Buffalo Meat

Mahisha (Buffalo) meat is classified as Anupa (marshy/wet-land animal). It is very heavy, unctuous and channel-blocking. It induces sleep, is highly nourishing and pacifies Vata. However, it is difficult to digest and increases Kapha significantly. Buffalo meat is darker and tougher than cow meat. It should be consumed sparingly and only by those with strong digestive power. Verses: 16-17.

• Nidrajanana (sleep inducing)
• Brimhana (nourishing)
• Vatahara (pacifies Vata)

Buffalo milk mixed with sugar and cooled by moonlight and the stars should be used for drinking.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

20-21 Goksheera –(cow milk benefits):अ ग यं तु जीवनीयं रसायनम ् त ीण हतं मे यं ब यं त यकरं सरम ् म ममदाल मी वासकासा दत ृ जीन वरं मू कृ ुधः ं र त प तं च नाशयेत ् Cow’s milk Jeevaneeya – promotes long life, Rasayana – anti aging, rejuvenating Kshataksheena hita – good for those emaciated after chest injury Medhya – increases intelligence, Balya – strengthening Stanyakara – promotes breast milk production Sara – helps easy movement of the bowels Relieves Shramahara – exhaustion, Bhramahara

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Mutra Varga (group of urine) :मू ंगो अजा वम हषीगजा वो प तलं खरो वम ् ती णो णं लवणानुरसं कटु ८२ कृ मशोफोदरानाह शूलपा डुकफा नलान ् गु मा च वषि व कु ठाशा स जये लघु ८३ Urine of cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, elephant, horse, camel and donkey – these aggravate Pitta, are non-unctous, penetrating deep, hot in potency, pungent with salt as its secondary taste and useful in worms, dropsy, abdominal enlargement, flatulence, colic, anemia, aggravation of Kapha and Vata, abdominal tumors, loss of taste, po

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

) 48-49 ½ Mahamriga – big animals – वराहम हष य क रो हतवारणाः स ृमर चमरः ख गो गवय च महाम ृगाः Varaha (boar), mahisa (buffalo), nyanku (dog deer), rohita (big deer), ruru (swamp deer), varana (elephant), srmara (Indian wild boar), chamara (yak), khadga (rhinoceros) and Gavaya (goyal ox) are known as mahamriga (animals of huge body).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

उ णो गर या म हषः व नदा यब ृह वकृत ् Flesh of mahisa (buffalo) is hot, not easily digestible, produces sleep, strength and stoutness of the body.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

Peafowl, partridge, chicken, swan, hog, camel, ass, bull, and buffalo flesh are supreme for tissue building.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 8: Consumption and Wasting Disease Treatment (Rajayakshma Chikitsa / राजयक्ष्मचिकित्सितं)

If the patient’s physique reduces after the shodhana (purification measures) then he should be given cow’s milk, goat’s milk or buffalo’s milk to drink.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

In general the eight types of urine (urine of human being, cow, goat, sheep, camel and buffalo) may be used in the form of drink or parisheka (pouring medicated liquids on body parts) in patients suffering from udara (enlargement of abdomen tending ascites) [109-110].

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Patient may be treated with buffalo urine for one week along with milk as food avoiding rice.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 13: Abdominal Diseases Treatment (Udara Chikitsa / उदरचिकित्सा)

Bhunimba, kutaki, tikta, patola, nimba and parpataka are burned with buffalo urine and prepared as per kshara kalpana.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 15: Digestive Disorders Treatment (Grahani Chikitsa / ग्रहणीचिकित्सा)

Supplementary verses (Anukta Samgraha Shlokas) — Purification of Jayapala (Croton tiglium): Jayapala seeds are freed from their outer skin and internal impurities, then purified by processing with buffalo milk and specific cleansing procedures.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

The Basti bag (bladder) may be from deer, goat, pig, cow, or buffalo.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 5: Sneha Basti Vidhi (Oil Enema Therapy)

Their characteristic: the thickness of both should be like a buffalo's skin (approximately 3-4mm).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Buffalo skin thickness provides a practical clinical measure.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 11: Lepa Vidhi (Topical Paste Application)

Urine of cow, camel, horse, and buffalo, ghee, purgation therapy, and all bitter substances are beneficial in Kushtha (skin diseases).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 57: Diet for Skin Diseases (Kushtha Pathyapathyam)

Vulture and owl droppings, the skin of a goat and buffalo, neem leaves, and Madhuka (licorice) should be used for fumigation.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 34: Shitaputanapratishedha

By the same method, ghee from sheep, goat, buffalo, or camel (may be prepared).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha

The milks described are: cow's milk (gavya), goat's milk (aja), camel's milk (chaushtra), sheep's milk (avika), buffalo's milk (mahisha), mare's milk (ashvaya), woman's milk (narya), and elephant's milk (karenu) (verse 47).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances

Buffalo's milk is excessively moisture-producing, sweet, and destroys digestive fire.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances

Buffalo's curd is especially strength-promoting, unctuous.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances