Sour Curd

Amla Dadhi (sour/well-fermented curd) is properly set curd with full sourness. It is hot in potency and increases Pitta and Kapha. While it is appetizing and strengthening, excessive sourness indicates over-fermentation which vitiates blood (Rakta) and aggravates Pitta. The text advises moderation in consuming very sour curd. Verses 7-9.

• Pitta-vardhaka (increases Pitta)
• Kapha-vardhaka (increases Kapha)
• Rakta-dushaka (vitiates blood)
• Deepana (appetizing)

5 Six tastes रसाः वा व ललवण त तोषणकषायकाःष यमा ता ते च यथापूव बलावहाः Svadu – Madhura – sweet, Amla – Sour, Lavana – Salt, Tikta – Bitter, Ushna – Katu – Pungent, Kashaya – Astringent are the six types of Rasa.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

Sweet, sour and salt mitigates Vata and increases Kapha.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ayushkameeya Adhyaya

Sour, Salt and sweet (Amla, Lavana and Madhura) tastes are dominant respectively during the three seasons of this period.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Hence, in this period, one should consume food predominant with sweet sour and salt tastes.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Ekashapha ksheera- (milk of single hoofed animals):वाढमु णं वै कशफं लघु शाखावातहरं सा ललवणं जडताकरम ् Milk of single hoofed animals (like horse, donkey, etc) is very hot (in potency), useful in vata disorders, is slightly sour and salt and causes lassitude (laziness).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

The six tastes are: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 1: Longevity & Fundamentals (Deerghanjiviteeya Adhyaya / दीर्घञ्जीवितीय अध्याय)

30), cow meat sour gruel for irregular fever (v.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 2: Dehusked Seeds of Apamarga & Panchakarma (Apamarga Tanduliya Adhyaya / अपामार्गतण्डुलीय अध्याय)

Causes of blood vitiation: spoiled/unsuitable foods, excessive salt/sour, incompatible meats, fermented products in excess, daytime sleeping after heavy meals, suppression of natural urges, excessive sun/wind exposure, autumn season, anger and trauma.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 24: Blood Characteristics & Consciousness Disorders (Vidhishonitiya Adhyaya / विधिशोणितीय अध्याय)

Lord Atreya declared: There exist precisely six tastes - sweet, sour, saline, pungent, bitter, and astringent.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 26: Pharmacological Principles of Diet (Atreyabhadrakapyiya Adhyaya / आत्रेयभद्रकाप्यीय अध्याय)

The sour group (drugs of amlaskandha) includes fruits of amra, amrataka, lakucha, karamarda, vrukshamla, amlavetasa, kuvala, badara, dadima, matulunga, gandira, amalaka, nanditaka, shitaka, tintindika, dantashath, airavataka, koshamra, dhanvan;

— Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 8: Physician's Approach to Disease (Rogabhishagjitiya Vimana / रोगभिषग्जितीय विमान)

Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), Katu (pungent), Tikta (bitter), and Kashaya (astringent) — these are the six Rasas (tastes), found variously distributed among different substances.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 2: Bhaishajyakhyanaka (Medicine Administration Timing)

From Earth-Water, Water-Fire, Fire-Water, Fire-Space, Space-Air, and Air-Earth element pairs arise the six Rasas respectively (Sweet, Sour, Salty, Pungent, Bitter, Astringent in order).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 2: Bhaishajyakhyanaka (Medicine Administration Timing)

Vipaka (post-digestive effect) of a substance is threefold: sweet (Svadu/Madhura), sour (Amla), and pungent (Katu).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 2: Bhaishajyakhyanaka (Medicine Administration Timing)

sour taste undergoes sour Vipaka.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 2: Bhaishajyakhyanaka (Medicine Administration Timing)

Sweet Vipaka produces Kapha, sour Vipaka produces Pitta.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 2: Bhaishajyakhyanaka (Medicine Administration Timing)

sour, salty, and sweet tastes gain strength;

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 6: Ritucharya Adhyaya - Seasonal Regimen

Varsha/monsoon: sour, salty diet;

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 6: Ritucharya Adhyaya - Seasonal Regimen

Harmful: Masha (Vigna mungo / black gram), Kulattha (Macrotyloma uniflorum / horse gram), heavy/sour/salty foods, curd, alcohol, and sesame.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 20: Hitahitiya Adhyaya - Beneficial and Harmful Factors

from consuming barley-chaff, alkalies, sour substances, kulattha (horse gram), and black gram (masha);

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 1: Aupadravika Adhyaya (Chapter on Complications / Secondary Eye Diseases)

When, after consuming sour or irritating food, the entire eye becomes covered with reddish-blue swelling — that is called amladhyushita (acid-irritated eye).

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 6: Sarvagata Roga Vijnaniya Adhyaya (Chapter on Diseases Affecting the Whole Eye)