Brinjal

Vartaka (Brinjal/Eggplant/Baigan) is one of the most popular vegetables in India. The plant is an erect herb 2-3 feet tall. The fruits vary greatly in size, shape and color — from small round to large elongated, white, green, purple or dark purple. It is bitter, pungent, light and hot. It kindles digestive fire and pacifies Vata and Kapha. However, it may aggravate Pitta. Different varieties have slight variation in properties. The white round variety is considered best. Overripe eggplant should be avoided. It is widely used in various preparations across India. Verses: 52.

• Deepana (appetizer)
• Vatahara (pacifies Vata)
• Ruchikara (taste improver)
• Kaphahara (pacifies Kapha)

Brinjal benefits: वाताकं कटु त तो णं मधुरं कफवातिजत ् । स ारं अि नजननं यं यं अ प तलम ् ॥८१॥ Brinjal is pungent, bitter, hot in potency, sweet, mitigates kapha and vata, is slightly alkaline, kindles digestion improves taste and does not aggravate pitta 81 कर रमा मानकरं कषायं वाद ु त तकम ् Karira produces distention of the abdomen, is astringent, sweet and bitter in taste, कोशाताकाव गज ु कौभे दनावि नद पनौ Kosataki and avalguja break the hard faeces and kindle digestion.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

The soup which is used for purification of breast milk, should be prepared with tender leaves of neem and vetra, parvala leaves, brinjal and amalaka added with dry zinger (shunthi), pepper, pippali and rock salt.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 30: Gynecological Disorders Treatment (Yonivyapat Chikitsa / योनिव्यापत्चिकित्सा)

Barley (Hordeum vulgare), red rice (Rakta Shali), brinjal (Solanum melongena), pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica), soup of meat from arid-land animals, Rohita fish, and alkaline preparations are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 28: Diet for Intoxication (Madatya Pathyapathyam)

Vastuka (Chenopodium album) greens, Sarishta greens, Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) greens, pointed gourd, garlic (Allium sativum), brinjal (Solanum melongena), and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) are beneficial.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 32: Diet for Rheumatism (Amavata Pathyapathyam)

Fresh sesame, wheat, brinjal (Solanum melongena), garlic (Allium sativum), Rohita fish, Madgura fish, Shringi fish, Varma fish, Kavayi, and Lisha fish are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 66: Diet for Vata Diseases (Vata Roga Pathyapathyam)

Quail, peacock, deer, partridge, wild fowl, pointed gourd, drumstick (Moringa oleifera), brinjal (Solanum melongena), Sunishannaka (Marsilea quadrifolia), and Kathillaka are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 75: Diet for Ear Diseases (Karnaroga Pathyapathyam)

Brinjal, Kulaka, drumstick, Karkota (Momordica dioica), young radish, garlic (Allium sativum), curd, warm water, Varuni (a type of wine), and the three pungent substances (Trikatu — ginger, black pepper, long pepper) are recommended.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 76: Diet for Nasal Diseases (Nasaroga Pathyapathyam)

Fumigation with brinjal smoke is beneficial, and mustard oil as well.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 21: Chapter 21