Taste		Physical Effect	Mental Effect	Source
earth, water	Sweet	nourishes, builds and strengthens body tissues	soothing, calming, satisfactory	Carbohydrates, Protein, Fat Grains, pasta, rice, bread, starchy vegetables, dairy, meat, chicken, fish, sugar, honey
		fat diseases, obesity, diabetes	lethargy, anxiety
water, fire	Salty	lubricates tissues, softens, maintains mineral balance and holds water	enhances appetite and other tastes, enthusiasm, calms nerves and stops anxiety	Mineral salts Table salt, soy sauce, salted meats, fish, seaweed
		wrinkles, thirst, loss of strength, baldness	cravings, anger, impatience, lethargy
earth, fire	Sour	stimulates appetite and digestion, strengthens heart, relieves thirst and satiates	enhances intellectual activities	Organic acids: ascorbic acid, citric acid, acetic acid Citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, pickled foods, salad dressing, yoghurt, alcohol
		loss of strength, fever, thirst	resentment and jealousy, anger, impatience, hot temper
fire, air	Pungent	warms body and promotes sweating, improves metabolism and relieves nerve pain	opens mind and senses	Essential oils Peppers, chilies, onions, garlic, cayenne, black pepper, cloves, ginger, mustard, salsa, raddish, wasabi
		thirst, depletion of reproductive fluid and strength, fainting, waist/back pain	irritability, anger, impatience
earth, air	Astringent	cleanses blood and helps maintaining healthy blood sugar level, dries moisture and fat	cools fiery minds,clears senses and emotions, removes lethargy	Tannins Lentils, dried beans, broccoli, green apples, pears, grape skins, cauliflower, cabbage, pomegranates, tea
		gas or constipation, heart pain, thirst	anxiety, worry, fear, insomnia
ether, air	Bitter	cleanses and detoxifies, reduces fat and water excess, relieves thirst and fever, antibiotic	helpful in managing food cravings, clears senses and emotions	Alkaloids or glycosides Green leafy vegetables, green and yellow vegetables, kale, celery, broccoli, sprouts, beets
		gas or upset stomach, tissue depletion	anxiety, fear, insomnia

The Ayurveda.....by....Jagdish M Raval

The roots of ayurveda

Ayurveda,the oldest system of medicine in the world, traces its roots to the Vedic period in ancient India. The Vedas contain practical and scientific information on various subjects beneficial to the humanity like health, philosophy, engineering, astrology etc.

Vedic Brahmans were not only priests performing religious rites and ceremonies, they also became the Vaidyas (Ayurvedic Physicians). The Sage- Physician- Surgeons of that time were the same sages or seers, deeply devoted holy people , who saw health as an integral part of spiritual life. It is said, that they received their training of Ayurveda through direct cognition during meditation. In other words, the knowledge of the use of various methods of healing, prevention, longevity and surgery came through Divine revelation . These revelations were transcribed from the oral tradition into book form, interspersed with the other aspects of life.

    Consequently Ayurveda grew into a respected and widely used system of healing in India.Around CA.1500 Before.Common era. Ayurveda was delineated into eight specific branches of medicine and there were two main schools - Atreya, the school of physicians, and Dhanvantari , the school of surgeons.These two schools made Ayurveda a more scientifically verifiable and classifiable medical system.   

People from numerous countries came to Indian Ayurvedic schools to learn this medical science.They came from China, Tibet, Greece, Rome, Egypt ,Afghanistan, Persia etc. to learn the complete wisdom and bring it back to their own countries. Ayurvedic texts were translated in Arabic and  physicians such as Avicenna and Razi Sempion, who both quoted Ayurvedic texts , established Islamic Medicine. This medicine became popular in Europe and helped to form the foundation of the European tradition in medicine.In the 16th Century Europe , Paracelsus , who is known as the father of modern Western medicine, practiced and propagated a system of medicine which borrowed heavily from Ayurveda..

