The detailed scrolls on Ayurveda from the ancient times called Charaka Samhita discusses the consumption of alcohol for its benefits and side effects. The texts of Ayurveda that are approximately 2,000 to 5,000 years old, also talks about the toxins that accumulate in the body due to the consumption of alcohol and how it’s abuse degrades your body at surprising levels.
Ayurveda warns against alcohol consumption as it is considered as a toxin. Alcohol consumption as a matter of fact in anyone’s life begins with a disclaimer which states that it is injurious to health. Ayurveda on the other hand, explains how and what procedure should follow alcohol consumption in order to make it not so injurious to health. From the ancient ayurvedic scrolls you will get the many laid strict rules that apply when alcohol is to be consumed. These ayurvedic texts explain how a medicine properly taken can become nectar and improperly consumed can becomes poison.
The Charaka Samhita describes a list of rules that must be practiced before the intake of alcohol.
- The first rule is a set of pre requisites such as the right clothing, bathing the right meal that agrees with the season.
- The types of container alcohol should be served in, food that can be consumed along with it.
- There are strict that are, Vata, Pitta and Kapha constitutions. These directions are supposed to prepare the person to counteract the imbalance created by alcohol on their specific dosha.
The Ayurvedic idea or as you may call perspective behind alcohol consumption is simple: If you aren’t prepared for the toxin intake, don’t do it.
Innovation and modern concepts behind the damage on Mind and Body from Alcohol is quite regressive and prolonged alcohol consumption in excessive quantities is potential of damaging closely every organ and system in your body. The developing brain specifically in the middle age or adolescent age group is typically vulnerable to the toxic side effects of alcohol.
Ethanol, the primary component in most of the alcoholic beverages, works as central nervous system depressant incurs psychoactive effects in small amounts on your brain. Cell membranes as we know are quite permeable to alcohol, therefore once alcohol enters your bloodstream it can diffuse into nearly every biological tissue of the body. Alcohol has the ability to manipulate human consciousness and alertness also several times ethanol has been classified as a psychoactive drug which thoroughly damages the internal organs and systems of human body.
The Ayurvedic Perspective if considered at all, says alcohol is not only a poison unless taken in
appropriate manner, time and place. It is quite surprising to see the Ayurvedic texts, as the wisdom is challenging in terms of the broadness of thinking. Ayurveda explains it very clearly that unless one follows strictly the directions of alcohol intake as laid in the ancient scrolls, it will only bring misery and unhealthy life. If those strict instructions are followed, then it also has benefits.
What are Ayurvedic Arishtas?
Some Ayurvedic concoctions called as Arishtas are herbal wines that have versatile affects on a wide array of diseases. They are usually delicious when taken in strict quantities under the guidance of an expert or medical practitioner. This will also have lasting and major benefits. The amount taken should not exceed 4 to 6 teaspoons after meals.
So through this blog we can conclude that there is an ayurvedic way to “wine”.
There are many researches and stories making rounds about wine being healthy. Albeit, the health factor depends on several more factors than just the alcohol content in the wine. No medical institution has by far ended to encourage the non-drinkers to drink wine only because the components of wine have been found by some to hold antioxidant properties that can restore health.
In theory, there are several researches and studies done on the benefits of wine, however, the debate takes a pause giving way to the ultimate answer to the question—Is wine a health drink?
Dry wine is known to increase vata and pitta. This is exactly why those who are made up of this constitution must ignore it. Instead, one must make a choice for alternative such as sweet wine or pair it with fruits. This will slow the side effects to some extent. Sweet wine may increase kapha, hence kapha dominant individuals should avoid it; they should take dry wine or have it with roasted chickpeas or pulses to nullify the effect of sweet wine.
Wine does contain some health benefits, but it must be taken less in summer or hot climatic condition. Women absorb more alcohol as compared to men because they have less water in their body than men. Glass of wine for women is equal to 2 glasses of wine for men.
Guru Manish 