MIlk+Banana doubts

[Guest guest]

Dear Shirish Bhate,

I doubt your authenticity as an Ayurvedic consultant.

" Banana+ milk is a good bedtime bite " , you have advised to one of

our friends.

It contradicts your reference,

http://health. groups.. comayurveda/message/5940

where it is said that

" Combining foods improperly can produce indigestion, fermentation,

putrefaction and gas formation. This condition, if prolonged, can

lead to toxemia and disease complex. For example, eating bananas with

milk can diminish agni, change the intestinal flora producing toxins

and may cause sinus congestion, cold, cough and allergies. "

In Ayurvedic Texts, we study this example for explaining Viruddha

Aahara.

In our friends' circle, we ridicule those people who take banana

milkshake.

Please clarify in short.

ganeshkk

 

Clarification:

 

The posted material at perinatalayurveda is in specific context of

chronic constipation. This is a Vata sign. In ayurveda, several

substances, are specific remedies for specific patients and they are

also Viruddha aahara. This is confusing to ayurveda students. To

cite examples, milk and salt+tumeric at bedtime as cough remedy,

milk+jaggery as remedy for MutraKrichha condition, milk+lemon juice

as rapid remedy for piles.

Now Vaidya will give such viruddha ahara remedies to people

satisfying some pulse, Prakruti+vikruti combinations.

 

milk, a predominant Kaphagenic food, changes properties when boiled

with turmeric or ginger. while turmeric is " hot " , with milk, it

becomes a remedy for alzheimer disease! Several vata diseases are

tamed by milk, ghee etc

 

Banana+milk is Viruddha ahara in general. Specifically, the Viruddha

nature becomes insignificant when Banana is ripened. Similarly for

MIlk+mango. If mango is ripe, the mixture is compatible. people who

have Vata+pitta vikruti can take milk+banana(ripe) combination for

few days and they will start getting better sleep, and relief from

constipation. Many of guggulu tablets are to be taken and milk is to

be taken over them to keep heat down, in general. But depending on

patients condition or constitution, vaidya can waive this

requirement.

 

While there are certain general statements about incompatibilities,

the same incompatible combination, under certain condition, can

become remedy for some. While milk is incompatible with citrus foods

containing acids, milk is better accepted with certain ripened sweet

fruits. And one thing, it is quantity which is important.

 

Milk and banana are fertility booster foods. In India, a bride walks

to nupitals with a glass of milk and ripe banana, so that the groom

can boost his semen density.

 

Being a kaphagenic food, it would be less desirable for persons

having kapha vitiation.

 

There are many remedies in ayurveda, which are viruddha ahara in

general, but they are to be given for specific patients suffering

from specific ailmets.

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr. Bhate;

 

Thank you for these clarifications. As students of Ayurveda, we learn

something and then sometimes become too heavy handed about it, and it

is a blessing to be reminded no only are there exceptions to the rule

medicinally, but I often remind myself of Nature's flexibilities and

diverse ways of handling things, including the value of working with

what we have on hand.

 

My dear friend and mentor baidya Dr. Shrestha demonstrated this out of

her own need from so much international travel and new places and

people relations. While staying in my apartment her first month in

the US, she asked several times for yoghurt at bedtime. When I was

puzzled, she explained that yes, the rule for avoiding it was exactly

why she was using it. A little slow down from its properties as

slimy, cold, and heavy and harder to digest would enable her most

easily to sleep when otherwise vata (as well as pitta) were exacerbated.

 

Warm Regards;

Ysha