Background
In the last few posts, we saw how Caraka Samhita classifies life as a tripod of physical body, logical mind and Atman. Atman manifests as manas which is only an observer and does not undergo any defects. But the physical body and logical mind undergo defects due to falsities of 'time' (ageing) and falsities of excess consumption.The falsities of excess consumption by mind can be addressed by making knowledge out of information, by scientific study, by being equipoise.
The falsities of excess consumption by physical body/sarira results in doSas of pitta (information processing systems as in nervous system and hormones), doSas of kapha (metabolic systems) and doSas of Vayu (controllers of these systems, which is immune system). Atleast this is the way I see the doSas as in Caraka Samhita.
Caraka Samhita propounds a principle that if one observes the effect of doSas produced in the body and counter it with a 'dravya' or 'material' or 'medicine' which is of opposite nature, then that doSa gets addressed. Caraka also warns that this principle cannot be applied to all diseases.
The pitta doSa, the problems in electrical signaling or chemical signaling manifests as problems in the gut, which is known as the 'second brain'. Problems like mental stress, sleeplessness etc result in problems of the gut. Excess water, heat, Acidity, Alkalinity, ill-smelling gases, laxative effect results from these defects. These are addressed by opposite nature products that dry/astringent, produce less calories, viscous/starchy that counteract laxative effect, sweets that accelerate digestive processes, alkaline or acidic that counteract each other etc. Good brain leads to good gut. Good gut leads to good brain.
The kapha doSa, the problems in metabolism manifests as being heavy, dull, weak muscles, constipation, diabetics, metabolic defects causing immobility (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis), hyper pigmentation etc. These are counteracted by opposite nature products that are Light/subtle, high protein that burn more calories to produce heat, rich in carbs, water, bitter tasting to counter diabetics, liquid to counter constipation, white foods like banana rich in folic acid etc.
The Vayu doSa, the problems in control of signaling and metabolism due to immune disorders manifests as dryness in skin, dullness, being lean, hardness (opposed to softness) in muscle/joints, trembling movements like Parkinson and hypopigmentation. These are addressed by opposite nature products that are succulent, rich in protein to produce more heat, rich in saturated fats for becoming heavier, more easily digested to help more absorb unsaturated fats to help joints, roots and tubers to help movement disorders, white fruits like banana that have JAK inihibitors and address immune disorders.
Though the above way is not fully traditional, it is not non-conventional.
Now let's look at what kind of 'dravya' addresses these doSa.
Executive Summary of Sutra sthAna 64 to 68
'dravya' are the materials that become the 'medicines'. artha are the materials that are consumed. There are 'flavors' in the materials that we consume. These flavors are the essence of 'dravya' or 'medicines'.
Like the essence of 'earth' is water, essence of all matter forms is the electromagnetic interaction, the essence of all consumed matter are these 'flavors', which allow them to build and evolve complex biological forms. kSiti can be translated as Earth or any matter form. Apa can be translated as 'celestial water' or 'electromagnetic interaction'.
What are those six flavors of food that determines the origination and differentiation of three doSas..?
The six rasanas/flavors of food that sever as the 'essence' are the six major nutrients of a body. They are
- Carbohydrates
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Fat
- Proteins
- Water.
These six flavors are the six major nutrients of the body that creates and differentiates the 'doSa' of Pitta (Information processing), Kapha (Metabolism) and vAta (Control of these in our body).
- svAdu is palatable not exactly sweet. Carbohydrates are the most palatable.
- Amla tastes neither sour nor sweet. It's characteristic is Vitamins.
- lavana is indeed salty. Here it represents the minerals such as Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, iron, zinc etc which are all consumed in the form of 'salts'. The combination of these minerals form different salts, which are combination of acids and bases.
- kaTuka is ill-smelling. It is the 'fat' that smells ill when burnt.
- tikta is indeed acidic. They are the amino acids that are proteins.
- kaSaya is indeed bitter. But kaSaya is bittery water.
These major nutrients do match to six different tastes, to some extent. Carbohydrates are sugar/sweet, Amla is alkalinic (thuvarppu in tamil), lavana is salty, katu is hot, tikta is acidic (pulippu in tamil), kaSaya is watery or bitter.
The three doSas of the body grow and differentiate on the basis of the consumption of these six vital nutrients required for a body.
pitta doSa or defects in information processing/hormonal imbalances is increased by fats, vitamins and Minerals (poor or higher consumption). The pitta doSa or hormonal imbalances are decreased or won over by higher water, carbohydrates and proteins consumed by the body.
kapha doSa or defects in metabolism is increased by higher carbohydrates (diabetics), vitamins and Minerals (poor or higher consumption). The kapha doSa or metabolic issues are decreased or won over by higher water, fats and proteins consumed by the body.
vAyu doSa or defects in immune system is increased by higher fats, proteins and water retained in the body. The vAyu doSa or immune system defects is decreased by higher carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals consumed by the body.
How does these medicines work on the body..? They work in 3 ways.
- Some nutrients work by reducing the overall doSa.
- Some nutrients modify the dhAtu, the underlying organ or chemical reaction component.
- Some just improve the general health
In modern medicine too, the same principle is followed.
- In some cases, medicines address the excess or deficiency. This is addressing a 'doSa'.
- In some cases, medicines address a specific part or a process or a chemical reaction. This is addressing a 'dhAtu'
- In some cases, medicines improvise general health of a person.
