AYURVEDIC RASAYANAS

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

While I admire the Indian penchant for classification, sometimes I feel

that an unreal element creeps in when things become so highly

systematized. for example, Chyavanaprash is also a naimittika

rasayana, used in the treatment of diseases such as consumption, cough

and asthma. i worry that people on the list will get confused and

think that certain remedies can only be used along the lines

described. in reality, the benefit of a remedy is specific to the

individual circumstances, and there is a high degree of flexibility -

this is what i appreciate about Ayurveda and herbal medicine generally.

Thus, a herb like Pippali has a myriad of uses, as a kamya and

naimittika rasayana, but is also vajikarana (sexual rejuvenative),

dipanapachana (digestive stimulant), bhedana (aperient), krimiaghna

(antihelminthic), jvaraghna (febrifuge), chedana (expectorant),

kasahara (antitussive), svasahara (bronchial antispasmodic), kushtaghna

(alterative), mutravirechana (diuretic), medohara (metabolic

stimulant), hrdaya (cardiac trophorestorative) etc. etc. It takes both

intelligence and experience, combined with the great wisdom of the

plant itself to really understand these things. As one my colleagues

Michael Moore (the herbalist, not filmaker) has said (and I

paraphrase), there are exceptions to every rule in nature, since nature

hasn't read the textbooks...

 

i think we always need to come back to Vagbhata, who clearly states

that the only thing you need to know is the qualities of the doshas and

their manifestation. knowing this, one can address it through remedies

that counter these qualities. all the terms and systems that surround

this intrinsic knowledge and may intimidate those of you for whom

classification and systemization is of secondary importance. not all

of us need to keep our underwear drawer meticulously organized...

 

blessings... Caldecott

todd

www.toddcaldecott.com

[Guest guest]

I just last evening had an argument with an aquaintance over the uses of

Chyavanprash. I said that it was a good blood purifier, balanced out

water retention, and was an excellent anti-oxidant. But that it was not

recommended to be taken in the summer, because it was too heating. My

aquaintance (who likes to challenge authority) said, "why not take it in

the summer anyway? Everybody responds to medicines differently. It

might benefit you anyway. If you get heated, sit in an air-conditioned

room."

 

What specific effects does Chyavanprash cause that are "heating" in

summer?

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

[Guest guest]

>

> What specific effects does Chyavanprash cause that are "heating" in

> summer?

>

 

 

Pippali, ashwagandha and saffron may be some ingredients that

aggravate pitta; though the amount of each is pretty small that it is

OK to take in the summer. Amalaki which constitutes a rasayana for

pitta is the major portion, so it is beneficial for pittas even in

the summer. But different manufacturers clearly mix in different

amount of ingredients, which is readily detected by the taste. Some

have a strong pungent taste which is not good for pittas, others have

a strong sweet taste. If you get chyavanaprash from a traditional

manufacturer, I think it is Ok for pittas even in summer.

 

I am told that Dabur is one of the worst brands; the quality is so bad

(from using mass manufacturing methods) that they mix in chemical

preservatives for long shelf life.

 

-yogaman