Virudhaharam (Incompatible food)

 It is a sunny day out there, and you stop for a beautiful irresistible enticing drink. Wow, now what would stop you from having a tempting  strawberry milkshake. Say, you have had it to your heart’s content. You feel satisfied and happy that you have had a healthy blend of a nutritious strawberry with milk  which is so wholesome. But unfortunately this satisfaction may not last long. The ayurvedic shastras quote the ill effects of milk when it is blended with a fruit or a sour substance. But disappointingly, strawberry is SOUR  and a FRUIT. On either count it cannot be mixed with milk. Even if we find a strawberry which is ripe and sweet ,don’t forget, its still a fruit. Ayurveda consisders this combination as virudda ( Virudda according to Ayurveda is something which hampers  the mind, body and the soul. In fact, acharyas have mentioned that viruddahara is equal to a poison or visa.REF.Astaangahridayam.sturastanam.7/29)

Charaka Samhita. Sutrasthanam.26/103

”The consumption of viruddaahara is responsible for causation of sterility, blindness, visarpa( An obstinate skin disease characterised by an acute spread), ascites , eruptions, insanity, fistula, fainting, intoxication, tympanitis, spasmodic obstruction in throat, anemia, poisoning due to ama, kilasa a type of skin disease, obstinate skin diseases including leprosy, sprue, oedema, acid dyspepsia, fever, foetal disease and even death.” Now, think twice before you ask god ‘why me!?’.
One of the symptoms of rabis is rapid loss of weight in a person. Now, how would it look if a person feels proud of his perfect body frame  whis is result of a DISEASE???eww, crazy right!!!But friends unfortunately this seems to be the trend today. Confused??Ayurveda again surprises you here. A major treatise of Ayurveda called astaangahridayam says,

REF. Astaangahridayam Sutrasthanam 5/53

 “Taking honey which is hot, in hot season, mixed with hot dravys (substances), or by a person who is afflicted by heat(ushnatvam) is destructive due to its toxic effect”
One of the practices, wrongly considered to be safe and healthy by the public today is the drinking of hot water with honey, on an empty stomach, that too the first thing in the morning!! No doubt they help to reduce weight, but is it worth it ??!!
One of the parameters of health according to Ayurveda is Bala (strength), but in this process the very Bala is lost.!!!
The concept of virudda is not only applied to aahara(food substances) but also to the vihara(regimen).

One of the common practices, especially in a hot place like Chennai, is to have a bath with cold water or a refreshing face wash with cold water, after getting scorched in the hot sun. Yes, what you are thinking is right. Start getting prepared to stop this practice. Somewhere, at some point of time people stopped following Ayurveda and interestingly, started doing the opposite. Thanks to this, the general health of a person is depleting day by day.
Let me take an example of the eye. Has there not been an increased demand for a medical consultation of the eye? In fact, all other medical consultations are also equally in demand. But, the reason for taking the specific example of the eye is the issue that’s going to be discussed.

REF.Susruta Samhita. Uttaratram. 1/26,27

Susruta has explained the etiological factors which bring about diseases of the eye. One of the factors is exposure of the eye to cold water immediately after exposing the same to something hot. Don’t we know how often we do it? Then what surprises are there that the eye diseases are on the rise. This simple knowledge will save the eyes of many, at least for a longer period.
It is such simple thing that we stopped following because of lack of awareness. Not just the eye, health of our whole body can be protected by following simple rules. Avoiding viruddahara, or poisonous combination of foods is one such awareness that can help.

This article is just a speck of what Ayurveda can offer. Ayurveda encourages preventing a disease then curing it.

Food is for the healthy, medicine is for the sick, let’s all get this straight for a change.

Love Ayurveda. Live Ayurveda. Say goodbye to your ill health.

D.ACHYUT BHARADWAJ (VAYAM)

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The Ashtangas of Ayurveda

"I'd like to get myself energised..feel light... I feel like visiting a spa.. why not give myself some..ayurvedic massage?"
This is one of the most common contexts where the majority of the public links ayurveda with. There are some others who believe that ayurveda is something which can treat certain problems like those related to the bones, skin, hair, etc., while some others believe that ayurveda is something ritualistic/religionistic. Let's end this chain of half baked knowledge or bizarre contemplations. What really is ayurveda?
To put it in the most appropriate way, it is the science of life..or the perfect way to live. Ayurvedic texts tell us exactly what we need to do in order to live a happy and healthy life. On the other side of it, ayurveda describes treatment aspects for those afflicted by illnesses. And contrary to the popular misconception, ayurvedic treatment is not restricted to certain types of diseases and certain methods of treatment. It is a complete independent medical science, which does everything that a person wants, when he approaches a doctor - in fact, more than what he would ask for.
This said, it is essential to mention that the ancient texts have classified the medical system into eight primary branches. As found in a principal treatise called ashtangahrdayam (अष्टाङ्गहृदयं) written by acharya vagbhata (आचार्य वाग्भट:),  the verse throwing light on these branches is -

कायबालग्रहोर्ध्वाङ्गशल्यदंष्ट्राजरावृषान् |

अष्टावाङ्गानि तस्याहुश्चिकित्सा येषु संश्रिता: ||

kaaya-baala-graha-urdhwanga-shalya-damshtra-jaraa-vrshaan. Ashtaavangaani tasyaahushchikitsa yeshu samshritaah.

