Background
The core principle of Ayurveda is 'like' increases 'like' and that is ordinary. 'Opposite' decreases the like and it is special. This principle is applicable to both physical sarira and logical mind.
dravya with 'like' 'gunas or characteristics' add up with each other and grow. It is ordinary. But dravya with opposite gunas or characteristics counteract with each other and they help control. They are special.
A physical body or sarira is also made of different types of dhAtu or ingredients chemically interacting with each other. These equivalent dhAtus in the sarira engage in a cause-effect, action-reaction sequence and create all the metabolic, electrical signaling, hormonal signaling, control of metabolism and signaling processes by chemical reactions.
A logical mind is made up of 'thoughts' that interact with each other and produces knowledge or wisdom, scientific investigations and emotional drives such as courage etc
A physical body or sarira is also made of different types of dhAtu or ingredients chemically interacting with each other. These equivalent dhAtus in the sarira engage in a cause-effect, action-reaction sequence and create all the metabolic, electrical signaling, hormonal signaling, control of metabolism and signaling processes by chemical reactions.
A logical mind is made up of 'thoughts' that interact with each other and produces knowledge or wisdom, scientific investigations and emotional drives such as courage etc
The principle of Ayurveda here is observing the characteristics of the change produced in the physical body and counteracting it with a dravya of opposite characteristics. In fact most chemical reactions that we see in everyday life are addressed this way. If body is a chemical reaction complex of equivalent ingredients that chemically react with each other (dhatu-sAmya), then the same principle could work to address the defects of body with dravyas of opposite characteristics.
The principle of Ayurveda here is observing the characteristics of the change produced in the logical mind and counteracting it with thoughts of the opposite kind, thus promoting logical analysis, consolidating knowledge, building up courage etc.
Too much of anything is not good for physical body or logical mind.
Executive Summary from Sutra 54 to 63
How are diseases caused..?
Caraka declares that excessive falsities of Knowledge organs (hearing, sight, touch, taste, smell) and/or excessive material consumption causes diseases in our two types of shelters. Caraka also declares that the 'falsity' of time in itself (ageing) causes diseases in two types of shelters.
Body and the logical mind connected to it are the two shelters of the diseases. Therefore their well being is the reason for the happy union of physical body and logical mind.
Living rests on three legs. Atma, logical mind and the physical body. Of these body and mind are the shelters of diseases. Atma is external, only an observer or witness, but is also the reason for all the logical mind, body, its gunas and the sense organs. Observer drives the evolution.
The accumulation of doSas in the physical body/Sarira are called Vayu, pittam and Kapha. Those of the mind, besides the body are called rajas and tamas etc.
These (doSas of the physical body) under the control of divine considerations at the start are diminished by medicines. Those of the mind are (diminished) by knowledge obtained from information (jnAna), by scientific study (of external factors) (vijnAna), by courage (dhairya), by study of scriptures (smrti) and mental balance or equipoise (sama-adhi).
mAruta doSa
The doSa/defects of mArutah causes dryness, dullness, being lean/lightness, hardness, feeble movement then hypopigmentation. These characteristics can be diminished by 'dravya' with opposite characteristics.
- Opposite of rUksa (dry) is Sneha (moisture, succulent). For eg., succulent substances (sneha) like aloe vera (succulents) counter rukSa (dryness).
- Opposite of sIta (cold/dullness) is Usnam (hot/active). High protein foods that burns more calories in the body and produce more heat or usnam counteracting sIta (dullness/cold)
- Opposite of laghu/suksma (light/subtle) is guru. Heavy foods with saturated fats add weight/guru to body counteracting being lean and light.
- Opposite of kharah (hard) is mrdu (soft). Soft foods (mrdu) that are easily digestible absorb more unsaturated fats such as omega 3 and counteract Stiffness/hardness in body/joints
- Opposite of cala (movements) is sthira (immobile). Roots and tubers that are immobile counteract movements/agitations (Parkinson's) caused due to loss of signaling control.
