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THE SUSHRUTA SAMHITA.
[ Chap. XLVI.

A flower should be understood as possessed of the same properties which are natural to the tree or plant on which it grows. The (tender stem) of the Madhu-Shigru is pungent in taste and subdues the deranged Kapham.

The Kshavaka, the Kulechara, and the tender sprouts of Vansha, etc., generate the deranged Kapham, and tend to increase the discharge of stool and urine.

Metrical Texts:—The Kshavakam helps the germination of worms in the intestines. It is slimy and sweet in taste, and tends to increase the secretions of the internal organs. It generates the Vayu and does not inordinately increase the Pittam and Kapham in the body. The tender sprouts of Venu generate Kapham and are sweet in taste and digestion. They can be but imperfectly digested and produce the Vayu in the organism. They have a slightly astringent taste and tend to produce a state of extreme parchedness in the system.

The Udbhida Group:—Mushrooms are generally found to grow on stacks of straw (Palala), or are seen vegetating on the stems of bamboo (Venu) or sugar-cane (Ikshu), or as sprouting up from beneath the surface of the ground (Udbhida), or growing on a heap of decomposed cow-dung (Karisha.) Of these, those which grow on stacks of (decomposed) straw