः स्नानं ग्रहापहम् । सप्तच्छदामयनिशाचन्दनैश्चानुलेपनम्

mahāmuṇjitikojīcyakāthaiḥ snānaṁ grahāpaham saptacchadāmayaniśācandanaiścānulepanam

Bathing with a decoction of mahamunja, iti, and guduchi destroys affliction by malevolent grahas. A paste of saptaparna, mango, turmeric, and sandalwood also destroys such affliction.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.172.19)

शङ्खाब्जबीजरुद्राक्षवचालौहादिधारणम् । ओं कं टं यं गं वैनतेयाय नमः । ओं हों हां हः मन्त्रेण शान्तिर्वालानां मार्जनाद्वलिदानतः । ओं ह्रीं बालम्रहाद्वलिं गृह्णीत वालं मुञ्चत स्वाहा

śaṅkhābjabījarudrākṣavacālauhādidhāraṇam oṁ kaṁ ṭaṁ yaṁ gaṁ vainateyāya namaḥ oṁ hoṁ hāṁ haḥ mantreṇa śāntirvālānāṁ mārjanādvalidānataḥ oṁ hrīṁ bālamrahādvaliṁ gṛhṇīta vālaṁ muñcata svāhā

Conch, lotus-seed, rudraksha, vacha, and iron and the like should be worn. Peace for children is brought about by purificatory sprinkling and offerings with the mantras 'Om kaṁ ṭaṁ yaṁ gaṁ vainateyāya namaḥ' and 'Om hoṁ hāṁ haḥ' — 'Om hrīṁ, O graha of children, accept this offering, release the child, svāhā.'

Verse 20 (garuda.1.172.20)

तण्डुलाद्भिः शिरीपस्य पलं पीतं विषापहम् । तण्डुलाद्भिश्च वर्षाभ्वाः शुक्लायाः सर्पदंशनुत्

taṇḍulādbhiḥ śirīpasya palaṁ pītaṁ viṣāpaham taṇḍulādbhiśca varṣābhvāḥ śuklāyāḥ sarpadaṁśanut

Drinking one pala of shirisha powder with rice-water removes poison. White punarnava taken with rice-water destroys the effect of snakebite.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.172.21)

दध्याज्यं तण्डुलीयं च गृहधृमो निशा तथा । पिष्टं पानं तथा क्षौद्रं सिन्धृत्थस्य विपान्तकम्

dadhyājyaṁ taṇḍulīyaṁ ca gṛhadhṛmo niśā tathā piṣṭaṁ pānaṁ tathā kṣaudraṁ sindhṛtthasya vipāntakam

Curd, ghee, tanduliya, household soot, and turmeric, ground and taken as a drink, together with honey and rock salt, put an end to poison.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.172.22)

अङ्कोटमूलनिष्क्वाथः साज्यः पीतो विषान्तकः । यज्जराव्याधिविध्वंसि भेषजं तद्रसायनम्

aṅkoṭamūlaniṣkvāthaḥ sājyaḥ pīto viṣāntakaḥ yajjarāvyādhividhvaṁsi bheṣajaṁ tadrasāyanam

A decoction of ankota root, taken with ghee, ends poison. That medicine which destroys old age and disease is called rasayana (rejuvenation therapy).

Verse 23 (garuda.1.172.23)

सिन्दूत्यरार्कराशुण्ठीकणामधुगुडैः क्रमात् । वर्षादिष्वभया सेव्या रसायनगुणौषिणा

sindūtyarārkarāśuṇṭhīkaṇāmadhuguḍaiḥ kramāt varṣādiṣvabhayā sevyā rasāyanaguṇauṣiṇā

Combined in turn with rock salt, daruharidra, arka, dry ginger, long pepper, honey, and jaggery through the successive seasons beginning with the rains, haritaki should be taken with rejuvenating effect.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.172.24)

ज्वरस्यान्तेऽभयां चैकां प्रभुङ्क्ते द्वे विभीतके । भुक्त्वा मध्वाज्यधात्रीणां चतुष्कं शतवर्षकृत्

jvarasyānte'bhayāṁ caikāṁ prabhuṅkte dve vibhītake bhuktvā madhvājyadhātrīṇāṁ catuṣkaṁ śatavarṣakṛt

At the end of a fever, one should eat one haritaki and two vibhitaki; eating four amalaki with honey and ghee, a person lives a hundred years.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.172.25)

पीताश्वगन्धा पयसा घृतेनाशेपरोगनुत् । मण्डूकपर्ण्याः स्वरसो विदार्याश्चामृतोपमः

pītāśvagandhā payasā ghṛtenāśeparoganut maṇḍūkaparṇyāḥ svaraso vidāryāścāmṛtopamaḥ

