Garuda Purana

शीतोष्णं लवणं वीर्यमथ वा शक्तिरिष्यते । रसानां द्विविधः पाको कटुरेव च ॥ १,१६८.

Potency is considered to be either cold, hot, or salty; the transformation of tastes is twofold, and especially pungent.

भिषग्भेषजरोगार्तपरिचारकसम्पदः । चिकित्साङ्गानिचत्वारि विपरीतान्यसिद्धये ॥ १,१६८.

The four limbs of treatment are: physician, medicine, patient, and attendant; if any are contrary, success is not achieved.

देशकालवयोवह्निसाम्यप्रकृतिभेषजम् । देहसत्त्वबलव्याधीन्बुद्ध्वा कर्म समाचरेत् ॥ १,१६८.

Having understood the region, season, age, digestive fire, constitution, and medicine, as well as the body, mind, strength, and diseases, one should perform the treatment.

संसृष्टलक्षणोपेतो देशः साधारणः स्मृतः । बाल आ षोडशान्मध्यः सप्ततेर्वृद्ध उच्यते ॥ १,१६८.

The region with mixed characteristics is called common; childhood is up to sixteen, middle age up to seventy, and after that is called old age.

कफपित्तानिलाः प्रायो यथाक्रममुदीरिताः । क्षाराग्निशस्त्ररहिता क्षीणे प्रवयसि क्रियाः ॥ १,१६८.

Phlegm, bile, and wind generally manifest in order; treatments without alkali, fire, or surgery are prescribed in advanced age.

कृशस्य वृंहणं कार्यंस्थूलदेहस्य कर्षणम् । रक्षणं मध्यकायस्य देहभेदास्त्रयो मताः ॥ १,१६८.

For the emaciated, nourishing therapy is to be done; for the obese, reducing therapy; for those of medium build, protection—these are considered the three types of bodies.

स्थैर्यव्यायामसन्तोषैर्बोद्धव्यं यत्नतो बलम् । अविकारी महोत्साहो महासाहसिको नरः ॥ १,१६८.

Strength should be carefully understood by firmness, exercise, and contentment; a man who is unchanging, highly energetic, and very courageous.

पानाहारादयो यस्य विरुद्धाः प्रकृतेरपि । श्वसुखायोपकल्प्यन्ते तत्साम्यमिति कथ्यते ॥ १,१६८.

When a person's food and drink are contrary even to their own nature, yet are adopted for their own comfort, this is said to be the state of equilibrium.

गर्भिण्याः श्लैष्मिकैर्भक्ष्यैः श्लैष्मिको जायते नरः । वातलैः पित्तलैस्तद्वत्समधातुर्हिताशनात् ॥ १,१६८.

If a pregnant woman eats foods that increase phlegm, a child with a phlegmatic constitution is born; likewise, with foods that increase wind or bile, or with balanced nourishment, the child's constitution follows accordingly.

कृशो रूक्षोऽल्पकेशश्च चलचित्तो नरः स्थितः । बहुवाक्यरतः स्वप्नेवातप्रकृतिको नरः ॥ १,१६८.

A person who is thin, dry, with scant hair, unstable mind, fond of much talking, and who in dreams sees movement, is said to have a windy nature.

अकालपलितो गौरः प्रस्वेदी कोपनो बुधः । स्वप्नेऽपि दीप्तिमत्प्रेक्षी पित्तप्रकृतिरुच्यते ॥ १,१६८.

One who is prematurely gray, fair-skinned, sweats easily, quick to anger, intelligent, and who in dreams sees radiant things, is said to have a bilious nature.

स्थिरचित्तः स्वरः सूक्ष्मः प्रसन्नः स्निग्धमूर्धजः । स्वप्ने जलशिलालोकी श्लेष्म प्रकृतिको नरः ॥ १,१६८.

A person with a steady mind, gentle voice, clear and pleasant, with smooth hair, and who in dreams sees water or stones, is said to have a phlegmatic nature.

संमिश्रलक्षणैर्ज्ञेयो द्वित्रिदोषान्वयो नरः । दोषस्येतरसद्भावेऽप्यधिका प्रकृतिः स्मृताः ॥ १,१६८.

A person should be known as having a mixed constitution when the signs of two or three humors are present; but if one humor is predominant even when others exist, that is called the main constitution.

मन्दस्तीक्ष्णोऽथ विषमः समश्चैति चतुर्विधाः । कफपित्तानिलाधिक्यात्तत्साम्याज्जाठरोऽनलः ॥ १,१६८.

The digestive fire is of four kinds: weak, sharp, irregular, and balanced, arising from the predominance of phlegm, bile, wind, or their equilibrium.

समस्य पालनं कार्यं विषमे वातनिग्रहः । तीक्ष्णे पित्तप्रतीकारो मन्दे श्लेष्मविशोधनम् ॥ १,१६८.

In the balanced type, maintenance is required; in the irregular, wind should be subdued; in the sharp, measures against bile; in the weak, purification of phlegm.

