Sauvira

Sauviraka is a type of fermented preparation made from barley or other grains. It is sour in taste, light, and hot in potency. It promotes appetite (Deepana), creates relish for food (Rochana), is absorbent (Grahi), and is cardiotonic (Hridya). It is similar to Kanji but lighter and more easily digestible. It is useful in digestive disorders and as a regular beverage during meals to improve digestion. Verses: 6-8.

• Deepana (appetizing)
• Rochana (relish-promoting)
• Grahi (absorbent)
• Hridya (cardiotonic)

Sauviraka and Tushodaka also possess similar properties, useful in worms, heart disease, abdominal tumor, haemorrhoids and anemia.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Notes :- Shukta – Fermented gruel, Dhanyamla, Sauviraka, Tushodaka etc.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

The powders of yava (Hordeum vulgare), kola (Zizypus jujuba) and kulattha (Vigna unquiculata) is added with decoction of brihat panchamula (roots of five big plants), sura (alcoholic preparation made by fermenting a mixture of water, flour of rice and jaggery) and sauviraka (alcoholic beverage prepared from dehusked barley either raw or cooked) and ghee.

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

) or sauviraka or tushodaka or decoction of bilva (Aegle marmelos Carr.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)

Boil the svarasa of two panchamoola (brihat and laghu), sarala ((trivrita) Operculina turpethum), devadaru (Cedrus deodara), nagara (Zingiber officinale), pippali (Piper longum), pippalimoola, chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica), gajapippali (Piper retofractum), sanabeeja (seeds of Crotalaria juncea), barley, kola, kulatta and susavi (Woodfordia fruticosa) with aranala, dadhimanda or sauviraka.

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

Make paste of panchamoola (bilva, shyonaka, gambhari, patala and gambharika), abhaya, trikatu, pippalimoola, saindhava, rasna, two kshara (sarjika and yavakshara), ajaji, vidanga and sati and prepare medicated ghee with sukta, juice of matulunga and ardraka, suṣkamoolaka, kolambu, chukrika, pomengranate, butter milk, mastu (supplement liquid portion in the curd/yoghurt), suramanda (indigenous beer beverage prepared from fermented cereals) sauviraka (acidic fermented liquid obtained from wheat),

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

as also in amla dadhi (sour curd), dadhi mastu (whey), shukta (vinegars), sura (type of liquor) and sauviraka (type of wine);

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 21: Erysipelas Treatment (Visarpa Chikitsa / विसर्पचिकित्सा)

This is orally administered in a dose of one kola (6g) with sauvira (alcoholic beverage prepared from dehusked barley either raw or cooked) and is effective in shvayathu (anasaraka), avipaka (indigestion) and advanced stage of udara roga [162-164].

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

Excess intake of salty, sour, pungent, alkalies and fatty substances, hot food, consumption of rotten and dried flesh, fleshes of aquatic animals like fish, animals living in the area where there are dense forest and heavy rainfall, cake of oil seeds after extraction of oil (pindyaka), radish (Raphanus sativus), red gram, black gram, green vegetables, palala (grated flesh), sugarcane, curd, sour gruel, sauvira and shukta (vinegar), butter milk, sura and asava (alcohol and medicinal preparations

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 29: Gout Treatment (Vatarakta Chikitsa / वातरक्तचिकित्सा)

With this decoction 640 gm of oil should be cooked with equal quantity of sauvira (type of vinegar) and paste of lodhra, kaliyaka (Barberis aristata), ushira, jeevaka, risbhaka (in lieu Pueraria tuberosa) nagakeshara, padmaka, prapaundrika, kashmarya, mansi, meda, priyangu and kumkuma 20 gm and manjishta 40 gm.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 29: Gout Treatment (Vatarakta Chikitsa / वातरक्तचिकित्सा)

Definitions of Tushambu and Sauvira: Tushambu is a fermented preparation made from rice with husks (Airdala Yava) and split barley.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)

Sauvira is prepared from dehusked barley (Nistusha Yava).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 10: Asavarishta-Sandhanakalpana (Fermented Preparations)

A paste of Dhatri (Amalaki/Emblica officinalis), Sarja Rasa (resin of Vateria indica/sal resin), and Yava Kshara (barley alkali) powdered and applied with Sauvira (a type of vinegar/fermented liquid) -- this is to be used for destroying Sidhma (pityriasis versicolor/tinea versicolor).

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

The acidic Sauvira and alkaline Yava Kshara create an unfavorable pH for fungal growth, while Amalaki provides vitamin C and tannins with antifungal action.

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

Sura (liquor), Sauviraka (a fermented drink), Kushtha, orpiment (Haritala), and realgar (Manashila) (should also be used).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 33: Andhaputanapratishedha

The use of Phanita (liquid treacle), Sigru, Sauvira, the taking of meals before the digestion of the previous ones, the group of Nava-Dhanya (unmatured corn), wine, sesamum, oil and Kulattha-pulse, sleep in the day time, sexual intercourse, physical exercise, fits of anger and exposure to the sun are forbidden in the case of a poisoned patient.

— Sushruta Samhita, Kalpa Sthana, Chapter 7: Dundhubhi-Svaniya

The use of Phanita (liquid treacle), Sigru, Sauvira, the taking of meals before the digestion of the previous ones, the group of Nava-Dhanya (unmatured corn), wine, sesamum, oil and Kulattha-pulse, sleep in the day time, sexual intercourse, physical exercise, fits of anger and exposure to the sun are forbidden in the case of a poisoned patient.

— Sushruta Samhita, Dundhubhi-Svaniya