The main authentic texts of Ayurveda in its early History are:

Rig Veda CA.3000 Years Before.Common era. : Verses on the nature of existence , on nature of health and disease, pathogenesis and principles of treatment. Among the Rig-Veda are found discussions of the three doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha and the use of herbs to heal the diseases of the mind and body and to foster longevity.Atharva Veda CA.800 Years Before.Common era. : Lists the eight divisions of Ayurveda - Internal Medicine, Surgery of Head and Neck,Opthalmology and Otorinolaryngology, Toxicology, Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Gerontology or Science of Rejuvenation and Science of FertilityCharaka Samhita CA.600 Years Before.Common era.: A major work on internal medicine , written by the physician Agnivesa, modified by charakaSushrutha Samhita CA.500 Years Before.Common era. : Sushrutha , a surgeon who developed the operative techniques of rhinoplasty (plastic surgery), wrote the Sushrutha Samhita which describes a highly developed surgery.Samhitas of Vagbhata CA.600 Years A.D. : This text deals with all aspects of life, health, disease and treatment.  

It is because these texts  contain the original and comlete knowledge of life, Ayurveda is known today as the only complete medical system still in existence.

Basics Principles of Ayurveda

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS
Elements	Essential	Auxiliary	Related to
Ether (AKASHA)	Sound	Non-resistance	Rarefaction
Air ( VAYU)	Touch	Vibration	Propulsion
Fire (TEJAS)	Appearance	Heat & Color	Conversion
Water (APAS )	Taste	Fluidity	Degree of Liquidity
Earth (PRITHIVI )	Smell	Solidity	Density of Particles

RELATION OF THE FIVE ELEMENTS TO THE THREE ENERGY PRINCIPLES IN THE UNIVERSE
STRUCTURE OF UNIVERSE		FUNCTIONS IN UNIVERSE
Ether (space)	WIND	(Principle of propulsion, movement)
Air (motion)
Fire (energy)	SUN	(Principle of conversion, transformation)
Water (cohesion)	MOON	(Principle of cooling, cohesion or preservation)
Earth (mass)

Thrigunas

There are three primary qualities, which are omnipresent at work behind all material forms in nature, i.e, Satwa (consciousness or intellect), Rajas (motion or action) and Thamas (inertia or resistance).

Satwa	Rajas	Thamas
Whatever is pure and illuminating. Inferred as pleasure.	Whatever is active, energising & activating. Inferred as pain.	Whatever is passive and offers resistance and restraints. Inferred as delusion.

Thridoshas

There are three biological humors or doshas. VATHA - the energetic humor controls destruction; PITTA - the thermogenic humor organises body activities after transformation; and KAPHA - the cohesive humor is responsible for maintaining creation.

Properties
Vatha	Pitta	Kapha
Rooksham (dry)	Snigdham (unctuous)	Snigdham (unctuous)
Laghu (light)	Theekshanam (sharp)	Seetham (cold)
Seetham (cold)	Ushnam (hot)	Guru (heavy)
Kharam (rough)	Laghu (light)	Mandam (dull)
Sookshmam (subtle)	Visram (foul smelling)	Slekshnam (smooth)
Chala (mobile)	Saram (flowing)	Mrusthnam (soft)
-	Dravam (fluid)	Sthira (firm)

Functions
Dosha	Normal function
Vatha	Energy, inspiration, expiration, actions, mechanism of impulse, proper functions of dhathus and of indriyas.
Pitta	Digestion, body temperature, hunger, thirst, taste, beauty, intellect, grasping power, courage, body softness.
Kapha	Stability, unctuousness, strength of joints.

Seats of Doshas
Vatha	Adharangam	Lower part of the body
Pitta	Madhyangam	Middle part of the body.
Kapha	Urdhwangam	Upper part of the body

Divisions of Doshas
Vatha
Name	Functions
Prana	It is responsible for receiving substances like air, water, food and impressions through the five sense organs from the outside world.
Udana	It is responsible for rendering the received food in the stomach in fluid or solid. Speech and memory are also functions of Udana.
Samana	Digestion and absorption.
Apana	It is for controlling movements of constituents like urine, faeces, flatus, menstrual discharge. It is responsible for delivery and ejaculation as well.
Vyana	It is responsible for the propulsion from center to periphery; movements of limbs, flow of blood and sweat.

