Liquid Diets of Ayurveda
Manda
Ingredients:
Boiled rice – 1 part
Water – 32 parts
Preparation:
1. One part of rice is taken and 32 parts of water is added to it.
2. It is boiled over a mild flame till the rice is cooked.
3. The supernatant watery portion is taken and served when it is hot.
Indication :
Good during fever as it is –
o Very light and easy to digest,
o Nourishing
o Improves the digestive power
Makes the air and feces move downwards (vatanulomana).
It is also given after detoxification therapy (shodhana).
Relieves the residual toxins and doshas in the body after detoxification therapy (Shodhana)
It relieves constant thirst.
It also relieves tiredness.
It increases the Agni (appetite and digestive power).
It helps in digesting the Ama (poorly digested food).
It balances the normalcy of tissues (dathus) of the body (Dhatu samya krt).
It softens the channels.
Glossary:
Manda – the clear supernatant water in which rice is boiled.
Dosha – Literally that which can go out of balance. Body humor.
Ama – left over impurities deposited in the cells as a result of improper digestion. This causes many diseases.
Agni – literally meaning fire – in the sense of a term in Ayurveda, Agni governs and controls digestion and metabolism.
Peya
Ingredients:
Dry ginger – 5gm
Pepper – 5 gm
Coriander seeds – 5gm
Rice – 50gm
Water – 800ml
Preparation :
1. Coarsely powder dry ginger, pepper and coriander seeds
2. Add 800 ml of water and condense it to 400ml.
3. In this decoction of dry ginger, pepper and coriander seeds, cook the broken rice until it is fully cooked.
4. Then serve hot.
Indications:
To increase appetite
Excessive thirst
Dryness of mouth
Fever
Fatigue
Weakness
Relieves constipation- laxative
Enhances Digestion
Digests the poorly digested food
Balances the Doshas and Dhatus
Cleanses the bladder
Manda and Peya are ideal for fever, diarrhea, after detoxification therapies.
This Diet is extremely nutritious containing carbohydrate, protein, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, other minerals, vitamins and water
Vatya Manda
English name: Barley
Sanskrit name: Yava
Tamil name: Yavai
Hindi name: Jau
Botanical name: Hordeum Vulgare
Ingredients:
Barley – 1 cup
Water – 32 cups
Preparation:
1. Roast and coarsely powder the Barley.
2. Add it into boiling water and cook well.
Properties:
Cold in Potency
Dry (RUKSH)
Heavy to digest
Balances Pita and Kapha,
Increases the out put of feces and urine
Aphrodisiac
Gives stability
Induces labor during pregnancy
Relieves sorrow and grief
Indications :
Diseases of urinary tract
Obesity
Diabetes
Running nose
Difficulty in breathing
Asthma
Urusthamba
Jaundice
Diseases of throat
Cough
Inflammation of stomach
Indigestion /constipation
Skin diseases
Glossary:
Vatya – Barley
Manda – the clear supernatant water in which barley is boiled
Ruksha – drying
Urusthamba – a disease characterized by stiffness of thighs.
Vata – It refers to one of the three doshas made of air and ether. This functional unit is characterized by movement, coldness, lightness and dryness in the body. When imbalanced, it produces pain in various body parts.
Pitta – It refers to one of the three doshas made of fire and water. This functional unit is characterized by heat, temperature and digestion in the body. When imbalanced it produces heat and burning sensation in the body.
Kapha – It refers to one of the three doshas made of earth and water . It is characterized by fluidity, strength and nourishment. When imbalanced it produces heaviness and phlegm in the body
Dosha – Literally that which can go out of balance. Body humor.
Mala – impurities and toxins of the body
Yavagu
Ingredients:
Rice – 50 gm
Water – 250 ml
Preparation:
1. Roast the rice and put it in a dry grinder to make a coarse mixture.
2. Cook it with the specified amount of water.
3. Add ½ tsp of spice (A mixture made of dry ginger, coriander seeds, cumin and long pepper) to it.
4. Mix well and serve hot.
Indications:
Yavagu is thicker than Peya
Ideal to be consumed, after Peya, during fever
After shodana (detoxification), it is recommended to consume Yavagu after Peya
Asthma
Cold and cough
Hiccups
Poor digestion
Glossary:
Yavagu – a porridge-like diet
Peya – a liquid diet of thick consistency
Shodhana – detoxification therapy
Laja Peya
English name: Puffed rice
Sanskrit name: Laja
Hindi name: Kurmura
Tamil name: Nelpori
Ingredients:
1. Puffed Rice – 2 cups
2. Water – 4 cups
Preparation:
1. Cook puffed rice in boiling water for 5-7 minutes.
2. Add salt, buttermilk, and onions.
3. Serve warm
Properties:
Extremely light to digest
Balances tridosha
Quenches thirst
Improves appetite
Pacifies Pitta
Indications:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Sprue
Fever
Diabetes
Obesity
Cough
Rakta Shali Peya
Ingredients:
Red rice – 50 gm
Water – 400ml
Preparation:
1. Clean and break the rice.
2. Add water to it and cook.
3. It can be served with Amalaki chutney or coconut chutney.
Properties:
Red rice is the best variety among rice
Light and easily digestible
Nourishing
Quenches thirst
Balances all the 3 doshas
Aphrodisiac
Diuretic
Rich in carbohydrate, protein, sodium, and fiber
Fair in calcium, sodium, minerals, metals and vitamins.
Glossary:
Dosha – Literally that which can go out of balance. Body humor
Rakta shali – red rice.
Amalaki – Indian goose berry.
Chutney – a pasty diet preparation.
