Explore the knowledge

Bitter vegetables (the commentary writes तीखा for the verse's tikta) are listed among the causes of vāta aggravation.

Raktapitta is described as blood, corrupted in the liver and spleen by vata and pitta after vata, injury or heat, flowing upward, downward or both ways. Its prodromes, incurable and fatal…

Excessive use of pungent things is listed among the causes of pitta aggravation.

Vatarakta is said to arise from burning, pungent, hot and dry food in the hot season and long fast riding, which burn the blood and provoke vata; the corrupted blood collects in the feet…

Astringent vegetables are listed among the causes of vāta aggravation.

Fever is said to arise when the doshas, aggravated by wrong diet, other diseases, season, wrong conduct or injury, spread through the whole body. Its general signs and prodromes, its vata,…

The people of marshy (ānūpa) land are described as very stout and kapha-predominant, and physicians there are told always to treat kapha and vāta.

The introduction lists the qualities of kapha as stable (sthira), unctuous (snigdha), smooth (ślakṣṇa), clay-like (mṛtsna), cold (śīta), heavy (guru) and slow (manda), and says kapha, like…

Arochaka is an unmatched aversion to food caused by aggravated doshas, emotions such as grief, fear and anger, and impaired digestive fire.

The introduction says meat, like wine and honey, is used in no medicinal formula of the Kalyāṇakāraka, because obtaining it involves killing living beings and its renunciation is needed to…

The introduction says that the treatment portion of the Kalyāṇakāraka resembles Caraka to a large extent, apart from the parts dealing with honey, wine and meat.

Taking digestion as the example, the introduction says the pācaka pitta in the āmāśaya, pakvāśaya and similar organs is gross and can be seen directly, with qualities such as a raw smell…

Prameha is the first of the major diseases treated in chapter 11. The text gives its causes (too much heavy, liquid, unctuous and cold food, day sleep, lack of exertion), its prodromes, its…

A footnote says vāta is aggravated in the rainy season by the nature of the season, so enema therapy is given then.

The verse lists the habitual use of a single taste among the causes that bring on the doshas, to be avoided.

The verse describes sesame as hot, pervaded by astringent, bitter and sweet tastes, binding and appetising, light in digestion, and, applied to wounds, cleansing and healing.

Pitta fever shows thirst, delirious talk, intoxication, burning, high fever, fainting, giddiness, bitter taste in the mouth, restlessness, inflammation of nose and mouth, spittle mixed with…

Snake poison is called the most dreadful of animal poisons; snakes are of five kinds, divine serpents poison by sight and breath and earthly snakes by their fangs, and the text lists why…

One who regularly takes purgation, bloodletting and enemas, keeps poultices applied and takes cool food and drink of sweet, astringent and bitter taste overcomes vatarakta and raktapitta.…

Virasa is a perverted taste in the mouth caused by the doshas, treated by mouth-washes, tooth-sticks, held liquids, gargles and head purgation.

Continuing the account of digestion, the introduction says the food is moved onward by a propulsive action, and samāna vāyu is needed for this and to keep the food moist; its actions of…

The commentary prescribes the after-drink by the kind of food: sour gruel (kāñjī; the verse says sauvīra) when eating things made of pulses, buttermilk with boiled rice and the like, warm…

The seasonal rules name the drinking water for each season: in spring well or village water, or water heated, clean and cooled; in summer well water; in the rains hot water; in autumn water…

Worm disease is described with head and heart pain, vomiting, sneezing and fever; worms arise in kapha, faeces and blood and are treated with medicated ghee, purification, juices, powders,…