- Opposite of visada (spotless white/hypopigmentation) is pichhila (smeary/spotted). Diseases with white spots (like vitiligo) are said to counteract spotted fruits that have JAK inhibitors. JAK inhibitors can help hypopigmentation as these are auto-immune disorders.
All these symptoms above in skin, muscle joints, metabolism etc are due to loss of signaling control or metabolic control ( for eg. immune disorders or auto-immune diseases).
Hence I consider this doSa to be associated with immune system that actually controls the metabolism as well as information processing in a biological body.
The doSa/defects of mArutah as described above makes the Sattva and Rajas gunas to acquire preponderance. Hence it brings in laghu (light), sita (cold/dull), suksma (feeble/subtle) which are sattva characteristics and Cala (energetic shaking/trembling motion), kharah (hardness) which are Rajas characteristics.
Since this doSa causes the preponderance of Sattva and Rajas gunas, mArutah is Tamasic.
pitta doSa
- Opposite of sneham (succulent) is rUksa (dry/astringent). Dry/astringent foods serve to remove extra water in the body acting as diuretics.
- Opposite of Usnam (heat) is sIta (cold). Foods that produce less calories or heat are cold foods that counteract Usnam or heat in the body.
- Opposite of tikSNa (pungent, acidic) is amlam. Alkaline foods counteract production of acidic fluids in the body.
- Opposite of dravam amlam (alkaline, bile fluids) is tikSNa. Foods like fats, carbohydrates, proteins trigger acid production counteract alkalinity in stomach.
- Opposite of Saram (purgative/laxative/watery) is snigdha (starchy/high viscosity/oily). Having starchy/high viscosity foods help reduce laxative effects.
- Opposite of katu (bitter / ill smelling) is madhura. Sweets help accelerate digestive processes and counteracts ill-smelling/katu/bitter odours/tastes.
All these symptoms above like extra water in the body, heat in the body, acidic fluids, alkaline fluids, ill-smelling gases and laxavie effects are caused by disorders/defects in electrical and hormonal signaling systems as they control the digestive and excretory processes of the body. 'Gut' is called the second brain as brain controls the Gut. Reversely, a healthy Gut controls a healthy brain.
Hence I consider this doSa to be associated with information processing based on electrical signaling and chemical signaling/hormones in biological body.
The doSa/defects of pittam as described above makes the tamas and Rajas gunas to acquire preponderance. Hence it brings in sneham (succulent), usnam (heat), tikSNa (acidic) which are rajasic characteristics and amalam (alkaline), saram (laxative), kaTu (ill-smelling) which are tamasic characteristics.
Since this pitta doSa causes the preponderance of Rajasic and Tamasic characteristics pitta is sattvic
Kapha doSa
The doSa/defects of slesha causes heaviness/overweight, being dull, viscous/oily/constipating, dizziness, immobility and smeary nature.
- Opposite of guru (heaviness) is laghu/suksma (light/subtle). Light and subtle foods with low saturated fat content keep weight low.
- Opposite of sIta/dull is uSnam. High protein foods that burns more calories in the body and produce more heat or usnam.
- Opposite of mrdu (softness) is kharah (hard). Softness in muscle is addressed by 'khara'/hard foods rich in carbs.
- Opposite of snigdha (viscous/starchy) is saram (watery). Having more water helps in relieving constipation.
- Opposite of madhura (sweet) is kaTu (ill-smelling, bitter). Foods like bitter-gourd, cissus quadrangularis that smell or taste bitter reduce the madhura/sweetness.
- Opposite of sthira (immobility) is Cala (movements). Disorders of immobility are metabolic defects counteracted by having liquid foods that are moving.
- Opposite of picchila (hyper pigmentation) is vizada (white). Smearing of faces with dark spots or circles are counteracted by white fruits like banana. Hyperpigmentation is a metabolic disorder caused due to lack of production of vitamins and folic acid.
All these symptoms above like heaviness, dullness, softnes, sweetness, immobility, hyper-pigmentation are caused by disorders/defects in metabolism of energy that results in being fat, stout, weak, diabetic, dark spots and immobility.
Hence I consider this doSa to be associated with energy metabolism in biological body.
