Madhuka. Vern. Mauά. Beng. Hind.

The flowers of Bassia latifolia yield a distilled spirit which is described by Susruta as heating, astringent, tonic and appetizing. The flowers are regarded as cooling, tonic and nutritive. They enter into the composion of several mixtures of a cooling and demulcent character. The following is an example. Take of the flowers of Bassia latifolia, bark of Gmelina arborea (gambhάri), red sandal wood, root of Andropogon muricatum (ushira), coriander and raisins, equal parts, and prepare an infusion in the usual way. This infusion is given with the addition of sugar for the relief of thirst, burning of the body and giddiness.2

The seeds of Bassia latifolia yield by expression a thick concrete oil which is used in lamps, and by the poorer classes, for culinary purposes. This oil called madhuka sάra in Sanskrit, is recommended to be applied to the head in cephalalgia.3