The potherbs (leaves of edible plants) such as the Mandukaparni, Saptala, Sunishannaka, Suvarchala, Brahma-suvarchala, Pippali, Guduchi, Gojihva, Kakamachi, Prapunnada, Avalguja, Satina, Vrihati-phala, Kantakarika-phala, Patola, Vartaku, Karavellaka, Katukika, Kevuka, Uruvuka, Parpataka, Kiratatikta, Karkotaka, Arishta, Koshataki, Vetra, Karira, Ataru- shaka, Arkapushpi, etc., are light and palatable, and prove curative in haemoptysis, Kushtha, Meha,fever, dyspnoea, cough and create a relish for food.
Metrical Texts:—The Mandukaparni and the Gojihvika species are alike in their properties, the former being astringent and beneficial to the Pittam, sweet in taste and digestion, cooling in its potency and of easy digestion. The Sunishannaka species is easily digested and is unattended with any acid reaction. It* is astringent in its action and tends to subdue the three deranged bodily humours, and it also arrests the evacuations of the bowels. The Abulguja has a bitter taste, is pungent in digestion and subdues the deranged Pittam and Kapham. The potherb Satina is slightly bitter and astringent in taste and tends to subdue the three deranged humours of the body. The Kakamachi herb is neither too cooling nor too heat-making in its potency and removes cutaneous affections. It subdues the deranged humours as the preceding
