Several sorts of lime are used in Hindu medicine which is also called Churna. Then we have lime from calcined cowries, conch-shells, bivalve-shells and snail-shells, called respectively, Kapardaka Bhasma, Sankha Bhasma, Sukti Bhasma and Sambuka Bhasma. These shells are purified by being soaked in lemon juice, and are prepared for use by being calcined within covered crucibles.

Benefits of Lime
Lime is used internally in dyspepsia, enlarged spleen and other enlargements in the abdomen, and externally as a caustic.

Dose of Lime in Medicine
Lime enters into the composition of a great many prescriptions for different sorts of dyspepsia. The following are a few examples.

Amrita Vati: Take calcined cowries 5 parts, aconite 2 parts, black pepper 9 parts and make into 2 grain pills. They are used in loss of appetite and indigestion.

Agnikumara Rasa: Take borax, mercury and sulphur, each one tola, aconite, calcined cowries and conch-shells, each 3 tolas, black pepper 8 tolas, rub them together for 12 hours with lime juice and make into 12 grain pills. This medicine is to increase the appetite and cure indigestion. Calcined conch-shell in half a drachm doses is recommended to be taken with lime juice in enlarged spleen.

Lime is used in various combinations as a caustic for different diseases. Thus a mixture of conch-shell lime, impure carbonate of soda (sarjika) and the ashes of Raphanus sativus (mulaka) is applied to tumours and enlarged glands. A mixture of lime, carbonate of soda, sulphate of copper and borax is applied as a caustic to tumours and warts. Lime enters into the composition of depilatories. Thus take conch-shell lime 3 tolas, orpiment and the ashes of Butea frondosa (palasa), one tola each, and rub thorn together with the juice of plantain stalks or of Calotropis gigantea (arka). This paste is applied 7 times to the part from which the hair is to be removed.

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