incompatible with bananas, fish with bread, while melons are claimed to be
incompatible with most other foods.
For hypertension, the instructions might be to drink one cup of mango
juice, followed an hour or so later by half a cup of warm milk, a pinch of
cardamom and nutmeg, and a teaspoonful of ghee. Gheeis a butter curd
product that increases the agniand improves assimilation. Cucumber raita
may also help if taken with a meal. Cucumber is a diuretic and raita is a
yoghurt-based spicy condiment that often features in Indian recipes.
Ayurveda prescribes specific diets for several psychiatric disorders and for
different drug therapies. For anxieties almond milk may be prescribed. It is
made by soaking 10 raw almonds in water overnight, then peeling and
blending them with a cup of warm milk. While in the blender a small pinch
of nutmeg and saffron is added.
Administration of medicines
It should be noted that, as with Chinese herbal medicine, the term ‘herbal
medicine’ includes animal and mineral products as well as products derived
from vegetable sources. In common with other complementary and alterna-
tive therapies, the type and dose of medicine chosen are influenced by the
individual’s constitution as well as by the nature of the disease. Other
factors governing the choice of medicine include the age and strength of the
patient, digestive capacity, degree of tolerance and psychological state.
There are detailed descriptions of the methods by which medicines should
be prepared. One technique, known as samskara(refinement), eliminates the
toxicity of the source materials, rather like the aim of serial dilution in
homoeopathy. Mixtures of medicines (sumyoga) may be administered to
achieve a balanced preparation, one principle balancing another through
synergism or antagonism, as with Chinese herbal medicine. Some ingredients
enhance the action, while others reduce the toxicity. The ayurvedic formula
chyavanprash combines more than 25 finely powdered herbs in a base of
honey and ghee. It is taken with food as a tonic.
Plant-based medicines
These are used by ayurvedic practitioners in a number of ways, among
which are the following examples:
- In the treatment of a gastric disturbance in a person exhibiting a pitta
prakritithe usual remedies black pepper (Piper rotundum) and ginger
(Zingiber officinale) would be administered judiciously or not at all,
because they are both considered to increase pittaand may exacerbate
the imbalance. - Tonification, or supplementation therapy, uses herbs and foods that
build and nourish tissues. This is prescribed for individuals who are
204 | Traditional medicine