Susruta Samhita - Mandhata Global

CHAPTER XXTV.
Now we shall discourse on the rules of hygiene and
the prophilactic measures in general (Anstgatavadha-Prati-shcdhaniya).
i.
Metrical Texts : —Now we shall describe the
rules of conduct to be daily observed by an inte'ligent
man (after leaving his bed) seeking perfect health and a
sound body. 2.
Tooth -brushing" ;—A man should leave his
bed early in the morning and brush his teeth. The
tooth-brush (Danta-Kdshtha) should be made of a
fresh twig of a tree or a plant grown on a commendable
tract and it should be straight, not worm-eaten, devoid
of any knot or at most with one knot only (on one side),
and should be twelve fingers in length and like the
small finger in girth. The potency and taste of the
twig (tooth-brush^ should be determined by or vary
according to the season of the year and the preponder-
ance of any particular Dosha in the physical tempera-
ment of its user.* The twig of a plant possessed of any
of the four tastes as sweet, bitter, astringent and pungent
should be alone collected and used. Nimba is the
Khadira
and
best of all the bitter trees ;
ones ; Madhuka of the sweet ;
pungent ones. 3
of the astringent
Karanja of the
• A man of a Kaphaja temperament should use a twig of a plant
possessed of a pungent taste (Tikta) in brushing his teeth. A man of a
Pittaja temperament should brush his teeth with a twig possessed of a
sweet
taste (Madhura), while a man of a VeCtika temperament (nervous)
should use that with an astringent (Kasaya) taste. This rule should be
observed even in respect of the preponderant Doshas of the body, in a
disease.