Charaka Kalpa Sthana 6th Chapter Kritavedhana Kalpam

6th chapter of Charaka kalpa sthana deals with “Pharmaceutics of Kritavedhana”. The chapter name is Krutavedhana kalpam.

Prologue
Now we shall explore the chapter dealing with the “Pharmaceutics of Krtavedhana”. Thus said Lord Atreya [1-2]
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Synonyms of Kritavedhan

Now listen to the synonyms of Krtavedhana, and its recipes. Its synonyms are Ksveda, Koshataki and Mrdanga Phala. [3]

Therapeutic effects of KrutaVedhana

It is exceedingly pungent, sharp and hot. It is useful in deep seated diseases, viz, obstinate skin diseases including leprosy, anaemia, splenic disorders, oedema, phantom tumours, toxicosis etc. [4]

Kritavedhanam recipes with Milk and Alcohol

Preparations of the flower, etc of krtavedhana along with milk and alcohol is made on the lines suggested before and used for emesis. [½ 5]
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Krutavedan recipe with Decoctions

Depending upon his strength, the patient should take one or two of the ripe fruits of Krtavedhana along with the decoctions of any one of the nine drugs, viz, Madhuka, (Kovidara, Karbudara, Nipa, Vidula, Bimbi, Sanapuspi, Sadapuspi, or Pratyakpuspi). This potion is to be used according to the procedure prescribed for Madanaphala (vide Kalpa 1: 14). [5 ½ – ½ 6]
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Linctus recipe

The decoction of the fruit of Krtavedhana is prepared and filtered. To this liquid, one part of the paste of Krtavedhana and half part of the paste of Madanaphala etc. is added. This is cooked, made into linctus and used for emesis.  [6 ½ – ½ 7]

Decoction recipe

The powder of Kritavedhana is macerated with the decoctions of any one of the thirteen drugs, viz, Aragvadha, Vrksaka, Svadukantaka, Patala, Sarngesta, Murva, Saptaparna, Naktamala, Piccumarda, Patola, Susavi and Guduci. These recipes may be used for emesis. ] [7 ½]

Slimy recipe

Krtavedhana is added with the powders of the roots of one of the drugs viz, Salmali, salalaka, Bhadaraparni, Elaparni, Upodika, uddala, dhanvana, Rajadana, Upacitra and Gopi. Powder of these ten recipes becomes slimy when mixed with water. These ten slimy recipes are used for emesis. [½ 8]

Krutavedanam pills

On the lines suggested for Madanaphala, six types of vartis (elongated pills) are prepared. In the same manner, medicated ghee should also be prepared. Administration of these pills and the medicated ghee causes emesis. [8 ½]
Read – Principles Of Making Herbal Ghee – Ghritham

Recipes of Linctus

Fifty fruits of Krtavedhana are cooked by adding the juice or decoction of Kovidara. This is then added with the paste of Madanaphala, Jimutaka, Iksvaku, Dhamargava, Kutaja or Krtavedhana, cooked again and made into linctus. To the decoction, one part of the paste of Ksveda or Krtavedhana (which is one fourth of the decoction) and half of the paste of each of madana phala, (jimutaka, Iksvaka, Dhamargava and Kutaja) is added before cooking.
Similarly, these recipes of linctus are to be prepared separately with the decoctions of –Kovidara
Karbudara
Nipa
Vidula
Bimbi
Sanapuspi
Sadapuspi
Pratyakpuspi [9-10]

Meat soup recipe

To the decoctions of –
Madanaphala
Jimutaka
Iksvaku
Dhamargava
Kutaja

The powder of kosataki or Kritavedhana and equal quantity of the meat of aquatic animals are added and cooked. This meat-soup is administered with salt. This will act as an emetic.
Similarly, with the decoction of koshataki or Krutavedanam meat of aquatic animals and equal quantity of 9 [the powder of]  Madanaphala, Jimutaka, Dhamargava, Kutaja and Krutavedhan all taken together is cooked. This meat-soup may also be administered for emesis. [11 ½ – 12]

Sugarcane juice recipe

The powder of Krtavedhana is boiled by adding sugarcane juice and administered [for emesis] to the patient suffering from Kasa (coughing). [12 ½]
Read – Charaka Kasa Chikitsa – 18th Chapter

Contents of the Chapter

To sum up:-
In this chapter describing the Pharmaceutics of Krtavedhana, sixty recipes of this drug are described, as follows:
Four preparations with milk (vide verse no. 5)
One preparation with alcohol; (vide verse no. 5)
Twenty-two preparations in the form of decoction: (vide verse nos. 5-7)
Ten preparations in the form Piccha (slimy form); (vide verse no. 8)
One preparation in the form of medicated ghee, ( vide verse no. 8)
Six preparations in the form of Varti (pills); (Vide verse nos. 8)
Eight preparations in the form of linctus; (vide verse nos. 9-10)
Seven preparations of meat-soup and (vide verse nos. 11-12)
One preparation with the juice of sugar-cane (vide verse no. 12) [13-14]

Colophon
Thus ends, the sixth chapter dealing with the “Pharmaceutics of Krtavedhana” in the Kalpa section of Agnivesha’s work  as redacted by Charaka, and because of its non- availability, supplemented by Drdhabala.