Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
There are lots of dravyas – substances within the creation, in actual fact innumerable. However are all of the substances appropriate to us (from the well being perspective)? The opposite a part of the doubt might be – are all substances unsuitable for well being? The trickiest query which surfaces from that is – are there some substances that are appropriate in addition to unsuitable for us?
Acharya Sushruta provides a clarification for this idea.
Ref – Sushruta Samhita Sutra Sthana Chapter 20, Verse 3 (Su.Su.20/3, 4)
Ekanta Hita, Ekanta Ahita and Hita Ahita Dravyas
यद्धायोःपथ्यंतत्पित्तस्यापथ्यमित्यनेनहेतुनानकिंचिद्रव्यमेकान्तेनहितमहितंवाऽस्तीतिकेचिदाचार्याबुवते।तत्तुनसम्यक्; इहखलुयस्माद्रव्याणिस्वभावतःसंयोगतश्चैकान्तहितान्येकान्ताहितानिहिताहितानिचभवन्ति॥३॥
There are such a lot of classifications of Dravya – substance. The under talked about is yet one more classification of dravyas primarily based on their hita – suitability and ahita – non-suitability by way of well being.
The dravyas are labeled into three sorts i.e.
– Ekanta Hita Dravyas
– Ekanta Ahita Dravyas and
– Hita-Ahita Dravyas
What are these dravyas? Allow us to focus on every certainly one of them briefly, with appropriate examples somewhat later. However allow us to see, what context led to this dialogue and classification in Sushruta Samhita.
The chapter wherein this dialogue of useful and non-beneficial substances takes place known as ‘Hitahita Adhyaya’.
The grasp, quoting the opinion of some specialists says –
‘These substances that are pathya i.e. appropriate and healthful for Vayu, are usually not appropriate for pitta’. This contains medicinens, meals, actions and behaviors. Some authorities primarily based on this precept opine that no substances on the planet are both completely or all the time appropriate, always and in all situations for all people. Equally, no substances on the planet are both completely or all the time unsuitable, always and in all situations for all people.
This opinion is wrong. In response to Dhanvantari college, all of the substances by their very nature and on account of their mixture or by probability are both –
1. Hita – all the time completely appropriate or
2. Ahita – all the time completely unsuitable or
3. Hita Ahita – all the time completely each i.e. appropriate and unsuitable in line with scenario, want or utilization.
This dialogue brings us to yet one more classification of Dravya.
तत्र, एकान्तहितानीजातिसात्म्यात्सलिलघृतदुग्धौदनप्रभृतीनि; एकान्ताहितानितुदहनपचनमारणादिषुप्रवृत्तान्यलक्षारविषादीनि, संयोगादपराणिविषतुल्यानिभवन्ति, हिताहितानितुयद्धायोःपथ्यंतत्पित्तस्यापथ्यमिति॥४॥
1. Ekanta Hita (Hita) Dravya – substances that are all the time appropriate
These are the substances which don’t hurt the physique of the particular person despite utilizing them all the time and therefore completely appropriate.
Amongst these, the under talked about sorts of gear are all the time appropriate –
– Water
– Ghee
– Milk
– Porridge and related different substances (which we use repeatedly)
These substances are all the time appropriate due to being accustomed genetically, over a interval of generations or accustomed to the particular person proper from his or her delivery. Since they’re accustomed, they’re additionally not dangerous.
2. Ekanta Ahita (Ahita) Dravya – substances that are all the time unsuitable
These are the substances which hurt the physique rapidly. Due to this fact, they can’t be used even for brief intervals of time and therefore they’re completely unsuitable.
Amongst these, the under talked about substances are all the time unsuitable –
– Hearth used for dahana – burning
– Caustic alkali used for pachana – cooking
– Poison used for marana – inflicting loss of life
Some hita dravya i.e. appropriate substances, because of the mixture, may even act much like poison. Due to this fact, they’re additionally all the time ahita – unsuitable.
3. Hita-Ahita Dravya – substances that are each appropriate and unsuitable in numerous circumstances
These are the substances which don’t trigger hurt in some sure situations i.e. when utilized in correct amount, in correct time (season) and that are ready after correct admixture, processing and so on. However the identical substances may cause hurt in sure different situations, like when utilized in improper amount, improper time or season and when ready after improper admixture, processing and so on. So, situationally, they’re appropriate and unsuitable additionally. They’re thought of as suitable-unsuitable substances.
The substances that are each appropriate and unsuitable are additionally these substances, that are talked about as appropriate to Vata and unsuitable to Pitta and so on. within the instance given within the early a part of the dialogue.
