Prasdrani.

Vern. Gandhabhάduli, Beng. Gandhάli, Hind.

The Poederia foetida is a long climbing plant, twining up and over trees. All parts of the plant give off a most offensive odour when bruised. The leaves, boiled and made into soup, are considered wholesome and suitable for the sick and convalescent. The entire plant including stem, leaves and root, is much used both internally and externally in rheumatic affections for which it is regarded as a specific.

Prasarani leha, or electuary of Poederia foetida. Take of the leaves, root and stem of Poederia foetida, two seers, water, thirtywo seers, boil till reduced to one-fourth. To the strained decoction add, two seers of treacle, and again boil till reduced to the consistence of a thick syrup. Lastly add powdered ginger, long pepper, black pepper, plumbago root and the root of Piper Chaba (chavika'), equal parts, in all half a seer. Dose, about one tola in acute rheumatism.1

Several oils or liniments for external application are prepared with this plant. The following, called Kubja prasάrani taila,2 is argely used by native physicians. Take of the entire plant of Poederia foetida eight hundred tolas, boil in sixty-four seers of water till reduced to sixteen seers, and strain. To the strained decoction, add sesamum oil, sixteen seers, milk, thirty-two seers, whey and fermented paddy water (kάnjika), each sixteen seers, and the following substances, namely, root of Poederia fatida, plumbago root, long pepper root, liquorice, rock salt, Acorus Calamus root, dill seeds, bark of Cedrus Deodara, root of Vanda Roxburghii (rasna), Scindapsus officinalis (gajapippali), jatamansi root and marking nuts, each two tolas in the form of a paste. First boil the oil with the decoction of Poederia foetida till the water is nearly evaporated, then boil the oil successively with the addition of milk, whey and kanjika, adding the aromatic paste during the last process of boiling. This oil is used externally in rheumatism with contraction and stiffness of the joints. After the application of the oil, the affected parts should be fomented with dry heat.