Sidhu

Sidhu is a wine prepared from sugarcane juice through fermentation. It is sweet and sour in taste, hot in potency, and light. It pacifies Vata, stimulates digestion, promotes appetite, is cardiotonic, and strengthening. Among all alcoholic preparations, Sidhu is considered one of the better options for therapeutic use due to its sweetness and relatively milder intoxicating properties. It is nourishing and less harmful than grain-based Sura. Old Sidhu is considered better than freshly prepared one. The text also describes variations like Sharkara Sidhu (prepared from sugar) and Guda Sidhu (prepared from jaggery). Verses: 15-17.

• Vata-shamaka (pacifies Vata)
• Deepana (appetizing)
• Rochana (relish-promoting)
• Hridya (cardiotonic)
• Bala-kara (strengthening)

Beverages such as asava (fermented infusion), arista (fermented decoction), sidhu (fermented infusion), mardvika (fermented grape juice), or sarambu (extract of trees such as asana, candana etc.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Sidhu – (wine of sugarcane juice) :वात प तकरः सीधुः नेह ले म वकाराहा मेदः शोफोदराश न त प वरसो वरः Sidhu (prepared from fermenting sugarcane juice) aggravates Vata and Pitta, decreases lubrication and diseases of Kapha, obesity, dropsy, enlargement of the abdomen and haemorrhoids;

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

Food comprising rakta shali (Oryza sativa), yava (Hordeum vulgare), mudga (Phaseolus radiatus), meat soup of dry land animals, milk, cow’s urine, asava (fermented infusions), arishtha (fermented decoctions), honey, sidhu (alcoholic preparation from sugarcane juice) and sura (alcoholic preparation made by fermenting a mixture of water, flour of rice and jaggery).

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

) added with kshara (prepared alkali) and dadima (Punica granatum), food prepared from godhum and yava with sidhu, honey and sugar, varuni scum with honey and matulung juice (Citrus medica), use of triphala with pippali (Piper longum linn) and honey, musta (Cyperus rotundus linn) or bhallataka saktu (Semecarpus anacardium linn) and honey, devadaru (Cedrus deodara), guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) and girija (Asphaltum punjabianum).

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

Liquor made up of sharkara or honey or old arishta or sidhu mixed with the honey shall be administered in nirama phase on desired time.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 24: Alcoholism Treatment (Madatyaya Chikitsa / मदात्ययचिकित्सा)

Followed by drink of prasanna (clear wine/top portion of alcohol) or gud sidhu (wine prepared out of jaggery).

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

[188] Mix all the above mentioned drugs by adding sidhu (wine prepared out of sugarcane juice), madhava (wine prepared out of honey) and madhvika (wine prepared out of madhuka) together and used for gargling in all diseases of the mouth.

— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 26: Three Vital Organs Treatment (Trimarmiya Chikitsa / त्रिमर्मीयचिकित्सा)

Definitions of Sidhu types: a preparation made from uncooked sweet liquids is known as Shita Rasa Sidhu.

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

One made from cooked sweet liquids (boiled preparations) is called Pakva Rasa Sidhu.

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

Year-old rice, red rice, barley, green gram, Kulthi (Macrotyloma uniflorum), Mattrika, Sura (fermented liquor), Sidhu (a type of wine), and arid-land deer and birds are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 36: Diet for Abdominal Enlargement (Udara Roga Pathyapathyam)

, Haiyangavina (fresh butter from the same day's milk), milk, fresh butter, Sura (fermented liquor), and Sidhu (wine) are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 79: Diet for Seminal Loss (Dhvajabhanga Pathyapathyam)

Year-old rice, red rice, barley, green gram, Kulthi (Macrotyloma uniflorum), Mattrika, Sura (fermented liquor), Sidhu (a type of wine), and arid-land deer and birds are wholesome.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 25: Diet for Abdominal Enlargement (Udara Roga Pathyapathyam)