Dhathus

Dhathus are tissues of the body that are maintained within a particular limit and do not get eliminated (except the reproductive one - shukra).

NAME	CHARACTER	FUNCTION
Rasa (CHYLE)	Nutrient fluid	Nutrition
Rakta (BLOOD)	Blood	Oxygenation
Mamsa (MUSCLE)	Muscular tissue	Movement
Medas (FAT)	Lubricating fat deposits	Lubrication
Asthi (BONE)	Supporting and accommodating bony structures	Support
Majja(BONE MARROW)	Tissues inside the bone	Support
Shukra (REPRODUCTIVE)	Reproductive system	Reproduction

Dosha - Dhathu relationship
VATHA	destructive to	all dhathus
PITTA	enhancing	rakta dhatu and sweda mala
KAPHA	enhancing	all dhathus

Malas

They are waste products from the metabolic activities of the body. They are

Dosha - Dhathu relationship
Mala	Function
Pureesha (faecal matter)	gives strength to stand erect.
Moothra (urine)	gives slimy character to the body.
Sweda (sweat)	makes the skin unctuous.
Dooshikadimala (excreta from eyes, nose, ears)	protects and lubricates.

Agni

It is the digestive power of the human system, but also appears throughout the universe in various changes of substances such as those observed in chemical, bio-chemical and nuclear processes. However it is to be distinguished from Agni Bhutha, which is a principle. Agni works at 3 different levels.

Jataragni	The digestive fire or the power to digest food.
Dhatvagni	Special digestive agencies for various bodily tissues dependent on Jataragni.
Bhuthagni	Required for the formation of specific material in the body such as rods and cones responsible for photosensitivity in the eye, special liquids around the taste buds in the tongue and so on.

Each of these three divisions have further subdivisions not mentioned here.

Koshtam

This is the character of bowel movements, which are of four types.

Kruram (Constipative)	Vatha predominant
Madhyam (Medium)	Pitta predominant
Mridhu (Loose)	Kapha predominant
Samam (Naturally formed)	Vatha-Pitta-Kapha balanced

Each of these three divisions have further subdivisions not mentioned here.

Prakrithi

Prakriti is the natural thridosha constitution of the body which results from the predominance of Doshas right from the moment of conception of a person.

Prakriti is the natural thridosha constitution of the body which results from the predominance of Doshas right from the moment of conception of a person. Based on the permutations and combinations of the three Doshas, seven types of constitutions can be formed.

·         Vatha

·         Pitta

·         Kapha

·         Vatha-Pitta

·         Vatha-Kapha

·         Pitta-Kapha

·         Sannipatha or balanced constitution (Sama Prakriti).

Doshic constitution takes shape right from the moment of conception. The types are classified by their predominance. A purely single Dosha constitution is seldom found and a balanced constitution, though extremely good, is also rare.

Constitution Chart
PHYSICAL FEATURES	VATHA	PITTA	KAPHA
Body frame	Lean & thin.	Moderate.	Large & thick.
Body weight	Low.	Moderate.	Overweight.
Skin	Dry, rough, cool, black, brown.	Soft, oily, warm, fair, yellowish, red.	Thick, oily, cool, pale, white, glistening.
Hair	Dry, rough, brittle, blackish, brown.	Soft, oily, early grey, baldness, yellow, red.	Thick, oily, wavy, dark, glistening, white.
Teeth	Irregular, protruded, crooked, thin gums, tendency towards tooth decay.	Regular, moderate, soft, gums, yellowish.	Regular, strong, white, healthy.
Eyes	Small, dull, attractive, brown, black iris.	Medium, sharp, penetrating, green, grey, yellowish iris.	Big, blue iris, thick eyelashes.
Joints	Bony markings seen.	Just visible.	Not seen.
Musculature	Slender but hard.	Loose.	Firm, stout.

