Wheat

Godhuma (Wheat) is described as one of the best nourishing grains. It is sweet, heavy, unctuous, and cold. Wheat is the primary food grain in northern India and many other regions. It is highly nourishing, strength-giving, and aphrodisiac. It is indicated for increasing weight and strength in emaciated and weak individuals. Wheat is best consumed as chapati (unleavened bread), but also as Halwa, porridge, and various other preparations. Wheat sprouts (Ankura) are considered even more nutritious. The grain should be 2-3 months old for best results; very new wheat is heavier. Different varieties exist but medicinal properties are similar. Wheat is Jivaniya (life-sustaining) and is one of the best Brimhana (nourishing) substances. It promotes tissue building, especially Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), and Shukra (reproductive tissue) Dhatus. Chemical analysis: protein 8-14%, starch, and B-vitamins. Dose: As food — ad libitum. Verses: 30-33.

• Brimhana (nourishing)
• Balya (strength-giving)
• Vrishya (aphrodisiac)
• Jivana (life-giving)
• Stanya (galactagogue)
• Sandhaniya (promotes union/healing)

Food prepared with wheat flour, black gram products of sugarcane and of milk, food prepared from freshly harvested corn, muscles, fat and edible oils should be partaken as food.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Have one year old barley, wheat and honey, meat of animals of desert-like land, and meat roasted in fire as food;

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal

Treatment for those who undergo Panchakarma treatment and who feel tired: भेषज पते प यमाहारै ब ृहणं मात ् शा लषि टकगोधम ू मु गमांसघत ृ ा द भः यद पनभे ष य संयोगा ु चपि तदैः सा य गो वतन नान न ह ने हनि त भः Bruhmana Ahara – nourishing eatables such as Shashtika Shali – rice that mature in 60 days Godhuma – wheat Mudga – green gram Mamsa – meat Ghrita – ghee Medicine with Hrudya (cardiac tonic) and Deepana (digestive, carminative) qualities should be mixed with food and taken.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Roganutpadaniya

15 Godhuma – Wheat benefits – व ृ यः शीतो गु ः ि न धो जीवनो वात प तहा १५ स धानकार मधुरो गोधूमः थैय कृत ् सरः प या न द मुखी शीता कषायमधुरा लघुः १६ Wheat is Vrushya – natural aphrodisiac Sheeta – cold Guru (Heavy to digest) Snigdha – unctuous, oily Jivaniya – enlivening Vatapittaha – balances Vata and Pitta Sandhanakari – heals fractures and wounds Madhura (sweet) Sthairyakrut – increases body stability Sara – promotes bowel movements Pathya – can be had on daily basis Nandimukhi variety of w

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

Pathya – food that can be consumed habitually (on daily basis, for a long time) – शीलये छा लगोधूमयवषि टकजा गलम ् सु नष णकजीव तीबालमूलवा तुकम ् प यामलकम ृ वीकापटोल मु गशकराः घत ृ द योदक ीर ौ दा डमसै धवम ् Shali (rice), Godhuma (wheat), Yava – Barley – Hordeum vulgare, Shashtika (rice maturing in sixty days), Jangala (meat of animals of desert like lands), sunisannaka, Jivanti – Leptadenia reticulata, Balamulaka (young radish), Pathya (Haritaki) Amalaka (Amla – Indian gooseberry), Mridwika – dr

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Food habits &

Regular exercise, eating only after digestion, and consuming barley and wheat manage obesity and santarpaniya disorders.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 23: Over-nutrition & Under-nutrition Disorders (Santarpaniya Adhyaya / सन्तर्पणीय अध्याय)

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)

Mantha prepared from wheat flour or venesection may be advised.

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

Patient may take wheat flour with milk and ghee.

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

The persons who have predominance of kapha and not suited to rice should be given the preparation of barley or wheat or purana shali which is suitable.

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

The paste, measured at four Pala, should be wrapped in Jambu (Syzygium cumini) leaves, tied with thread, and coated with wheat flour paste.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)

The fruit of Bibhitaka (Terminalia bellirica) should be slightly smeared with ghee, coated with wheat flour paste, and roasted over embers in the manner of Putapaka.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 1: Svarasadikalpana (Svarasa, Kalka, Kvatha, etc.)

Along with curd, Sauvirakta (fermented gruel), sesame, and herbs like Kulattha (horse gram), Masha (black gram), Godhuma (wheat), Atasi (flaxseed), Tila (sesame), and Sarshapa (mustard).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 2: Sveda Vidhi (Sudation Therapy)

For Vata-type abscess (Vidradhi): a paste of Shigru (Moringa oleifera), Shephali (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, night jasmine), Eranda (castor, Ricinus communis), Yava (barley, Hordeum vulgare), Godhuma (wheat, Triticum aestivum), and Mudraka (rice), applied warm (Sukhoshna) and thick (Bahula).

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

This warm, thick poultice for Vata abscess uses grain flours (barley, wheat, rice) as the bulk base to retain heat, combined with anti-inflammatory Moringa and Vata-pacifying castor and night jasmine.

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

Powders of barley, wheat, and black gram are used in brief (verses 13-14).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 36: Bhumipravibhagiya Adhyaya - On Classification of Land for Medicinal Plants

Powders of barley, wheat, and black gram serve this purpose in brief (verse 11).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 37: Mishrakaadhyaya - The Miscellaneous Chapter

The sweet (madhura) group includes: Kakolyadi group, ghee, fat, marrow, shali rice, shashtika rice, barley, wheat, shringataka, seruka, trapusa (cucumber), ervaaruka, karkaru, kala, bukalindaka, taka, giloda, priyala, pushkara seed, kashmari, madhuka, dracha (grapes), kharjura (dates), rajadana, tala (palm), nalikera (coconut), water preparations, bala, atibala, atmagupta, vidari, payasya, gochuraka, chira, morata, madhulika, krishmaranda, and others.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 42: Rasavishesha-vijnaniya Adhyaya - On Specific Knowledge of Tastes

Godhuma (wheat) — sweet, cool, heavy, nourishing, strengthening, aphrodisiac.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 46: Annapana-vidhi Adhyaya - On Food and Drink

a diet consisting of cakes and pastry made up of Sali-rice and wheat prepared with sugar or other derivatives of sugar-cane, sweet or soothing articles with milk or meat juice or flesh of animals of the Biskira or Vilesaya class, and eating of grapes, sugar and sugar-cane at night, are beneficial.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sharira Sthana, Chapter 4: Garbha-Vyakaranam Sariram - Development of the Foetus in the Womb