Ashwagandha, taken with milk and with ghee, removes all diseases. The fresh juice of brahmi and the juice of vidari are comparable to ambrosia.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.172.26)

तिलधात्रीभृङ्गराजौ जग्ध्वा वर्षशती भवेत् । त्रिकटु त्रिफला वह्निर्गुडूची च शतावरी

tiladhātrībhṛṅgarājau jagdhvā varṣaśatī bhavet trikaṭu triphalā vahnirguḍūcī ca śatāvarī

Eating sesame, amalaki, and bhringaraja, a person lives a hundred years. The three pungents, triphala, chitraka, guduchi, and shatavari —

Verse 27 (garuda.1.172.27)

विडङ्गलोहचूर्णं तु मधुना सह रोगनुत् । त्रिफला च कणा शुण्ठी गुडूची च शतावरी

viḍaṅgalohacūrṇaṁ tu madhunā saha roganut triphalā ca kaṇā śuṇṭhī guḍūcī ca śatāvarī

— powder of vidanga and iron, taken with honey, destroy disease. Triphala, long pepper, dry ginger, guduchi, and shatavari —

Verse 28 (garuda.1.172.28)

विडङ्गभृङ्गराजादि भावितं सर्वरोगनुत् । चूर्णं विदार्या मध्वाज्यं लीढ्वा दश स्त्रियो व्रजेत्

viḍaṅgabhṛṅgarājādi bhāvitaṁ sarvaroganut cūrṇaṁ vidāryā madhvājyaṁ līḍhvā daśa striyo vrajet

— powder processed with vidanga, bhringaraja, and the like, destroys all diseases. Powder of vidari, licked with honey and ghee, grants virility sufficient for ten women.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.172.29)

घृतं शतावरीकल्कैः क्षीरैर्दशगुणैः पचेत् । शर्करापिप्पलीक्षौद्रयुक्तं वा जारकं विदुः

ghṛtaṁ śatāvarīkalkaiḥ kṣīrairdaśaguṇaiḥ pacet śarkarāpippalīkṣaudrayuktaṁ vā jārakaṁ viduḥ

Ghee cooked with shatavari paste and tenfold milk, combined with sugar, long pepper, and honey, is known as the rejuvenating preparation called jaraka.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.172.30)

प्रतिमर्षोऽवपीडश्च नस्यं प्रवपनं तथा । शिरोविरेचनं चेति पञ्चकर्म च कथ्यते

pratimarṣo'vapīḍaśca nasyaṁ pravapanaṁ tathā śirovirecanaṁ ceti pañcakarma ca kathyate

Pratimarsha, avapida, nasya, pravapana, and shiroviechana (nasal purgation) — these are declared to be the five procedures of nasal treatment.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.172.31)

मासैर्द्विसंख्यैर्माघाद्यैः क्रमात्षडृतवः स्मृताः । अग्निसेवामधुक्षीरविकृतीः परिपेवयेत्

māsairdvisaṁkhyairmāghādyaiḥ kramātṣaḍṛtavaḥ smṛtāḥ agnisevāmadhukṣīravikṛtīḥ paripevayet

Beginning with the month of Magha, six seasons are reckoned in periods of two months each; warmth from fire, and preparations of honey and milk, should be taken accordingly.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.172.32)

स्त्रीयुक्तः शिशिरे तद्वद्वसन्ते न दिवा स्वपेत् । त्यजेद्वर्षासु स्वप्नादीञ्छरदिन्दोश्च रश्मयः

strīyuktaḥ śiśire tadvadvasante na divā svapet tyajedvarṣāsu svapnādīñcharadindośca raśmayaḥ

In the cold season one should engage in conjugal union, and likewise in spring, and should not sleep by day. In the rainy season, sleep and the like should be avoided, and in autumn, the rays of the moon should be enjoyed.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.172.33)

पथ्यानि शालयो मुद्रा वर्षाम्भः क्वथितं पयः । निम्वातसीकुसुम्भानां शिग्रुसर्षपयोस्तथा

pathyāni śālayo mudrā varṣāmbhaḥ kvathitaṁ payaḥ nimvātasīkusumbhānāṁ śigrusarṣapayostathā

Shali rice, mung beans, boiled rainwater, and the oils of neem, linseed, and kusumbha, along with the oils of shigru and mustard —

Verse 34 (garuda.1.172.34)

ज्योतिष्मतीमूलकानां तैलानि च हरन्ति हि । कृमिकुष्ठप्रमेहांश्च वातश्लेष्मशिरोरुजः

jyotiṣmatīmūlakānāṁ tailāni ca haranti hi kṛmikuṣṭhapramehāṁśca vātaśleṣmaśirorujaḥ