FUNCTIONAL FACTORS	VATHA	PITTA	KAPHA
Appetite	Variable, scanty.	Good, excessive.	Low, but steady.
Thirst	Variable.	Excessive.	Less.
Sweating	Variable.	Excessive.	Less.
Sleep	Scanty, interrupted.	Moderate, 4-6 hours, slightly disturbed.	More than 6 hours, sound.
Taste they like	Sweet, sour, salty.	Sweet, bitter astringent.	Pungent, bitter, astringent
Elimination	Irregular, dry, hard, constipated.	Regular, soft, oily, loose.	Regular, oily.
Physical Activity	Fast & very active.	Medium.	Lethargic and slow.
Sexual Vitality	Less.	Moderate.	Good.
Pulse	Thready and weak.	Jumping .	Broad & slow.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS	VATHA	PITTA	KAPHA
Emotional temperament	Unpredictable, anxious, insecure.	Irritable, aggressive, greedy, jealous.	Calm, quiet.
Mind	Restless, active.	Aggressive, intelligent.	Calm.
Faith	Changeable.	Fanatic.	Steady.
Memory	Recent - good; remote - poor.	Sharp.	Slow but prolonged.
Interests	Recreation, dance, drama, cultural activities.	Dress and ornaments.	Philosophical topics.

- See more at:

 

Dinacharya

The daily practices to be carried out to promote optimal health and optimal use of our faculties.

Activities	Description	Indicated for	Contra- indicated in
Udhanam.	Getting up in Brahma muhoortham means 2 hrs. before sunrise.	Brahma muhoortham is the suitable time to acquire Brahmam or jnanam(knowledge).	Diseased conditions.
Mala-moothra Pravarthanam  (defaecation & micturition).	Perform these, whenever the urge comes naturally. Do not inhibit or stimulate these urges.	To make the body systems clean and to expel the waste materials.
Soucham.	After defaecation clean the organs with pure water.	Cleaning.
Dantha dhavanam (Cleaning the teeth).	Clean the teeth with 12 finger long, straight, sharp one end crushed fibrous root, which is taken from herbs having astringent, hot and bitter tastes like Calotropis gigantia. Ficus bengalensis, Acacia catechu, Pongamia glabra etc. Then massage the gums with a herbal powder mixed with honey. This is to be done especially in the morning and after every food intake.	To make the teeth and gums clean & healthy.	Indigestion, nausea, respiratory disorders, facial paralysis, stomatitis, diseases of heart, eye, head and ear.
Jihwa nirlekhanam (Cleaning the tongue).	Clean the tongue with a thin 10 finger long spatula made of gold, silver, copper or soft wood or leaf. This is to be done only in the morning.	To make the tongue clean.	Nausea and vomiting.
Mukha dhavanam (Washing the face & mouth).	Wash the face, mouth, eyes, ear and nose, with cold water in hot season and luke warm water in cold season.	Cleansing to impart freshness.
Anjanam  (Use of collyrium).	Apply the preparation of collyrium viz. souveeranjanam daily in both eyes. Apply the anjanam called Rasnjanam every 7th day.	Improves visual power, protects the eyes from Kapha dosha.	Diseases caused by Vata.
Nasyam (Nasal drops).	Apply nasal drops prepared using oils, viz. Anuthailam.	For healthy head, shoulders & chest, sense organs. Also prevents wrinkles, baldness & discolourations.	Toxic conditions, indigestion, respiratory diseases and post natal care.
Gandoosham / Kabalam (Gargling).	Gargling with oils, decoctions, honey, milk, water etc.	For healthy mouth, teeth, tongue, gums and lips.
Dhoomapanam (Inhalation of medicinal fumes).	Burning herbal medicines and inhaling the fumes.	To make the head, sense organs & respiratory system clean and healthy.	Diseased conditions.
Thamboola Charvanam (Chewing).	Chewing betel leaves with spices.	To impart freshness in mouth.	Toxic con- ditions, mental diseases, tuberculosis and diseases of head.
Kesha-Nakha-Samrakshana (Care for hair, nails, etc.).	Shaving, nail cutting, maintenance of hair, etc. on time.
Abhyangam (Massage).	Apply oil all over the body especially on head, ear and feet and gently massage.	Reduces fatigue & ailments associated with ageing. For healthy eyes, sound sleep, longevity and nourishment.	Conditions with aggravated Kapha, immediately after food intake, after Sodhana treatments and in indigestion .
Vyayamam (Exercise).	Carrying out exercises daily using half the physical strength of the person till sweating.	For lightness of body, provides strength, improves digestive power & reduces obesity.	Conditions, like aggravated Vata & Pitta in childhood, old age and in indigestion.
Udvarthanam (Massage with powders).	Massage with herbal powder opposite to the direction of hair growth.	To provide strength to organs and health to skin. Reduces excessive Kapha, imparts sturdy body, proper functions of organs and comely skin.	Diseases of Vata.
Snanam (bath).	Take bath with luke warm water or wash the head with boiled and cooled water only.	Improves digestion, longevity, energy to keep the body clean & healthy.	Facial paralysis, diseases of eye, mouth, ear, flatulence, sinusitis, indigestion, diarrhoea and immediately after food intake.
Sugandhalepanam (use of perfumes).	Apply perfumes made out of herbal materials.	For pleasing the mind.
Pushpadharanam/Abharanam  (Use of flowers/ ornaments).	Use ornaments and flowers according to the culture of the society.	For pleasing the mind.
Vasthradharanam (Dress).	Dress neatly.	For pleasing the mind.

