Here we are continuing on rasa – Tastes.

As we have to know about what is taste- so we will start with that.

RASA:-

रस्यते आस्वाद्यते रसनायः रसनेन्द्रियेण इति रस ||

The particular sense object which is perceived by the rasanendriya – tounge, is called RASA.

When we put any substance on the tongue,the first impression formed over the tongue is known as RASA- TASTE.

Many drugs – medicines are working by rasa in AYURVEDA. Like GUDUCHI has a bitter taste, so it works as JWARAHARA-pacifying fever.

There are 6 types of RASA mentioned in Ayurveda –

  • Madhura – Sweet
  • Amla – Sour
  • Lavana – Salty
  • Katu – Pungent
  • Tikta – Bitter
  • Kashaya – Astraingent

These rasas are successively having lower energy. which means,Madhura rasa gives maximum energy to the body and Kashaya gives the least.

Here we will know about LAVANA RASA – SALTY TASTE.

Lavana rasa is made up of two mahabhootas ( basic elements) – AGNI + JALA

GUNA & KARMA OF LAVANA RASA (SALTY TASTE)

  • पाचन – Digestive
  • क्लेदन – Moisturising
  • दीपन – Carminative
  • च्यवन – having a Scraping effect
  • छेदन – having Excising effect
  • तीक्ष्ण – Sharp in nature-thus having a piercing effect
  • भेदन – Breaks down substance easily
  • सर – Initiates movement
  • विकासी – Absorbs Directly in the system without going into the digestion phase
  • अधःस्रसी – Having or Causing downward movement
  • वातहर   – Pacifies VATA
  • स्तंभबन्धसंघातविधमन – it breaks down stiffness, obstruction
  • सर्व रस प्रत्यनिकभुत – having Dominating effect on other tastes
  • आस्यमस्राव – causes Salivation
  • कफं विष्यन्दन्ति – liquefies Kapha dosha
  • मार्गान विशोधयति – Cleans Channels
  • सर्व शरीर अवयवान मृदुकरोति – softens the body parts
  • रोचयति आहारं – Improves the taste of food
  • आहारयोगी – Essential in food
  • नातिअर्थं गुरु – Not too heavy indigestion
  • स्निग्ध – Unuctous
  • उष्ण – Hot

EFFECTS ON THE SROTAS WHEN WE TAKE IT INTO EXCESSIVE QUANTITY

पित्तं कोपयति, रक्तं वर्धयति, तर्षयति, मूर्च्छयति [२] , तापयति, दारयति, कुष्णाति मांसानि, प्रगालयति कुष्ठानि, विषं वर्धयति, शोफान् स्फोटयति, दन्तांश्च्यावयति, पुंस्त्वमुपहन्ति, इन्द्रियाण्युपरुणद्भि, वलिपलितखालित्यमापादयति, अपि च लोहितपित्ताम्लपित्तविसर्पवातरक्तविचर्चिकेन्द्रलुप्तप्रभृतीन्विकारानुपजनयति |

  • Udakvaha srotas (lymph channels):– Thirst
  • Annavaha srotas (Digestive system ):- Acidity, gastritis
  • Rasavaha srotas (The first essence part after the digestion process):- Causes fainting
  • Raktavaha srotas (Channels carrying the blood):- Aggravates Pitta, Increases blood, Causes Heating sensation, Erosive effect, aggravates poisons effect, Opens up the swelling, causes wrinkles, Greying of Hair, Baldness, Bleeding disorders, Herpes, Gout, Eczema, Alopecia
  • Mamsavaha srotas (Muscle tissue):- depletion of the mamsa dhatu – muscle tissue, sloughing of the skin in skin disease
  • Asthivaha srotas (bones):- dislodgement of teeth
  • Shukravaha srotas (Reproductive system):- Impotency, Obstruction of the functions of senses

These all are the effects of excessive intake of salty taste.