The six tastes

Dr. M. LALITHAMBIKA.D.A.M

Too much sweet food damages spleen (pancreas), too much salty damages kidneys, too much pungent damages and dries the lungs, too much sour damages the liver, too much bitter damages the heart and finally too much astringent damages the colon. Yes too much of any taste will generally damage the body as whole. Sweet builds toxins, salty causes looseness, sour causes acidity, pungent causes burning, bitter causes cold and astringent causes contractions.

The six tastes as mentioned in my last article are also the "flavors" of our various emotions. These can affect us in the same way as diet and herbs viz, Sweet - love and attachment, Salty - greed, Sour - envy, Pungent - hatred, Bitter - grief and finally Astringent - fear. Emotions have the same effect as food and herbs of the same energetic quality. Psychological factors, generally speaking, will out weigh physical factors. Anger can damage the liver as much as alcoholism. So herbs and diet are not enough if the taste of the mind has not changed.

Synopsis of treatment: Anti - Vata therapy: Comprehensive therapy for reducing excess air. All anti - Vata therapies are nurturing, warming, moistening, calming and grounding. They should be done with patience, peace, consistency and regularity. A nutritive, strengthening diet is indicated with sweet, sour and salty tastes. Food should be warm, heavy and moist with frequent and regular meals. Mild Spices should be used in cooking to regulate digestion. When eating out, Avoid strong liquors and beer, Warmed medical wine or diluted table wine is okay, Have soup instead of salad, Sip hot water with the meal, Have a warm desert, at the end of the meal and if you must have ice cream, drink hot tea with clove and cardamom later.

Oil therapy is specific for high Vata with warm, heavy oils like sesame, almond applied on a regular basis. Best sites are the feet, the top of the head, the back and the lower abdomen. The colours for Vata are any except black, brown and gray. Emerald, jade, yellow sapphire, topaz gems is good with gold for Vata.

Most important factors as far as life style goes, are adequate sleep, moderate sun bath, avoidance of cold and wind, mild exercise, avoidance of over work or physical hard ships. Enema therapy is indicated as the main anti - Vata treatment in more severe conditions. Nasal therapy is also indicated with the taking of Vata -clearing herbs.

Vata diet for most people should be increased quantities of sweet, sour, salty tastes, warm, well -cooked, oily foods. All dairy products, sweeteners like sugarcane, molasses etc; all oils, grains like Basmati rice, wheat, oats etc, beans such as moong dal, lentils etc; lemons, grapes, avocado, figs etc in fruits, carrot, parsley, sweet potatoes, artichokes, beetroots in vegetables, All nuts and seeds, warm milk, fruit and vegetable juices, spice tea, warm water in beverages, chicken, turkey, egg, fish, beef, lamb in meat products spices like garlic, clove, ginger, basil, nutmegs etc can be consumed.

(The author is the Medical Director, MEDICUS AyurBay and can be contacted on info@ayurbay.com