൨൩. നാസാഗതരോഗപ്രതിഷേധാധ്യായഃ

Meaning of the śloka

Now we shall explain the treatment of diseases situated in the nose, as declared by the venerable Dhanvantari.

Key terms

nAsAgatarogapratiShedha (nasagata-roga-pratishedha)

The treatment or counteraction of diseases situated in the nose.

dhanvantari (Dhanvantari)

The revered authority to whom the teaching is attributed.

Meaning of the śloka

For the previously described disorder and for putinasa, the text prescribes oleation, fomentation, emesis, and purgation. Food should be suitable, pungent, small in quantity, and light; warm water and smoking are also prescribed at the appropriate time.

Key terms

apInasa (apinasa)

The disorder intended by the phrase 'previously described,' according to the commentary.

pUtinAsya (putinasa)

The nasal disorder treated together with apinasa in this passage.

chardana

Therapeutic emesis, as explained by the commentary.

sraMsana (sramsana)

Purgation, as explained by the commentary.

dhUmapAna (dhumapana)

A historical therapeutic smoking procedure prescribed at its proper time.

Meaning of the śloka

For regular use as an avapida nasal preparation, the text lists hingu, vyosha, vatsaka, shivati, laksha, bija, saurabha, katphala, ugra, kushtha, tikshnagandha, vidanga, and superior karanja.

Key terms

avapIDa (avapida)

A historical nasal preparation administered after pressing or expressing the substance.

vyoSha (vyosha)

Identified by the commentary as trikatu.

shivATI (shivati)

Identified as white punarnava, with shephalika preserved as an alternative identification.

ugrA (ugra)

Identified by the commentary as vacha.

tIkShNagandhA (tikshnagandha)

Identified by the commentary as shobhanjana.

Meaning of the śloka

A knowledgeable person should prepare mustard oil with these substances and with urine for use as a nasya preparation.

Key terms

sArShapa taila (sarshapa taila)

Mustard oil used as the base of the historical preparation.

mUtrayukta (mutrayukta)

Combined with urine in the formulation described by the source.

nasya

A historical mode of administering a substance through the nose.

ma~jjiShThA (manjishtha)

A substance added in the cited alternative reading, which the commentary reports as non-authoritative.

Meaning of the śloka

In nasapaka, all measures that alleviate pitta should be employed, both externally and internally. After removing blood, irrigation and pastes prepared with the bark of milk-exuding trees and combined with ghee are to be applied.

Key terms

nAsApAka (nasapaka)

The nasal disorder for which the treatment is stated.

pittahRut (pittahrit)

A measure intended in the source to alleviate pitta.

bAhma (bahya)

External treatment, explained as including pastes, anointing, and irrigation.

Abhyantara (abhyantara)

Internal treatment, explained as including diet, unctuous drinks, and purgation.

kShIravRukShatvac (kshiravriksha-tvach)

Bark of milk-exuding trees used in the stated irrigation and paste.

sAjya (sajya)

Combined with ghee, according to the commentary.

Meaning of the śloka

The means of calming raktapitta will be explained later.

Key terms

raktapitta

The disorder whose pacification is deferred to a later treatment chapter.

upashAnti (upaśānti)

Pacification or treatment intended to calm the disorder.

nAsApravRutte (nāsāpravṛtte)

When bleeding or discharge has begun from the nose, as understood in the cited instruction.

Meaning of the śloka

In pūyarakta, treatment should be carried out in the same manner as for a nāḍī.

Key terms

pUyarakta (pūyarakta)

The nasal disorder being treated in this passage, designated by the source as pūyarakta.

nADIvat (nāḍīvat)

In the manner of the treatment prescribed for a nāḍī.

cikitsA (cikitsā)

Treatment or therapeutic management.

Meaning of the śloka

After proper emesis, the authorities prescribe a strong avapīḍa preparation, medicated smoke, and cleansing nasya in this condition.

Key terms

avapIDa (avapīḍa)

A nasal preparation or procedure named by the source.

ghUma (dhūma)

Medicated smoke used as a historical therapeutic measure.

shodhana nasya (śodhana nasya)

A cleansing form of nasal therapy.

nAsApAka (nāsāpāka)

An alternative condition to which some commentators apply the instruction.

kShavathu (kṣavathu)

One of the conditions to which some interpreters apply the passage.

bhraMshathu (bhraṃśathu)

Another condition to which some interpreters apply the passage.

