Twelve kinds of diet

The twelve kinds of diet are listed as cold, hot, unctuous, dry, liquid, solid, once a day, twice a day, medicated, reduced in quantity, dosha-pacifying and strengthening (vrishya) food.

Patients suffering from burning, thirst, heat, intoxication, the effects of liquor, raktapitta, sexual excess or fainting are to be treated with cold food.

Those who have drunk ghee (oleation), have been purged, suffer from vata or kapha disorders or have moist stools are to be treated with very hot food.

Those with vata disease, a dry body, much sexual activity or hard exertion are to be treated with many kinds of foods and drinks rich in fat such as ghee and oil.

Those with excess kapha, a swollen belly, marked prameha or excess fat are to be treated with dry, rough foods.

Liquid foods are for those with intense thirst, a very dry mouth, a dry body or weakness; dry foods for those with prameha, mahodara, eye disease, abdominal disease, injury or belching.

To increase a weak digestive fire one light meal a day is given; with balanced fire two meals a day.

Those averse to medicine are given food prepared or mixed with medicines; those whose fire is greatly reduced, less than the usual quantity; food suited to each of the six seasons pacifies the doshas; and healthy people are given nourishing, strengthening, virility-promoting food, as the Jina taught.