The Three Pillars of Life

The key to health depends not only in the application of drugs but on the prime factors of life and vitality. The three most important factors according to Ayurveda are food, sleep and sexual energy.

AHARAM (Food)

Food sustains the life of all living beings.

Properties of food

All food articles are composed of these three factors

·         The five elements i.e., Panchabhuthas.

·         The six tastes (Shad Rasas) .

·         The twenty attributes (Vimsathi Gunas)

Rules for taking food Aharakalam (time for food intake)

·         When previously taken food is completely digested.

·         After defaecation and micturition.

·         When belching is pure i.e, devoid of the smell of any food.

·         When proper hunger arises.

Aharamathra (quantity of food)

·         Half the capacity of stomach alone be filled with food materials.

·         ¼th space of the stomach needs to be filled with water.

·         The balance space to be spared to facilitate smooth movement of air.

Other factors

·         Food must be fresh and consumed in a clean place in a comfortable environment, without talking and laughing and with concentration.

·         While taking food, mind should be peaceful.

·         Do not take excessive quantity of food; do not take inadequate quantity also.

NIDRA (Sleep)

When the body gets tired and mind turns away from the sense organs owing to the increase of the quality of Tamas in the mind, person falls asleep. Just as we require proper food, rest to the body and mind are also essential. Happiness and misery, obesity and leanness, strength and weakness, sexual vigor and impotence, consciousness and loss of sensory acuity, life and death all depend upon proper and improper sleep.

Depending upon the causative factors; sleep can be classified into

·         Natural.

·         Due to exhaustion of mind and body.

·         Due to increase in Tamas or dullness in the mind.

·         Owing to aggravation of Kapha which causes heaviness and fatigue.

·         Caused by external injury (as to the head).

·         Due to diseases and fatigue they cause.

·         Due to the advent of the night or according to the movement of time.

Complications of day sleep

·         Aggravation of Kapha and Pitta and diseases caused by them.

·         Obesity and associated complications.

·         Indigestion.

Permitted day sleep

·         In Greeshma Rithu (summer)

Complications of Insomnia

·         Body pain.

·         Indigestion and vomiting.

·         Giddiness.

·         Laziness.

·         Yawning and weakness.

·         Senselessness.

·         Diseases of aggravated Vata.

Measures to induce good sleep

·         Unctousness of the head, eyes, ear.

·         Massage.

·         Intake of milk, wine, soup.

·         Bathing.

·         Psychic pleasure.

