DRAVYA GUNA
The Ayurvedic art of pharmacology
Food and herbs are both medicines. Foods have a milder action.
“If diet is no good, medicine is of no use. If diet is good, medicine is of no need”
Ayurvedic Proverb
DRAVYA means substance, GUNA means qualities
The qualities of substance are Rasa, Virya & Vipaka
Rasa: Meaning sap, juice, fluid, essence and or flavor or TASTE- there are six taste: sweet, sour, salty, astringent, bitter, pungent
Virya: meaning strength, potency, energy in this context we refer to warming or cooling
Vipaka: The long term effect of a substance after is has been fully digested. There are three types of Vipaka
Madhu: sweet is considered to be tonifying & nourishing Amla: sour stabilizes and builds agni Katu: pungent is purifying
The Fundamental Principle of Ayurvedic Nutrition
If you know the nature of the person and the imbalance, then food can be matched to the individual needs of the patient! There is no such thing as a perfect diet for everyone. We all have a unique constitution, we all have biochemical individuality. Everyone could react quite differently to the same food.
As your practitioner into Ayurvedic Medicine I will guide YOU, to better understanding your imbalance and the qualities needed to restore your true nature.
Dr. Juraszek
The SIX taste
Sweet Taste
Elements: earth & water
Qualities: heavy, moist, stable, gross, soft, smooth
Virya is cool
Vipaka: sweet/ tonifying
Doshic effect VP- K+
Key benefits: nourishing, increases Ojas (immunity) and increases dhatus. Dhatus are a layer or stratum associated with the tissues of the body. They actively support the structure of the body and its functioning aids in both physical and psychological health. Each dhatu is developed or transformed out of the previous tissue layer.
Sour Taste
Elements: fire, earth, touch of water
Qualities: heavy, moist, stable & sharp
Virya is warm
Vipaka is sour which improves agni
Doshic effect V- PK+
Key benefits strengthens digestion
Supports Ojas through healthy digestion and the heavy, stable qualities of earth. Increases tejas
Salty Taste
Elements: water & fire
Qualities: moist, sharp
Virya is warm
Vipaka is sweet and slightly tonifying
Doshic effect V- PK+
Key benefits increases appetite
Pungent Taste
Elements: fire & air
Qualities: light, hot, dry, mobile, hard & rough
Virya is hot (hottest)
Vipaka is pungent & purifying
Doshic effect: K- VP+
Key benefits: Quickly improves digestion
Bitter Taste
Elements: earth & air
Qualities: cool, dry, hard, stable, rough
Virya is cool (coolest)
Vipaka is pungent purifying
Doshic effect: PK- V+
Key benefit: purifies tissues & blood
Astringent Taste
Elements: earth & air
Qualities: cool dry, hard, stable, rough
Virya is cool
Vipaka is pungent
Doshic effect: PK- V+
Key benefits: keeps tissues tone & tight