The doSa/defects of kapha causes Sattva and Tamas to acquire preponderance. Hence it brings in madhura (sweetness), mrdu (softness) which are Sattva characteristics and Guru (heavy), snigdha (oily/viscous), sthira (immobile), picchila (dark spots) which are tamasic characteristics.
Since this doSa causes the preponderance of Sattva and Tamas, kapha is rajasic.
Not all feasible diseases
Based on the region and time, medicines that fullfill opposite characteristics reverse the possible changes is the considered opinion of all.
What is possible and not all feasible diseases is advised in this method.
Key sutras from Sutra 54 to 63
kāla buddh īndriyā arthānāṁ yōgō mithyā na cāti ca|
dvayāśrayāṇāṁ vyādhīnāṁ trividhō hētu saṅgrahaḥ
Time (kAla) Information processing (buddhi) sense organs (indriya) material consumption/wealth (arthanam) their union (yoga) and (ca) extreme (ati) mithya na (falsities) two shelters (dvaya asraya) of diseases (vyadhi) three types (tri vidha) cause (hetu) accumulation/totally captures (sangrahah)
The union of excessive falsities of Time, Buddhi Indriyas, material consumption becomes three causes for two shelters of diseases.
Caraka declares that excessive falsities of Knowledge organs (hearing, sight, touch, taste, smell) and material consumption causes diseases in our two types of shelters. Caraka also declares that the 'falsity' of time in itself causes diseases in two types of shelters.
śarīraṁ sattva sañjñaṁ ca vyādhīnām āśrayō mataḥ|
tathā sukhānāṁ yōg astu sukhānāṁ kāraṇaṁ samaḥ
Body (sariram) logical mind (sattva) connected (sanjanam) are the shelters (asraya) of the diseases (vyadhinam) opined (matah) therefore/as (tatha) happiness (sukhanam) their union manifesting happiness (yogastu sukhanam) equal (samah) reason/cause (karanam)
Body and the logical mind connected to it are the two shelters of the diseases. Therefore their well being is the reason for the happy union of physical body and logical mind.
nirvikāraḥ parastvātmā sattva bhūtaguṇēndriyaiḥ|
caitanyē kāraṇaṁ nityō draṣṭā paśyati hi kriyāḥ
Unchanged (nirvikarah), external to (parastv) everything Atma, the cause /reason (karanam) of logical mind (sattva), biological body (bhuta), gunas, sense organs (indriya), is the 'seer' (drasta) that does (kriya) only seeing/observing (pasyati).
Living rests on three legs. Atma, logical mind and the physical body. Of these body and mind are the shelters of diseases. Atma is external, only an observer or witness, but is also the reason for all the logical mind, body, its gunas and the sense organs. Observer drives the evolution.
vāyuḥ pittaṁ kaphaś ca uktaḥ śārīrō dōṣa saṅgrahaḥ|
mānasaḥ punar uddiṣṭō rajaśca tama ēva ca
vAyu, pittam and kapha declared (uktah) bodily (sarira) defects (dosa) accumulation (sangraha).those performed in the mind (manasa) opposed to/besides this (punar) mentioned as (uddista) rajas and tamas etc
The accumulation of defects/doSa of body/Sarira are called defects of Vayu, pittam and Kapha. Those of the mind, besides the body are called rajas and tamas etc.
praśāmyaty auṣadhaiḥ pūrvō daiva yukti vyapāśrayaiḥ|
mānasō jñāna vijñāna dhairya smr̥ti samādhibhiḥ
Diminished (prasamyati) by medicines (ausadhaih) originally/in the past (purva) divine (daiva) considerations/arguments (yukti) by the control (vyapasrayaih) performed the mind (manasa) knowledge/wisdom gained internally by processing information, by science, courage, study of man-made scriptures, by mental equilibrium/meditation
The defects of Vayu, pitta, Kapha are diminished by medicines or in the past were under the control of divine considerations. Those of the mind are (diminished) by knowledge gained internally, by scientific study, by courage, by study of scriptures and mental balance/meditation.
rūkṣaḥ śītō laghuḥ sūkṣmaścalō'tha viśadaḥ kharaḥ|
viparīta guṇair dravyair mārutaḥ sampraśāmyati
dryness (rUksah), dullness/cold (sIta), lightness/being lean (laghu) movements subtle (suksma cala) then (atha) totally inflexible (visadah kharah) opposite gunas (viparita gunair) materials (dravya) diminishes (samprasamyti) this dosa of mArutah (mAruta)
The doSa/defects of mArutah causes dryness, dullness, being lean/lightness, hardness, feeble movement then hypopigmentation. These characteristics can be diminished by 'dravya' with opposite characteristics.
