Saccharum Officinarum or the sugarcane and its products; sugar and treacle were known to the Hindus from a very early age. From the Sanskrit term "Sarkara" are derived the English word "Sugar". 12 varieties of sugarcane are mentioned by Sanskrit writers.

The products or preparations of the sugarcane, as described by Sanskrit writers, are as follows:

1. Ikshu Rasa or sugarcane juice. 2. Phanita or sugarcane juice boiled down to one-fourth. 3. Guda or sugarcane juice boiled to a thick consistence that is treacle. 4. Matsyandika is sugarcane juice boiled down to a solid consistence but which still exudes a little fluid on drawing. 5. Khanda is treacle partially dried or candied in white sand like grains. 6. Sarkara or white sugar. 7. Sitopala or sugar candy. 8. Gaudi or fermented liquor obtained from treacle. 9. Sidhu or fermented liquor obtained from sugarcane juice.

Benefits of Sugarcane
Sugarcane has the properties of normalizing vitiation of blood and pitta (bile). It rejuvenates liver. Because of this property it is widely used in treating jaundice. It is, however, very essential that the juice, must be clean and devoid of micro organisms.

Dose of Sugarcane in Medicine
The root of the sugarcane is considered demulcent and diuretic. Sugar and treacle are very largely used in Hindu Medicine. Old treacle is preferred to new, for medicinal purposes.

Trinapancha Mula: Under this name the roots of 5 sorts of grasses are used in combination. They are as follows -

1. Ikshu: Saccharum Officinarum
2. Sara: Saccharum Sara
3. Kasa: Saccharum Spontaneum
4. Kusa: Poa Cynosuroides
5. Darva: Imperata Cylindrica

A decoction of these roots is considered demulcent and diuretic and is largely prescribed as an adjunct to metallic medicines in gonorrhoea, strangury and suppression of urine.

Kusavaleha - Take the 5 roots above mentioned 80 tolas each, water 64 seers, boil down to 8 seers and strain. Then add sugar 4 seers and reduce to the consistence of a thick syrup. Remove the syrup from the fire and add to it the following substances, namely, liquorice root, cucumber seeds, the seeds of Cucumis melo (karkati), bamboo-manna, emblic myrobalan, tejapatra leaves, cardamoms, cinnamon, bark of Cratava religiosa (varuna), gulancha, seeds of Aglaia Roxburghiana (priyangu) and the flowers of Mesua ferrea (nagakesara), 2 tolas each in fine powder; stir them well with a ladle and prepare an electuary. Dose should be 1 to 2 tolas.