Chirata.
Botanical name:
An annual herb of the mountainous regions of Northern India, chirata (Swertia chirayita) has long been held in esteem by the Hindoos, being frequently mentioned by Susruta (522). It did not attract attention in England until 1829, and was introduced into the Edinburgh Pharmacopeia in 1839. It was first described by Roxburgh (559) in 1814. No record of its introduction into Indian medicine nor to its original usage is possible, other than that it is a gift of native medication and is described in Sanscrit writings.
The History of the Vegetable Drugs of the U.S.P., 1911, was written by John Uri Lloyd.