- Opposite of rUksa (dry) is Sneha (moisture, succulent). For eg., succulent substances (sneha) like aloe vera (succulents) counter rukSa (dryness).
- Opposite of sIta (cold/dullness) is Usnam (hot/active). High protein foods that burns more calories in the body and produce more heat or usnam counteracting sIta (dullness/cold)
- Opposite of laghu/suksma (light/subtle) is guru. Heavy foods with saturated fats add weight/guru to body counteracting being lean and light.
- Opposite of kharah (hard) is mrdu (soft). Soft foods (mrdu) that are easily digestible absorb more unsaturated fats such as omega 3 and counteract Stiffness/hardness in body/joints
- Opposite of cala (movements) is sthira (immobile). Roots and tubers that are immobile counteract movements/agitations (Parkinson's) caused due to loss of signaling control.
- Opposite of visada (spotless white/hypopigmentation) is pichhila (smeary/spotted). Diseases with white spots (like vitiligo) are said to counteract spotted fruits that have JAK inhibitors. JAK inhibitors can help hypopigmentation as these are auto-immune disorders.
All these symptoms above in skin, muscle joints, metabolism etc are due to loss of signaling control or metabolic control caused by immune system disorders (auto-immune diseases) . Hence I consider this doSa to be associated immune system that actually controls the metabolism as well as information processing in a biological body.
The doSa/defects of mArutah as described above makes the Sattva and Rajas gunas to acquire preponderance. Hence it brings in laghu (light), sita (cold/dull), suksma (feeble/subtle) which are sattva characteristics and Cala (energetic shaking/trembling motion), kharah (hardness) which are Rajas characteristics.
Since this doSa causes the preponderance of Sattva and Rajas gunas, mArutah is Tamasic.
sasnēham uṣṇaṁ tīkṣṇaṁ ca dravam amlaṁ saraṁ kaṭu|
viparītaguṇaiḥ pittaṁ dravyairāśu praśāmyati
viparītaguṇaiḥ pittaṁ dravyairāśu praśāmyati
With moisture/extra water/succulent (sa sneham), with heat (usnam), acidity (tiksnam) and (ca) fluids (dravam) alkaline (amlam) laxative movement (saram), ill-smelling (kaTu) dravya with opposite gunas diminish the pittam.
The doSa of pittam causes moisture, body heat and fluids acidic, alkaline/bile, laxative movements and ill-smelling gases/odor.
- Opposite of sneham (succulent) is rUksa (dry/astringent). Dry/astringent foods serve to remove extra water in the body acting as diuretics.
- Opposite of Usnam (heat) is sIta (cold). Foods that produce less calories or heat are cold foods that counteract Usnam or heat in the body.
- Opposite of tikSNa (pungent, acidic) is amlam. Alkaline foods counteract production of acidic fluids in the body.
- Opposite of dravam amlam (alkaline, bile fluids) is tikSNa. Foods like fats, carbohydrates, proteins trigger acid production counteract alkalinity in stomach.
- Opposite of Saram (purgative/laxative/watery) is snigdha (starchy/high viscosity/oily). Having starchy/high viscosity foods help reduce laxative effects.
- Opposite of katu (bitter / ill smelling) is madhura. Sweets help accelerate digestive processes and counteracts ill-smelling/katu/bitter odours/tastes.
All these symptoms above like extra water in the body, heat in the body, acidic fluids, alkaline fluids, ill-smelling gases and laxavie effects are caused by disorders/defects in electrical and hormonal signaling systems as they control the digestive and excretory processes of the body.
