Dravya vigyaniya or drinkables is 5th chapter of Astanga Hrudayam discuss about types, qualities and benefits of various drinkables like water, milk, dairy products, sugarcane juices and oils.
Various types of water:
1.Rain water:
Rain water is which has come into contact with Sunlight, Moon light and wind is enlivening, improves quality of life, satiating, good for heart, calming and soothing to the mind and stomach, Stimulates intellect, thin, imperceptible taste,cold, Laghu (light to digest), similar to nectar. rain water is good or bad depends on the season and place where it rains.
Notes – The properties described above are of rain water collected in a clean vessel directly, a little while after the commencement of rain. It should be consumed within a few hours as it loses its properties. With the increasing industrialization and pollution, the rain water has lost its qualities nowadays. Hence, may not be good to consume.
2. Samudramdu (seawater qualities) :
Seawater should not be used for drinking expect during Ashvayuja month. (September,October/autumn season).
Notes:- During Ashvayuja month there will be the appearance of Agastya nakshatra (the star Canopus) which is said to remove the poisonous properties of water and other things of the earth, hence permission to use other kinds of water for drinking during this month.
3. Dushtajala – (contaminated water):
Water which is dirty, mixed with mud, algae, weeds and leaves, which is not exposed to sunlight and wind, which is a mixture of old and fresh, which is thick, not easily digestible, frothy, containing worms, hot (by nature), causes tingling of teeth by being very cold, that rain water which is un-seasonal or though seasonal that of the first rain (before the appearance of Agastya nakshatra, that contaminated with the webs, saliva, urine, faeces of spider etc., and such other poisonous materials, should not be used for drinking.
4. Nadijala –(river water benefits):
Water of the rivers which flow into the western ocean (Arabian sea), which are sweet and which have pure water (uncontaminated) is good for health, where as that flowing into eastern ocean is not ideal for consumption.
The water of rivers arising from Himalaya and Malaya mountains, and which get churned up well by dashing against rocks are good for health, whereas the same water if gets stagnated (and gets contaminated) gives rise to worms (intestinal parasites), filariasis, diseases of the heart, throat and head.
Water of rivers of the Prachya (gauda), Avanti (malwa) Aparanta (konkana) countries causes hemorrhoids. Water of rivers arising from Mahendra mountains cause enlargement of the abdomen and filariasis; those arising from Sahya and Vindhya mountains causes leprosy (and other skin disease) anaemia and diseases of the head; of those arising from Pariyatra, mitigate the (aggravated) dosas, bestow strength and sexual vigour, the water of the sea causes vitiation of all the three doshas.
Notes:– Pracya or Gauda desa comprises of central Bengal and parts of Orissa Avanti or Malwa country was round about the modern city of Ujjain. Aparanta or konkana comprises of Goa, karwr and north kanara districts of Karnataka. Mahendra mountain is the northern part of the eastern gaths, (the whole range of hills extending from Orissa to the district of Madura was known by the western Ghats. Vindhyas are mountain ranges of central India. Prriyatra is the western part of the Vindhya mountains.The water of kupa (deep well), tadaga (artificial pond) etc., should be considered to be similar (in qualities and properties) to those of the desert, marshy and mountains (respectively).
5. Jalapana varja- (avoiding of drinking water):
Water should not be consumed or consumed in very little quantity, by those suffering from poor digestive function, tumors of the abdomen, anaemia, enlargement of the abdomen, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, diseases of the duodenum, dropsy. Excepting for Sharad (autumn) and Nidagha (summer) even healthy persons should drink less quantity of water in all other seasons.
Jalapana phala- (effects of drinking water with respect to meals):
Drinking water in between meals – healthy habit
Drinking water after meals – causes obesity
Drinking water before meals – causes emaciation, weakness
Sheetajala (cold water):
Cold water relieves alcoholic intoxication, exhaustion, fainting, vomiting, debility (fatigue), dizziness, giddiness, thirst, heat (of the sun) burning sensation, bleeding conditions and Pitta dominant conditions and poison.
Ushnajala-hot water drinking benefits:
Hot water stimulates hunger, helps digestion, good for the throat, easily to digest, cleanses the urinary bladder, Relieves hiccup, flatulence, aggravation of vata, aggravation of Kapha, fever of recent origin, cold, cough, accumulation of undigested materials, rhinitis (running nose), dyspnoea and pain in the flanks.It is ideal on the days of Panchakarma therapy.
Special conditions:
- Water which is boiled and then cooled does not increase moisture or stickiness in the body light to digest. Useful in Pitta conditions.
- Water which is kept overnight, is not ideal for consumption. It increases Tridosha.
Narikelodaka- (coconut water benefits):
Tender coconut Tenderwater is unctuous, oily sweet, coolant, aphrodisiac, easy to digest Relieves thirst, balances Pitta and Vata, increases hunger and cleanses urinary bladder.