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Buttermilk:
a Remedy for Many Diseases
By: Dr R. Vatsyayan
Before the massive urbanisation and arrival
of aerated cold drinks in India, buttermilk used to be a
favourite item to be served both as a speciality and as
an adjunct to the daily meals. Many Vedic hymns give its
reference. Its antiquity leads us to the roots of the Indian
civilisation. One famous saying goes thus: what "amrita"
is to the gods, buttermilk is to human beings. Known as
"takram" in Sanskrit and "lassi" or
"chhaachh" in common parlance, buttermilk has
been discussed in almost every ancient ayurvedic text. Acknowledging
its immense therapeutic and nutritional value, it has been
mentioned as the best among all milk products.
Defining buttermilk, Acharya Sushruta has
written that it is a compound made of curd and water , subsequently
churned so as to have the contained cream and butter completely
skimmed off. It should be neither too thick nor too thin.
Two other varieties of buttermilk also find mention in ayurveda
. One is called "ghola" made by simple churning
of curd without water and the other one is known as "mathita"
or "maththa". It is the crushed curd with a little
water added to it.
Buttermilk
is an assortment of three tastes - sweet,
sour and astringent. With the sweet post-digestive effect,
it is slightly hot in potency and is light and soothing
in effect. Buttermilk controls the vitiation of all the
three "doshas" and is nutritive, freshening and
appetising in action. It is a highly acclaimed medicine
for diarrhoea, dysentery, chronic specific and non-specific
colitis, piles, jaundice, and also in conditions where liver
and spleen dysfunctions are involved. Buttermilk is also
used in some of the "panchkarma" procedures. Some
of its common household uses are as under"
Diarrhoea
and dysentery - Buttermilk has been used
in gastrointestinal upsets since time immemorial as it helps
in both acute and chronic conditions where the patient passes
watery or semi-solid stool. Mixing of half teaspoonful of
dry ginger powder in a glass of buttermilk adds to its digestive
and carminative properties. Emaciated patients suffering
from chronic sprue can also take buttermilk preferably before
noon. The famous classic ayurvedic medicine "takrarishta"
in which buttermilk is the chief ingredient is also helpful
in such conditions.
Piles and
intestinal worms - Those suffering from
first degree piles of a bleeding or non-bleeding nature
get symptomatic relief by the use of buttermilk. For this
purpose one to two gm simple powder of "hararh"
can be taken twice daily with a glass of buttermilk for
some time. Similarly, to cure stubborn intestinal worm problem,
one gm powder of seeds of "vayvding", which are
commonly available at the pansari shop, can be safely used
for a
few days.
Liver diseases
- In jaundice and alcoholic liver diseases regular use of
"takram" immensely helps the patient to regain
normal appetite and digestion. For faster relief, one gm
powder of any of the proven liver protective herbs like
bhringraj, chiraita or kalmegh can be taken along with buttermilk.
Buttermilk
recipe - To make an all season nutritive
drink of buttermilk, take half a cup of home-made curd.
Blend it slowly for a few minutes. Slowly add one glass
of cold water and blend it again. After discarding the fatty
foam appearing on the top, add half teaspoonful of cumin
powder, a few leaves of mint, and a pinch of rock salt (table
salt can be a substitute).
Blend just enough to mix the spices evenly and serve at
room temperature.
Caution
- Buttermilk should not be used during the flare-up phase
of rheumatoid arthritis, in severe constipation, asthmatic
conditions and following immediate exposure to heat. After
taking into consideration the seasonal specifications and
individual suitability, one can, for better results, use
appropriate additives to it.
The writer is a Ludhiana-based senior
ayurvedic consultant.
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