·         Hearty sounds and smell.

ABRAHMACHARYAM

This deals with sexual enjoyment.

Rules

·         Both partners must want to perform the act.

·         Both of them should be good in physical and mental health.

·         Should not engage in sex with a woman in her menstrual period..

·         Avoid women who are devoid of passion, not clean, too old, too young, sick or pregnant.

·         Both partners after enjoying the sexual intercourse, should take a cool bath, drink cool water, milk or wine or food containing natural sugar .

·         Those who regulate their sexual energy will have increased memory, power, intelligence, health and longevity.

Sadvritha (Ethical Regimen)

Ayurveda prescribes certain rules for maintaining healthy mind. These are principles of right conduct that are applicable to all people at all times and places. Practicing them gives balance and peace to the mind. Mind has a strong relation to the Thridosha balance and thereby health. They are

·         Always speak the truth.

·         Do not lose your temper under any circumstances.

·         Do not get addicted to sensory pleasures.

·         Do not harm anyone.

·         As far as possible, do not expose yourself to hardships.

·         Try to control your passions.

·         Endeavor to speak pleasant and sweet words.

·         Meditate everyday for tranquility of mind.

·         Observe cleanliness in all things.

·         Be patient.

·         Observe self control.

·         Try to distribute knowledge, good advice and money to others.

·         Whenever possible, devote your services to God, to the wise and to respectable or elderly individuals.

·         Be straightforward and kind.

·         Avoid irregularity in daily activities.

·         Avoid over eating, overdrinking, too much sexual activity, too much or too little sleep.

·         Behave according to the time and place where you are residing.

·         Act always in a courteous and polite manner.

·         Control your sense organs.

·         Make a habit of doing all that is good and avoiding all that is bad.

The ten sins

1.             Himsa (Homicide).

2.     Astheyam (Theft).

3.     Anyadha kamam (Desire for another's spouse).

4.     Paisoonyam (Gossip).

5.     Parusha (Harsh speech).

6.     Anrutham (Lying).

7.     Sambhinnalapam (Meaningless and ugly conversation).

8.     Vyapadam (Venomous act with vengeance).

9.     Abhidya (Desire for other's possessions).

10.   Drik viparyayam (Atheism).

Rithucharya

Rithucharya are activities that are specified to be done during the different seasons. They are, in fact, variations to be effected in the Dinacharya.

Eg: In summer daytime sleep is recommended.

Seasons taken into account are

Greeshmam	Summer
Varsham	Rainy season
Sarath	Winter

Rogi Pareeksha

It is the examination of the patient and is divided into 3 steps

DARSANAM	Inspection, Observation.
SPARSANAM	Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation.
PRASNAM	Interrogation.

These steps are applied to a further detailed examination of the patient that is conducted in two ways - Dasavidha Pareeksha (tenfold examination) and Ashtasthana Pareeksha (eightfold examination).

Dasavidha Pareeksha
1.	Dooshyam	Regarding the structural and functional abnormalities of the body.
2.	Desham	Geographical situation of the place where patient lives (eg: marshy).
3.	Balam	Physical strength.
4.	Kalam	The season and climatic conditions.
5.	Analam	The digestive power of the patient.
6.	Prakrithi	The natural Thridosha constitution of the body.
7.	Vayas	Age of the patient.
8.	Satvam	Regarding the structural and functional abnormalities of the body.
9.	Sathmyam	General and personal habits of the patient. Eg: smoking, hard working, day sleeping etc.
10.	Aharam	Nature of food (eg. vegetarian or non-vegetarian).

Ashtasthana Pareeksha
1.	Nadi	Pulse.
2.	Moothram	Urine.
3.	Malam	Faecal matter.
4.	Jihwa	Tongue-taste.
5.	Sabdam	Voice and speech of the patient.
6.	Sparsham	Touch, skin and tactile sense.
7.	Drik	Eyes and vision.
8.	Akrithi	General body build, eg: lean, muscular, etc.

Roga Pareeksha

It is the diagnosis of the disease and is done by ascertaining the following five factors.

