An Ayurved Litrary Study on Virrudha Ahara

Abstract

Virruddha’ means incompatible, opposite or unwholesome or which is harmful for the body or dhatu (body-tissue). It possesses opposite qualities compared to dhatu and vitiates them, leading to various diseases or complications. The concept of virruddha is broadly explained in ayurveda. Virruddha ashana (intake of unwholesome food or diet) is mentioned as a causative factor for various diseases, especially skin diseases (kushtha), erysipelas (visarpa), psychiatric diseases like insanity (unmada) etc. In the context of agrya samgraha (collection of definitive and first choice of medication or treatment), in Charak Samhita, intake of virruddha ahara is the foremost causative factor for nindita vyadhi (wretched diseases like kushtha). [Cha. Sa. Sutra Sthana 25/40] Virrudha anna or incompatible diet is very important issue discussed by ayurveda Samhita, Charak, Sushruta, Vaghhat, Madhavnidan, Yogratnakar, Bhavprakash, Vangsen. The diet which disturbs the balance among the body elements is called Viruddha Ahara (Incompatible diet). Consuming two food items together or a particular type of diet may tend to toxicity; it is termed as incompatible diet. Viruddha (Incompatible diet) means substances which when consumed cause for aggravations of Doshas but do not expel them out of the body and bring about abnormalities in Dhatus and produces Vyadhi.