Key sutras from 64 to 68
rasana arthō rasas tasya dravyam āpaḥ kṣitis tathā|
nirvr̥ttau ca viśēṣē ca pratyayāḥ khādayas trayaḥ||64||
flavors (rasana) of the matter forms that are consumed (artha) juice/essence (rasas) those (tasya) materials (dravyam) like (tatha) EM interaction/water (Apah) Abode/earth/land/world (kSiti) origination/manifestation (nivrttau) and (ca) special/differentiated (visese) and basis (pratyayah) devouring (khadayas) three (traya)
The flavors of matter forms that are consumed, materials that are the 'essence', like Apah being the essence of kSiti. The three doSas spring forth and differentiate on the basis of the consumption of these flavors.
kSiti can be translated as Earth, whose essence is Water (Apa is translated as celestial water).
kSiti can be translated as matter forms, whose essence is electromagnetic interaction (Apa is EM interaction).
There are six flavors of food that is consumed which are the core 'essences' or 'rasa' for a body.
svādur amlō'tha lavaṇaḥ kaṭukas tikta ēva ca|
kaṣāyaścēti ṣaṭkō' ayaṁ rasānāṁ saṅgrahaḥ smr̥taḥ
Palatable (svAdu), alkaline (amla), salty (lavana), pungent (katu), acidic (tikta), water (kasaya ca iti) these six (ayam sad) are said to be the accumulation of six rasanas or six flavors.
What are those six flavors of food that determines the origination and differentiation of three doSas..?
The six flavors of food that sever as the 'essence' are the six major nutrients of a body. They are Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Minerals, Fat, Proteins and Water. These six flavors are the six major nutrients of the body that affects the Information processing, Metabolism and Control of these in our body.
- svAdu is not sweet. It is palatable. Carbohydrates are Palatable.
- Amla tastes neither sour nor sweet. Here amla is Vitamins.
- lavana is indeed salty. Here it represents the minerals such as Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium and zinc.
- kaTuka is ill-smelling. It is the 'fat' that smells ill when burnt.
- tikta is indeed acidic. Here they are the amino acids that are proteins.
- kaSaya is indeed bitter. Here kaSaya are the watery fluids.
But the essence (rasa) are the six major nutrients required for the body that controls the doSas and not just tastes.
svādv amla lavaṇā vāyuṁ, kaṣāya svādu tiktakāḥ|
jayanti pittaṁ, ślēṣmāṇaṁ kaṣāya kaṭu tiktakāḥ||66||
kaṭvamlalavaṇāḥ pittaṁ, svādvamlalavaṇāḥ kapham|
kaṭu tikta kaṣāyāśca kōpayanti samīraṇam
kaṭvamlalavaṇāḥ pittaṁ, svādvamlalavaṇāḥ kapham|
kaṭu tikta kaṣāyāśca kōpayanti samīraṇam
Higher Water, Carbohydrates and Proteins win over the Pitta doSa.
Higher Water, Fats and Proteins win over the Kapha doSa.
Higher Carbohydrates, Vitamins and Minerals win over the Vayu doSa.
Higher Fats, Vitamins and Minerals increase the Pitta doSa or defects in Information processing.
Higher Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Minerals increase the kapha doSa or defects in Metabolism.
Higher Fats, Proteins and Water in the body increase the Vayu doSa or defects in inmmune systems
Consolidating the above, pitta doSa or defects in information processing/hormonal imbalances is increased by fats, vitamins and Minerals (poor or higher consumption). The pitta doSa or hormonal imbalances are decreased or won over by higher water, carbohydrates and proteins consumed by the body.
Consolidating the above, kapha doSa or defects in metabolism is increased by higher carbohydrates (diabetics), vitamins and Minerals (poor or higher consumption). The kapha doSa or metabolic issues are decreased or won over by higher water, fats and proteins consumed by the body.
Consolidating the above, vAyu doSa or defects in immune system is increased by higher fats, proteins and water retained in the body. The vAyu doSa or immune system defects is decreased by higher carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals consumed by the body.
kiñcid dōṣa praśamanaṁ kiñcid dhatu pradūṣaṇam|
svastha vr̥ttau mataṁ kiñcit trividhaṁ dravyam ucyatē
Some (kincit) dosa reduce (prasamanam) some (kincit) dhatu modify (pradusanam) health (svastha) increase (vrttau) considered (matam) some (kincti) three types (trividham) dravyam is said to be (ucyate)
How does these nutrients work on the body..?
They work in 3 ways.
1. Some nutrients work by reducing the overall doSa.2. Some nutrients modify the dhAtu, the underlying organ or chemical reaction component.
3. Some just improve the general health
In modern medicine too, the same principle is followed. If some excess or deficiency is the reason for disease that is addressed as a whole body. If some specific part of a body needs to be addressed, then that is done. Some do not address anything, but improvise general health of a person.
tat punas trividhaṁ prōktaṁ jaṅgam audbhida pārthivam
that (tat) again/after (punas) three types (trividham) declared (proktam) animal/locomotive products (jangama) products that arose out of what sprung like plants (audhbhida) earth products (parthivam).
These medicines again are declared to be three types. They are from animals, from that arise on their own like plants/trees/herbs and those that are part of the earth. These are plant, animal or earth products.
References
1. https://www.vedabhasya.com/2020/04/caraka-samhita-sutra-sthana_18.html2. https://www.vedabhasya.com/2020/04/caraka-samhita-sutra-sthana.html
3. https://www.vedabhasya.com/2020/04/ayurved-different-perspective.html
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