1.	Nidanam	Causative factors of the disease.
2.	Purvaroopam	Prodromal symptoms.  eg : excessive sweating in Diabetes.
3.	Roopam	Sign and symptoms.  eg : increased blood sugar in Diabetes.
4.	Upashayam	Alleviating factors.
5.	Samprapthi	Pathogenesis.

Diagnosis and treatment are also based on the sources of knowledge.

Chaturvidha Jnanas (4 sources of knowledge)
1.	Pratyaksham	from what is observed.
2.	Anumanam	what is inferred.
3.	Aptopadesam	from authority.
4.	Yukti	according to logic.

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Medicines and their properties

RASA

It is the examination of the patient and is divided into 3 steps

Madhura (Sweet)	V-	P-	K+
Amla (Sour)	V-	P+	K+
Lavana (Salty)	V-	P+	K+
Tikta (Bitter)	V+	P-	K-
Kadu (Pungent)	V+	P+	K-
Kashaya (Astringent)	V+	P-	K-

Where
V = Vatha	P = Pitta	K = Kapha	+ = Causes increase	- = Causes decrease

Rasa - Bhutha Relation
Elements	Rasas
Ether + Air	Tikta - bitter
Air + Fire	Katu - pungent
Fire + Water	Lavana - saline, salty
Water + Earth	Madhura - sweet, plain taste
Earth + Fire	Amla - sour
Earth + Air	Kashaya - astringent

GUNA

Guna is a quality, mode or property. Out of the Gunas, only twenty are used in Pharmacology. They are known as Gurvadi Guna (Vimsathi Gunas).

Guna	Composition	Action
Guru (Heavy)	E-W	Building (Brimhana)
Laghu (Light)	F-A-	Eth Reducing (Langhana)
Seetham (Cold)	W	Cooling (Stambhana)
Ushnam (Hot)	F	Heating (Swedana)
Snigdham (Unctuous)	W	Moistening (Kledana)
Ruksham (Dry)	E-F-A	Absorbing (Shoshana)
Mandam (Dull)	E-W	Slowing-pacifying (Shamana)
Theekshanam (Sharp)	F	Penetrating-purifying (Shodhana)
Sthiram (Firm)	E	Stabilizing (Dharana)
Saram (Mobile)	A	Stimulating (Prerana)
Mridu (Soft)	W-	Eth Loosening (Shlathana)
Kadhina (Hard)	E	Hardening (Dridhikarana)
Vishadam (Clear)	E-F-A-	Eth Cleansing (Kshalana)
Pichilam (Sticky)	W	Adhering (Lepana)
Slekshnam (Smooth)	W-E	Healing (Roopana)
Kharam (Rough)	A

VEERYA

The potency by which the action of a substance is taking place.

Type	Action on Doshas	General Effect
Hot	Pacifies Kapha and Vatha, aggravates Pitta.	Helps digestion, causes hot sensation, thirst, diaphoresis.
Cold	Pacifies Pitta, aggravates Kapha and Vatha	Cooling, exhilarant, moistening, enlivening, enhances reproductive functions.

VIPAKA

The food ingested is acted upon by the digestive fire, in the process of which the six tastes (Rasas) are resynthesised into post digestive effect. This is called Vipaka. And the post digestive effect is inferred from the final action of the ingested food or medicine.

Tastes	Post-Digestive Effect	Action
Madhura (sweet) Lavana (saline)	Sweet	Promotes Kapha, smoothly eliminates faeces and urine, increases reproductive fluids.
Amla (sour)	Sour	Promotes Pitta, smoothly eliminates faeces and urine, diminishes reproductive fluids.
Kadu (pungent) Tikta (bitter) Kashaya (astringent)	Pungent	Promotes Vatha, suppresses faeces and urine, diminishes reproductive fluids.

PRABHAVAM

Specific potency of a herb is called Prabhava, which is observed irrespective of the tastes and post digestive effects. eg. Cardiotonic activity of the plant Terminalia arjuna.