'Gut' is called the second brain as brain controls the Gut. Reversely, a healthy Gut controls a healthy brain.
The doSa/defects of pittam as described above makes the tamas and Rajas gunas to acquire preponderance. Hence it brings in sneham (succulent), usnam (heat), tikSNa (acidic) which are rajasic characteristics and amalam (alkaline), saram (laxative), kaTu (ill-smelling) which are tamasic characteristics.
Since this pitta doSa causes the preponderance of Rajasic and Tamasic characteristics pitta is sattvic.
guru śīta mr̥du snigdha madhura sthira picchilāḥ|
ślēṣmaṇaḥ praśamaṁ yānti viparītaguṇairguṇāḥ
Heavy (guru), dull/cold (sIta) soft (mrdu) viscous/oily/constipating(snigdha) sweet (madhura) solid (sthira) slimy (picchila) dravya with opposite gunas diminish the pittam.
The doSa/defects of slesha causes heaviness/overweight, being dull, viscous/oily/constipating, dizziness, immobility and smeary nature.
- Opposite of guru (heaviness) is laghu/suksma (light/subtle). Light and subtle foods with low saturated fat content keep weight low.
- Opposite of sIta/dull is uSnam. High protein foods that burns more calories in the body and produce more heat or usnam.
- Opposite of mrdu (softness) is kharah (hard). Softness in muscle is addressed by 'khara'/hard foods rich in carbs.
- Opposite of snigdha (viscous/starchy) is saram (watery). Having more water helps in relieving constipation.
- Opposite of madhura (sweet) is kaTu (ill-smelling, bitter). Foods like bitter-gourd, cissus quadrangularis that smell or taste bitter reduce the madhura/sweetness.
- Opposite of sthira (immobility) is Cala (movements). Disorders of immobility are metabolic defects counteracted by having liquid foods that are moving.
- Opposite of picchila (hyper pigmentation) is vizada (white). Smearing of faces with dark spots or circles are counteracted by white fruits like banana. Hyperpigmentation is a metabolic disorder caused due to lack of production of vitamins and folic acid.
All these symptoms above like heaviness, dullness, softnes, sweetness, immobility, hyper-pigmentation are caused by disorders/defects in metabolism of energy that results in being fat, stout, weak, diabetic, dark spots and immobility.
The doSa/defects of kapha causes Sattva and Tamas to acquire preponderance. Hence it brings in madhura (sweetness), mrdu (softness) which are Sattva characteristics and Guru (heavy), snigdha (oily/viscous), sthira (immobile), picchila (dark spots) which are tamasic characteristics.
Since this doSa causes the preponderance of Sattva and Tamas, kapha is rajasic.
viparīta guṇair dēśam ātrā kālō upapāditaiḥ|
bhēṣajair vinivartantē vikārāḥ sādhya sammatāḥ
sādhanaṁ na tva sādhyānāṁ vyādhīnām upadiśyatē|
bhūyaścātō yathā dravyaṁ guṇa karmāṇi vakṣyatē
bhēṣajair vinivartantē vikārāḥ sādhya sammatāḥ
sādhanaṁ na tva sādhyānāṁ vyādhīnām upadiśyatē|
bhūyaścātō yathā dravyaṁ guṇa karmāṇi vakṣyatē
Opposite (viparita) characteristics (gunair) place/region (dezam) there (atra) time (kala) is obtained/fullfilled (upapaditah) of the medicines (bhesajair) cease/repulse/reverse (vinivartante) changes/transformations (vikara) are possible (sadhya) is the considered opinion of all (sammatah). fullfilled/solved (sadhanam) not your feasbile diseases (na tva sadhyanam vyadhinam) is advised/instructed/indicated (upadisyate). further (bhuyah) and then I speak about the gunas and actions of dravyas (that can fullfill/solve).
Based on the region and time, medicines that fullfill opposite characteristics reverse the possible changes is the considered opinion of all. What is possible and not all feasible diseases is advised in this method.
Further let me declare about the gunas and action of dravyas.
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