प्रभवः सर्वरोगाणामजीर्णं चाग्निनाशनम् । आमाम्लरसविष्टम्भ लक्षणन्तच्चतुर्विधम् ॥ १,१६८.

The root of all diseases is indigestion, which destroys the digestive fire; its signs are heaviness, sourness, and obstruction, and these are of four types.

आमाद्विषूचिका चैव हृदालस्यादयस्तथा । वचालवणतोयेन छर्दनं तत्र कारयेत् ॥ १,१६८.

From indigestion arise cholera and heart fatigue, among others; in such cases, vomiting should be induced with vacā, salt, and water.

शुक्राभावो भ्रमो मूर्छा तर्षोऽम्लात्संप्रवर्तते । अपक्वं तत्र शीताम्बुपानं वातनिषेवणम् ॥ १,१६८.

From sourness arise loss of semen, dizziness, fainting, and thirst; in such cases, drinking cold water and using remedies for wind are prescribed.

गात्रभङ्गं शिरोजाड्यं भक्तदोषादयो गदान् । तस्मिन्स्वापो दिवा कार्योलङ्घनं च विवर्जनम् ॥ १,१६८.

Fracture of the limbs, heaviness of the head, and disorders from improper food are ailments where daytime sleep should be avoided and fasting observed.

शूलगुल्मौ च विण्मूत्रस्थानविष्टम्भसूचकौ । विधेयं स्वेदनं तत्र पानीयं लवणोदकम् ॥ १,१६८.

Colic and abdominal tumors, indicated by obstruction of urine and stool, should be treated with fomentation and drinking saline water.

आममम्लं च विष्टब्धं कफपित्तानिलैः क्रमात् । आलिप्य जठरं प्राज्ञो हिङ्गुत्र्यूषणसैन्धवैः ॥ १,१६८.

For heaviness, sourness, and obstruction caused by phlegm, bile, or wind, the wise should anoint the abdomen with asafoetida, black salt, and long pepper.

दिवास्वप्नं प्रकुर्वीत सर्वाजीर्णविनाशनम् । अहितान्नै रोगराशिरहितान्नं ततस्त्यजेत् ॥ १,१६८.

Daytime sleep should be practiced to destroy all indigestion; but food that is unwholesome causes many diseases and should therefore be avoided.

उष्णाम्बु वानुपानं च माक्षिकैः पाचनं भवेत् । करीरदधिमत्स्यैश्च प्रायः क्षीरं विरुध्यते ॥ १,१६८.

Warm water as an after-drink, and honey, act as digestives; but milk generally does not agree with radish, curd, or fish.

बिल्वः शोणा च गम्भारी पाटला गणिकारिका । दीपनं कफवातघ्नं पञ्चमूलमिदं महत् ॥ १,१६८.

Bilva, śoṇā, gambhārī, pāṭalā, and gaṇikārikā—these five great roots kindle the digestive fire and destroy phlegm and wind.

शालपर्णो पृश्रिपर्णो बृहतीद्वयगोक्षुरम् । वातपित्तहरं वृष्यं कनीयः पञ्चमूलकम् ॥ १,१६८.

Śālaparṇa, pṛśniparṇa, the two kinds of bṛhatī, and gokṣura—these five lesser roots remove wind and bile, and are invigorating.

उभयं दशसूलं स्यात्सन्निपातज्वरापहम् । कासे श्वासे च तन्द्रायां पार्श्वशूले च शस्यते ॥ १,१६८.

Both types of daśasūla are effective in alleviating fever caused by the convergence of diseases; it is recommended for cough, breathlessness, lethargy, and pain in the sides.

एतैस्तैलानि सर्पोषि प्रलेपादलकां जयेत् । क्वाथाच्चतुर्गुणं वारि पादस्थं स्याच्चतुर्गुणम् ॥ १,१६८.

With these oils, one should perform fomentation and apply ointments to overcome alopecia; the decoction water should be four times the quantity, and likewise four times for foot application.

स्नेहञ्च तत्समं क्षीरं कल्कश्च स्नेहपादकः । संवर्तितौषधैः पाको बस्तौ पाने भवेत्समः । खरोऽभ्यङ्गे मृदुर्नस्ये पाकोऽपि संप्रकल्पयेत् ॥ १,१६८.

Equal parts of oil and milk, with paste as a quarter of the oil, should be cooked with the prescribed medicines; for enema and oral administration, the preparation should be equal; for massage, it should be rough, for nasal application gentle, and the preparation should be suitably adjusted.

स्थूलदेहन्द्रियाश्चिन्त्या प्रकृतिर्या त्वधिष्ठिता । आरोग्यमिति तं विद्यादायुष्मन्तमुपाचरेत् ॥ १,१६८.

One should consider those with robust bodies and senses, whose natural constitution is established; such a person is to be regarded as healthy and should be cared for as one possessing longevity.