Harira Broth

Harira is a type of spiced broth or gruel preparation. It is prepared from wheat flour or other grain flour cooked with ghee, milk, and spices. It is lighter than solid food preparations and is easily digestible. It is appetizing, strengthening, and alleviates Vata dosha. Different types of Harira are described based on ingredients used.

• Deepana (appetizing)
• Balya (strengthening)
• Vatahara (alleviates Vata)

Specific dietary prescription for rajayakshma patients — nourishing meat broth enhanced with digestive and nutritive herbs.

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

After satiation with broth, milk, or gruel, the patient inhales water lily flower powder impregnated with Dhamargava fruit powder for easy emesis.

— Charaka Samhita, Kalpa Sthana — Pharmaceutical Preparations, Chapter 4: Pharmaceutical Preparations of Dhamargava (Dhamargava Kalpa Adhyaya / धामार्गवकल्प अध्याय)

Additional preparations: Sudha latex with vegetable soup, meat broth, or ghee;

— Charaka Samhita, Kalpa Sthana — Pharmaceutical Preparations, Chapter 10: Pharmaceutical Preparations of Sudha (Sudha Kalpa Adhyaya / सुधाकल्प अध्याय)

The suitable Anupanas (after-drinks/vehicles) for Avaleha are: milk, sugarcane juice, meat broth (Yusha), decoction of Dashamoola (ten roots), or decoction of Vasa (Adhatoda vasica) — these should be used as adjuvants according to the disease being treated.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 8: Avalehakalpana (Confection/Electuary Preparations)

After oil consumption, meat broth (Yusha) is best.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 1: Snehapana Vidhi (Oleation Therapy)

In Vata-dominant conditions, powder of Trivrit, Saindhava (rock salt), and Shunthi (Zingiber officinale) should be taken with sour liquids or with the broth of Jangala (arid-land) animals for purgation.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

Feed the patient goat meat broth, or Vaishkira (gallinaceous bird) broth, or deer meat broth, with Shali rice, Shashtika rice in small quantity, or Masura (lentils).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

Or Shali rice with broth of Jangala (arid-land) or Vishkira (gallinaceous) animals is beneficial.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 4: Virechana Vidhi (Purgation Therapy)

In fever caused by fasting or exertion with Vata predominance, a wise physician should feed a patient with strong digestion meat broth with rice.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha

Diet: Shali and Shashtika rice with broth.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 39: Jvarapratishedha

The tricolored powder (trivarnaka) should be taken with meat broth, or licked with fresh jaggery.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 44: Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations

Mung beans soaked in purgative juice make a broth that is excellent with rock salt and ghee for purgation.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 44: Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations

The tricolored powder (trivarnaka) should be taken with meat broth, or licked with fresh jaggery.

— Sushruta Samhita, Virechana-dravya-vikalpa-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Purgative Drug Preparations