Sanskrit gurukul

In this post, we will learn about the remaining verses of chapter 1, desire for long life, of Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana under Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery, 1st year . Dravya bhedah-(Type of food substances) Shamana – Food that brings down the increased Dosha to normalcy Kopana – Food that increases the lowered Dosha to normalcy  Swasthahita - Food that maintains the normalcy of Tridosha and health. Types of Potency (Veerya) Ushna veerya (Hot potency) -Some food items are hot in nature. For example pepper  Sheeta veerya (cold potency) - Some food items are cold in nature. For example milk. These are the two types of potencies. Generally, substances that have Astringent, bitter and sweet tastes are coolant in nature and Sour, salt and pungent tastes are hot in nature. Vipaka Vipaka refers to conversion of taste after the initial phase of digestion. Madhura Vipaka (sweet) – Generally, Sweet and salt tastes underg...

Hello reader, in this post, we will further discuss Chapter-1 (Desire for long life) of Ashtanga Hridayam (Sutrasthana). In these verses, Acharya Vagbhata explains different kinds of digestive tracts, the formation of body constitutions, different properties of three doshas, basics tissues and wastes, six tastes, and the effect of taste on doshas. Koshtabhedah-(kinds of alimentary tract) There are three types of digestive tracts (Koshta): 1. Kroora Koshta – wherein the person will take a long time for digestion. The bowel evacuation will be irregular. It is influenced by Vata. 2. Mrudu Koshta – Sensitive stomach, has a very short digestion period. Even administration of milk will cause bowel evacuation. 3. Madhya Koshta – Proper digestive tract, bowel evacuation at appropriate times. It is influenced by Tridosha balance. Notes: —With the aggravation of Vata, the bowel movement is hard ( hard sabulous feces being eliminated with difficulty and not regularly eve...