— and the oils of jyotishmati and radish — all these remove worms, kushtha, urinary disorders, vata-kapha, and headache.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.172.35)

दाडिमामलकीकोलकरमर्द्पियालकम् । जम्बीरं नागग्गं च आम्रातककपिन्थकम्

dāḍimāmalakīkolakaramardpiyālakam jambīraṁ nāgaggaṁ ca āmrātakakapinthakam

Pomegranate, amalaki, jujube, karamarda, priyala, jambira, orange, and amratak-kapittha —

Verse 36 (garuda.1.172.36)

पित्तलान्यनिलघ्नानि कफोत्क्लेशकराणिच । जलं जीमूतकेक्ष्वाकुकुटजाकृतबन्धनम्

pittalānyanilaghnāni kaphotkleśakarāṇica jalaṁ jīmūtakekṣvākukuṭajākṛtabandhanam

— are fruits that increase pitta and destroy vata, and also aggravate kapha. Water combined with jimutaka, sugarcane root, kutaja, and kritabandhana —

Verse 37 (garuda.1.172.37)

धामार्गवश्च संयोज्याः सर्वथा वमनेष्वमी । पूर्वाह्ने वमनायेते मदनेन्द्रयवी वचा

dhāmārgavaśca saṁyojyāḥ sarvathā vamaneṣvamī pūrvāhne vamanāyete madanendrayavī vacā

— together with dhamargava, should always be included in the process of therapeutic emesis. Madana fruit, indrayava, and vacha are suitable for emesis administered in the morning.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.172.38)

मृदुकोष्टश्च पित्तेन खरो वातकफाश्रयात् । मध्यमः समदोषे स्यात्त्रिवृत्तिते विरेचनम्

mṛdukoṣṭaśca pittena kharo vātakaphāśrayāt madhyamaḥ samadoṣe syāttrivṛttite virecanam

A person's bowel is mild in constitution when pitta predominates, harsh when vata-kapha predominate, and medium when the doshas are balanced — purgation with trivrit should be given accordingly.

Verse 39 (garuda.1.172.39)

शर्करामधुसंयुक्तं सैन्धवं नगरं त्रिवृत् । हरीतकीविहङ्गानि गोमूत्रेण विरेचनम्

śarkarāmadhusaṁyuktaṁ saindhavaṁ nagaraṁ trivṛt harītakīvihaṅgāni gomūtreṇa virecanam

Rock salt combined with sugar and honey, dry ginger, trivrit, and haritaki-vihanga, are used together with cow's urine for purgation.

Verse 40 (garuda.1.172.40)

एरण्डतैलं त्रिफलाक्वाथश्च द्विगुणस्तथा । वातोल्बणेषु दोषेषु भोजयित्वाथ वामयेत्

eraṇḍatailaṁ triphalākvāthaśca dviguṇastathā vātolbaṇeṣu doṣeṣu bhojayitvātha vāmayet

Castor oil and a decoction of triphala in double quantity — in vata-predominant disorders, food should first be given, and then emesis induced.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.172.41)

वंशादिनेत्रं कुर्वीत पडष्टद्वादशाङ्गुलम् । कर्कन्धृफलवच्छिद्रं वस्तिरुत्तानशायिने

vaṁśādinetraṁ kurvīta paḍaṣṭadvādaśāṅgulam karkandhṛphalavacchidraṁ vastiruttānaśāyine

A 'netra' (basti-tube tip) made of bamboo and the like, six, eight, or twelve fingers long, pierced with an opening like a jujube fruit — this is the enema instrument for a patient lying supine.

Verse 42 (garuda.1.172.42)

निरूहदानेऽपि विधिरयमेवमुदीरितः । अर्धत्रिपट्पले मात्रा लघुमध्योत्तमः क्रमात्

nirūhadāne'pi vidhirayamevamudīritaḥ ardhatripaṭpale mātrā laghumadhyottamaḥ kramāt

This same procedure is prescribed for administering niruha-basti (medicated enema) as well. The dose — half a pala, three pala, or six pala — is, in that order, held to be light, medium, or maximal.

Verse 43 (garuda.1.172.43)

पथ्याक्षवात्र्योकद्विचतुर्भाग रुगर्दनाः । शतवर्यसृताभृङ्गसिन्धुवारादिभाविताः

pathyākṣavātryokadvicaturbhāga rugardanāḥ śatavaryasṛtābhṛṅgasindhuvārādibhāvitāḥ

Haritaki, vibhitaki, and amalaki — in the proportion of two, three, and four parts — destroy disease; when processed with shatavari, guduchi, bhringaraja, sindhuvara, and the like, they become still more effective.