Coconut chutney – a pasty coconut preparation.
Godhuma Yavagu
English name: Wheat
Botanical name: Triticum vulgare
Hindi name: Godhum
Sanskrit name: Godhuma
Ingredients:
1. Broken wheat -1 cup
2. Water – 8 cups
Preparation:
Recipe 1
1. Add boiling water to wheat granules and cook for 10-15 minutes.
2. Add salt, buttermilk, and onions.
3. Serve warm
Recipe 2
1. Add boiling water to wheat granules and cook for 10-15 minutes.
2. Add palm sugar, milk and cardamoms accordingly.
3. Serve warm
Properties
Extremely cooling
Easily digestible
Unctuous
Rejuvenating
Energizing
Reduces Vata and Pitta
Sweet to taste
Gives stability to body
A wholesome diet (Pathya Ahara)
Cures Vata diseases
Rich in fiber
Relieves constipation
Suitable for Diabetes
Glossary:
Yavagu – A diet in porridge-like consistency.
Madhuli Yavagu
English name: Finger millet
Botanical name: Eleusine coracana
Sanskrit: Madhuli
Hindi name: Madua or mangal
Tamil name: Ragi
This grain is available even during famine, earning the name ‘Panchanthangi’, in the language Tamil.
Ingredients:
1. Finger millet (powdered) – 3 Spoons
2. Parboiled rice (broken) – ½ cup (puzhungalarisi kurunai)
3. Buttermilk – 1 cup
4. Onions – 1 (chopped)
5. Water – Required
Preparation:
1. Boil the broken rice in 5 cups of water and cook well..
2. Add 3 spoonfuls of Ragi powder and stir well.
3. Cook for 5 – 10 min till it thickens.
4. Once cooled, add Buttermilk and chopped onions. Mix well.
Properties:
Cold in potency & light
Balances 3 doshas
Reduces Fat (lekhanam)
Binds stool (Grahi)
Indications:
Relieves poison
Relieves Sprue (Grahani)
Constipation
Ideal diet for Diabetics
Protects against Heart Diseases
Obesity
Anemia
Glossary:
Maduli – Finger millet
Yavagu – a porridge-like diet
Dosha – Literally that which can go out of balance. Body humor
Vajranna yavagu
English name: Indian millet
Hindi name: Bajra
Tamil name: Kambu
Botanical name: Pennisetum typhoides
Sanskrit name: Vajranna
Ingredients:
1. Indian Millet – 1 cup.
2. Water – 8 cups.
Preparation:
1. Wash the millet thoroughly.
2. Roast it and break it into small pieces.
3. Add water and boil till it is cooked.
4. To the cooked preparation add salt, buttermilk, Asafetida, chopped onion.
5. The drink is ready.
Properties:
Sweet in taste
Hot in potency
Strength- Giving
Difficult to digest
Increases vata and pitta
Reduces kapha
Reduces virility
Increases the Agni (Digestive power)
May trigger itching sensation
Indian millet is highly nutritious
It is non-glutinous
It is non acid forming
It is beneficial to the spleen, stomach, and pancreas.
Good source of fiber and protein.
Rich in photochemical that lowers cholesterol and reduces the risk of cancer.
Rich in Phosphorus
Rich in calcium, carbohydrates, iron, protein, minerals and vitamin B
Best grains to consume during intestinal disorders.
Ideal for the management of blood sugar.
Glossary:
Vajranna – Indian millet
Yavagu – a diet in porridge-like consistency Vata, pitta repeat box
Agni – literally meaning fire – in Ayurveda, agni governs and controls digestion and metabolism
Sabudhana Yavagu
English name: Sago
Hindi name: Sabudhana
Tamil name: Javarisi
Botanical name: Metroxylon sagu (tapioca)
Sago is tapioca starch or cassava starch granule.
Recipe 1
Ingredients
1. Sago – 1 cup
2. Water – 8 cups
3. Pepper – ½ spoon
4. Cumin seeds – ½ spoon
Preparation:
1. Add water to sago and cook well.
2. Add buttermilk and the powders of pepper& cumin seeds.
3. Mix well and serve hot
Recipe 2
Ingredients:
1. Sago – 1 cup
2. Water – 8 cups
3. Milk – 1 cup
4. Palm sugar – 4 tsp
5. Cardamom – 2 (powdered)
Preparation:
1. Add water to sago and cook well.
2. Take off from fire.
3. Add milk, palm sugar and cardamom powder to it.
4. Mix well and serve.
Properties:
It balances vata and pitta
It is very light to digest
Good for Diabetics
Offsets Osteoporosis
Relieves Leucorrhoea
Glossary:
Sago – Sabudhana
Yavagu – a diet in porridge-like consistency
Vata, Pitta – Repeat box
Dosha – Literally that which can go out of balance. Body humor
Dhanya Yavagu
Ingredients:
1. Maize – 100gm
2. Sago – 100 gm
3. Finger millet – 100gm
4. Barley – 100gm
5. Millet – 100gm
6. Rice – 100gm
7. Wheat – 100gm
8. Groundnut – 50gm
9. Almonds – 50gm
10. Pistachio – 50gm
11. Cashew nut – 50gm
Preparation:
1. Roast all the ingredients separately
2. Make a fine powder of them
3. Store in an air-tight container
4. To 4 tsp of the malt powder, add 3 cups of water and cook
5. Add milk and jaggery.
6. Mix well and serve hot
Properties:
Reduces vata and pitta
Cooling
Nutritious
Endows strength
Cures emaciation
Relieves breathing difficulty
Cough
Rich in protein, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, other minerals and vitamins.
Note: This beverage is extremely good for children
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