The first branch is "Kayachikitsa". Kayachikitsa can be compared to what is called "General medicine" today. It deals with the entire body as a whole and a kaya chikitsa doctor would treat you for the aspects a "general practitioner" would.
The second branch is "Balachikitsa" or pediatrics. As you can guess, it deals with child care, but also extended to the intrauterine life of the child and care of the mother. In general, it deals with the diseases of infancy, childhood and adolescence. It also deals with nursing, qualities of wet nurse, breast milk related issues, and related aspects. Thus, though this can be correlated to pediatrics, it extends a little into obstetrics.
The third branch is "Grahachikitsa", also called bhutavidya. It deals with psychiatry. Ayurvedic psychiatry uses several methods to treat the mind, which includes therapies and medications.
The fourth branch or "shaalakyatantra" is also called urdhwaangachikitsa. In samskrit language, 'urdhwa' refers to 'above' and 'anga' refers to 'parts'. Thus, urdhwanga would mean - the parts of the superior region of the body - which refers to the structures of the body above the level of the neck. Thus, it would be appropriate to say that this branch of science comprehends opthalmology and otorhinolaryngology (popularly called ENT - Ear-Nose-Throat).
The fifth anga or division is "Shalyatantra". It can be corelated to "surgery" of modern science. In samskritam, "shalya" means "foriegn body". Any foreign body that has invaded the human is dealt with under this branch. This branch handles the various surgical and orthopaedic procedures. Susrutacharya (सुश्रुताचार्य :) is considered the father of surgery. He is the pioneer of several practices in vogue today - such as the cataract surgery, plastic surgery, etc., All of this is studied under this anga. Thus a shalyatantra physician is essentially an ayurvedic surgeon.
The sixth branch is "Damshtra" which is also called "agadatantra" which deals with clinical toxicology. If you have been bitten by a snake or if you have developed rashes due to mosquitoes - there is no one better for you than an agadatantra specialist. Agadatantra is in extensive study on poisons, antitoxins, and the body's behaviour during these times.
The seventh anga is jara also called "rasaayanatantra", which is "Rejuvenative therapy" of ayurveda. It deals with the preservation of youth, prolonging lifespan, and care of the elderly. Thus, apart from being the geriatrics of ayurveda, it deals with how to delay the process of ageing - or, how to be ever young!
Lastly, the 8th anga is "Vrusha" or "vajeekarana chikitsa". It deals with everything related to reproduction - sex issues, coitus, fertility issues ..this is, ayurvedic sexology.

These are the primary branches created by the pioneers of ayurveda. This holistic system deals with all stages of life -starting from pre-birth to death, and deals with every phase of a society. The next time someone tells you that ayurveda is all about massages, you know what to do.

Vayam

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Vayam Ayurveda

आयुः कामयमानेन धर्मार्थसुखसाधनम्। 

आयुर्वेदोपदेशेषु विधेय: परमादर: ॥ 

(अ.ह्र.सू.स्. १/२)

With improved technology and science, man surely seems to be aided in his day to day activities. Travel is made easy by modern automobiles, communication is made easy by countless means, every aspect of the everyday life has been quickened. Not just quickened - but have also been made available on the tip of the fingers - as a result of which, we do not need to budge from our cushioned chair. Lifestyle has changed, resources have changed. Nothing is identical with the past - except the constitution of the human body. The several new developments give us comfort, no doubt. What we do not realise is that this comfort is like a bubble - momentary. If we use our lens to zoom out and look at the awaiting future, we can look at the avalanche of illnesses that is approaching us. With lifestyle changes, our physical activities have reduced greatly. Also, our food habits, sleep habits, and general routine are affected. As a solution to all consequential illnesses, we run to the doctor who prescribes some medicines that magically cure us. Again zooming out, the medicines we consume are creating yet another avalanche of illnesses, because of their side effects. Even if we realise that diseases are approaching us, we do not realise that this avalanche is created by the very medicine we just consumed. Each illness in this avalanche is again treated by medicines, each of which brings up another avalanche. This seems endless. A study by Melody Peterson, author of "Our daily Meds", suggests that 1,00,000 Americans die each year just due to the medicines, no matter how safely consumed under the doctor's guidance. This article quotes Peterson's words - "The study estimating that 100,000 Americans die each year from their prescriptions looked only at deaths from known side effects. That is, those deaths didn't happen because the doctor made a mistake and prescribed the wrong drug, or the pharmacist made a mistake in filling the prescription, or the patient accidentally took too much. Unfortunately, thousands of patients die from such mistakes too, but this study looked only at deaths where our present medical system wouldn't fault anyone. Tens of thousands of people are dying every year from drugs they took just as the doctor directed. This shows you how dangerous medications are." 

Our lifestyle cannot be reverted back to the ages where all habits were healthy; we cannot avoid the modern comforts. The need of the hour demands all of these. This seemingly endless problem has only one solution - embedding Ayurveda in today's life.

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian science - rather, a way of life, that focuses on establishing complete health - mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. "Vayam Ayurveda" is a small effort made by us, Ayurvedic students, to deliver the messages of Ayurveda to the world. These messages contain simple and safe solutions to a mount of problems that man faces each day. The ancient texts have solutions to everything. Deciphering them and embedding them in the modern life is in our hands. This blog is an effort to share Ayurvedic knowledge relevant to the public, as per times and as per needs. 

Stay tuned for updates. 

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