In the ancient teachings, the wise describe the nature of individuals by observing their bodies, minds, and dreams. One whose frame is thin and dry, with scant hair, whose mind is restless and speech abundant, and who dreams of movement, is recognized as having a windy constitution. Another, prematurely gray and fair-skinned, who sweats easily, is quick to anger, intelligent, and dreams of radiant things, is said to possess a bilious nature. The person whose mind is steady, whose voice is gentle, clear, and pleasant, whose hair is smooth, and who dreams of water or stones, is understood to be phlegmatic. Sometimes, signs of two or three humors appear together; such a person is of mixed constitution. Yet, if one humor dominates even when others are present, it is called the main constitution. The digestive fire, the source of vitality, manifests in four ways: weak, sharp, irregular, or balanced, depending on the predominance of phlegm, bile, wind, or their equilibrium. Each type calls for its own care: the balanced fire needs maintenance; the irregular fire, caused by wind, requires calming; the sharp fire, stirred by bile, needs measures to reduce heat; the weak fire, dulled by phlegm, calls for purification. Indigestion is the root of all diseases, for it destroys the digestive fire. Its signs—heaviness, sourness, and obstruction—are fourfold in nature. From indigestion arise ailments like cholera and heart fatigue; in such cases, vomiting induced with vacā, salt, and water is advised. Sourness leads to loss of semen, dizziness, fainting, and thirst; here, cold water and remedies for wind are prescribed. For fractures, heaviness of the head, and disorders from improper food, daytime sleep should be avoided and fasting observed. Colic and abdominal tumors, marked by obstructed urine and stool, are treated with fomentation and saline water. When heaviness, sourness, or obstruction arise from phlegm, bile, or wind, the wise anoint the abdomen with asafoetida, black salt, and long pepper. Daytime sleep can destroy indigestion, yet unwholesome food brings many diseases and must be avoided. Warm water after meals and honey aid digestion; milk generally does not agree with radish, curd, or fish. To kindle the digestive fire and destroy phlegm and wind, five great roots are renowned: bilva, śoṇā, gambhārī, pāṭalā, and gaṇikārikā. Five lesser roots—śālaparṇa, pṛśniparṇa, the two kinds of bṛhatī, and gokṣura—remove wind and bile and invigorate the body. Both types of daśasūla are effective in alleviating fever caused by convergent diseases; they are recommended for cough, breathlessness, lethargy, and pain in the sides. With medicinal oils, fomentation and ointments are applied to overcome alopecia. Decoction water should be four times the quantity, and the same applies for application to the feet. Equal parts of oil and milk, with paste as a quarter of the oil, are cooked with prescribed medicines. For enema and oral administration, the preparation should be equal; for massage, it should be rough; for nasal application, gentle; and adjusted as needed. The healthy person is one whose body and senses are robust, whose natural constitution is established; such a person is to be cared for as one possessing longevity. But those who perceive objects with their senses in a distorted way are destined for death. Similarly, one hostile to physicians, friends, and teachers, or excessively attached to loved ones or enemies, faces peril. If the ankle, knee, forehead, jaw, or cheek are dislocated or displaced, death approaches swiftly. If the left eye is sunken, the tongue dark, the nose deformed, the lips black and displaced, and the mouth black, hope should be abandoned for such a person. Dhanvantari, the divine physician, then spoke: “I will explain the discernment of what is beneficial and harmful, and the rules for anupāna.” He taught that red rice destroys the three doṣas, quenches thirst, and prevents fat accumulation. Mahāśāli is highly invigorating, while kalama rice alleviates phlegm and bile, being cooling and heavy. The white ṣaṣṭika rice also pacifies the three doṣas. Śyāmāka is drying, rough, wind-promoting, and alleviates phlegm and bile, as do priyangu, nivāra, and koradūṣa. Barley, used often and cold once, removes phlegm and bile; it is invigorating, cooling, heavy, and sweet. Wheat destroys wind. Mudga is astringent, sweet, light, and removes phlegm and bile. Māṣa is highly strengthening, invigorating, heavy, and alleviates bile and phlegm. Rājamāṣa is not invigorating but alleviates phlegm and bile, and relieves wind disorders. Kulattha removes breathlessness, hiccups, heart disease, phlegm, abdominal tumors, and wind. Makuṣṭhaka is cooling, binding, and alleviates bleeding disorders, fever, and insanity. Caṇaka is wind-promoting and removes disorders of semen, blood, phlegm, and bile. Masūra is sweet, cooling, binding, and alleviates phlegm and bile; kalāya possesses all qualities and is highly wind-promoting. Āgkī alleviates phlegm and bile and increases semen. Atasī is known to promote bile, and siddhārtha conquers phlegm and wind. Sesame is salty, sweet, unctuous, strengthening, hot, and increases bile. Various grains that are rough, cooling, and reduce strength are also described. Among vegetables and herbs, citraka, engudi, nālīkā, pippalī, madhuśigru, cavyā, caraṇa, nirguṇḍī, tarkārī, and kāśamardaka are mentioned. Bilva and similar fruits counteract phlegm and bile, destroy worms, are light, and stimulate digestion. In rainy regions and under the sun, they dispel wind and phlegm, removing all disorders. Castor, black nightshade, and kākamācī are bitter and remove all three doshas. Cāṅgerī counters phlegm and wind, and mustard eliminates all disorders. Kausmasumbha and rājikā alleviate wind and bile; nāḍīcaḥ counters phlegm and bile, while cucumber is sweet and cooling. Padma leaf and tripuṭa remove disorders, with tripuṭa especially increasing wind. Vāstuka, containing salt, destroys all disorders and is highly stimulating. Taṇḍukī, vipahara, pālaṅkyā, and others—root vegetables—cause disorders and are emaciating; when cooked, they aggravate wind and phlegm. Among all, adya is best for removing disorders and soothing the throat when cooked. Karkoṭaka, vārtāka, padola, and kāravellaka are also included among the beneficial. Thus, the wise have spoken, imparting the knowledge of constitutions, signs of health and peril, and the discernment of foods and medicines that balance the humors and sustain well-being.