Meaning of the śloka

For kṣavathu and bhraṃśathu, powder made from substances used for cleansing the head is to be administered through a tube as nasya. Thereafter, warming measures are prescribed for the head, together with unctuous medicated smoke and whatever other measures are beneficial for disorders attributed to vāta.

Key terms

kShavathu (kṣavathu)

A nasal condition for which the passage prescribes treatment.

bhraMshathu (bhraṃśathu)

A second nasal condition treated by the stated measures.

pradhamana

A type of nasya involving the insufflation of powder.

mUrdhavairecanIya (mūrdhavirecanīya)

Substances described as cleansing or evacuating the head.

shirobasti (śirobasti)

One of the additional head procedures included by the commentator.

mastiShka (mastiṣka)

Another head procedure included among the commentator's additional measures.

Meaning of the śloka

In dīptaroga, the complete regimen appropriate to a pitta disorder should be employed, using measures that are sweet and cooling.

Key terms

dIptaroga (dīptaroga)

The nasal disorder addressed by this treatment statement.

paittika

Pertaining to pitta and guiding the regimen described here.

saMvidhAna (saṃvidhāna)

The therapeutic procedure or complete regimen.

svAdu (svādu)

Sweet in quality or taste.

shItala (śītala)

Cooling in quality.

Meaning of the śloka

In nāsānāha (nasal obstruction), drinking an unctuous substance is considered foremost. Unctuous medicinal smoke and mūrdhabasti are to be used regularly. Balā Taila should be employed in every appropriate manner, together with whatever other measures have been prescribed for vāta disorders.

Key terms

nAsAnAha (nāsānāha)

The nasal obstruction being treated in this passage.

snehapAna (snehapāna)

Oral intake of an unctuous preparation; the commentary specifies its use after food here.

mUrdhabasti (mūrdhabasti)

A historical procedure retaining an unctuous preparation on the head.

balAtaila (Balā Taila)

A medicated oil recommended through several modes of use.

Meaning of the śloka

For nāsāsrāva (nasal discharge), the previously described powder should be introduced through the nose with a tube, together with a strong avapīḍa nasal preparation. Strong medicinal smoke prepared with devadāru and agnika is also prescribed, and goat meat is regarded as suitable here.

Key terms

nAsAsrAva (nāsāsrāva)

Nasal discharge in the terminology of this passage.

avapIDa (avapīḍa)

A historical nasal administration of expressed medicinal liquid.

shirovirecana (śirovirecana)

A head-cleansing category of substances from which the cited powder is prepared.

agnika

Interpreted as citraka by the commentator, while some authorities interpret it as ajamodā.

Meaning of the śloka

For nāsāśoṣa (dryness of the nose), milk-ghee is considered foremost, and oil prepared according to the method of Aṇu Taila is prescribed as nasya. The passage also recommends drinking ghee, food with the meat of jāṅgala animals, uncting, sudation, and unctuous medicinal smoke.

Key terms

nAsAshoSha (nāsāśoṣa)

Dryness of the nose in the terminology of this passage.

kShIrasarpiH (kṣīrasarpiḥ)

A milk-and-ghee preparation identified by the commentary as one described earlier.

nasya

Nasal administration of a medicinal preparation.

snaihika dhUma (snaihika dhūma)

Unctuous medicinal smoke, here said to use substances such as beeswax.

Meaning of the śloka

The remaining disorders arising in the nose should be managed according to the respective procedures already prescribed for each of them.

Key terms

ghrANajAn rogAn (ghrāṇajān rogān)

Disorders arising in the nose.

arshaH (arśas)

One example of the remaining disorders referenced by the commentary.

shopha (śopha)

Swelling, given as another example by the commentary.

saMvidhAna (saṃvidhāna)

The respective therapeutic arrangement already stated for a condition.

Meaning of the śloka

Thus ends the twenty-third chapter, entitled ‘Prevention and Treatment of Diseases of the Nose,’ in the Śālākya-tantra section of the Uttara-tantra of the Suśruta-saṃhitā.

Key terms

nAsAgatarogapratiShedha (nāsāgatarogapratiṣedha)

The chapter title concerning prevention and treatment of diseases situated in the nose.

shAlAkyatantra (Śālākya-tantra)

The textual section in which this chapter is placed.

uttaratantra (Uttara-tantra)

The division of the Suśruta-saṃhitā containing this chapter.

nibandhasa~ggraha (Nibandhasaṅgraha)

The title of Dalhaṇa’s commentary named in the colophon.