VIRUDDHA AAHARA
ViruddhaAahara:
ViruddhaAahara can be interpreted as Food allergy. The term food allergy has been used to describe any reaction associated with food. Food allergy is merely one form of food intolerance. According to Classical definition anything that provokes humors without eliminating them is generally considered as viruddha or incompatible. There are eighteen types of food incompatibilities described in CharakSamhita.
They are as following:
1.Place incompatibility [DeshViruddha] e.g. Hot and sharp in arid place. Cold and unctuous in marshy place.
2.Time incompatibility [KalaViruddha] e.g. Cold and dry in cold season. Spicy and hot in summer.
3.Digestion incompatibility [Agni Viruddha] e.g. indigestible articles of food, piece of iron.
4.Dose incompatibility [MaatraViruddha] e.g. honey and ghee in equal quantities.
5.Habit incompatibility [SaatmyaViruddha] e.g. very spicy food to a person who is not habituated to it.
6.Humour incompatibility [DoshaViruddha]which aggravates any of the humors.
7.Process incompatibility [SamskaraViruddha] Incompatible due to improper cooking process E.g. Pigeon fried in mustered oil.
8.Potency incompatibility [VeeryaViruddha]. Combining of substances of opposite potencies.
9.Gut incompatibility [KoshthaViruddha] Not suitable for type of koshtha. E.g. Strong Purgatives in Mrudukoshtha and light laxative in Kroorakoshtha.
10.Condition incompatibility [AvasthaaViruddha] Not suitable to the condition of the consumer. E.g. dry food to a thirsty person.
11.Order incompatibility [KramaViruddha] A person under natural urges should clear it and have food. Dining with the urge is incompatible.
12.Regimen incompatibility [UpachaaraViruddha] to expose
to unfavorable conditions after food. E.g. To expose to heat after eating pork. To expose to cold after consuming Ghee.
13.Exemption incompatibility [ParihaaraViruddha] Use of things those are to be avoided
14.Cooking incompatibility [PaakaViruddha]improperly cooked E.g. use of bad fuel. Mixing up overcooked and undercooked food together.
16.Mental incompatibility [HR‟T Viruddha] E.g. Objectionable to mind. Meat for a strict vegetarian.
17.Maturity incompatibility [SampatViruddha] Immature or over mature substances which do not have desirable qualities. E.g. unripe banana (eaten raw). Over ripe fruits.
18.Regulation incompatibity [VidhiViruddha] against the rules of consuming food. E.g. eating in public places.
Sushruta describes some other additional types:
1.Rasa -Conflicting tastes
2.Vipaaka -Taste remaining or generated after digestion
3.Tara-Tamatva strength of qualities
Vagbhata‟a describes some more:
1.Gunasamataa –same quality of strong nature in two different food articles.
2.GunaVishmataa- Opposing strong qualities
3.GunaSama- Vishmataa- Powerful qualities , some same and other opposing [Similar to Agonist, Antagonist]
4.Nisarga natural qualities
Factors nullifying incompatibility of food are:
1.Regular exercise
2.Regular intake of fats
3.Strong digestive power
4.Youth
5.Bodily strength
6.Small quantity
7.Desensitization or habituation.
Incompatibility of food may Produce following diseases
1.Debility of sense organs
2.Death
3.Visphota- irruptions on skin
4.Shopha edema
5.Madaintoxication
6.Vidradhi abscesses
7.Gulma tumors
8.Yakshmaa tuberculosis
9.Tejonaasha lack of lustor
10.Balanaasha debility
11.Indriyanasha loss of capacity of sense organs
12.Smratinaashaamneshia
13.Chitttanaasha amnesia
14.Jwara fewer
15.Raktapittapurpura
16.Astamahaagada 8 major diseases(Diabetes, leprocy)
17.Shaandhya impotence
18.Andhatwa blindness
19.Visarpa herpes
20.Dakodara ascites
21.Unmadaa Psychosis
22.Bhagandara fistula-in-ano
23.Moorchhaa syncope
24.Galagraha sore throat
25.Paanduanameia
26.Grahaneesprue
27.Amlapitta hyperacidity
28.Kilaasa Depigmentation of skin
29.Peenasa Sinusitis
30.Santaanadosha fetal deformities
It does not mean that every one of these disease is bound to happen. Appearance of any of the disease depends upon following things-
1.Nature of Viruddha –Ahaara
2.Amount taken
3.nature of the person
other predispositions like Prakrati, Vayaetc
Management According to Ayurveda:
Virechana- Purgation
Vamanna – Emesis
Shamana- Pacification with drugs
Hitasevana- Wholesome food
Abhisanskriti- Desensitization
Preventive measures like exercise, oleationetc
Secondary prevention should be done by slowly replacing incompatible habits with wholesome habits
Written by :-
ARVINDER KAUR
Student of BAMS 3rd year
Government Ayurvedic college and hospital
City:- Patiala
State:- Punjab
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