In ayurveda there is a long list of precautions to be taken during the use of medicines. This is due to the concept of incompatibilities or contradictions that are to be followed while taking medicine. In Charka Samhita the various contradictory conditions are described. These are the contradictions that are to be followed while preparation of the medicine or food. These contradictions or incompatibilities are of following types-

· Guna virudha- (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of physical and chemical properties.)

· Sanyoga virudaha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of combination.)

· Sanskaar virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of processing methods)

· Rasa virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of Rasa)

· Kriya virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of action on body)

· Desha virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis habitat /ecologic conditions)

· Kaal virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of season and timings)

· Matra virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of dosage)

· Swabhava virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of nature)

· Paak virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of digestive assimilation)

· Veerya virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of temperament)

· Satmya virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of habitual effect)

· Kosthavastha virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of bowel conditions)

· Sampat virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis contaminations /rotten)

· Parihaar virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of procedures)

· Vidhi virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis traditions and natural laws)

· Avastha virudha (drugs, foods, therapeutic procedures and medicines contradicting on the basis of physical states)

Charka described about all these incompatibilities in order to make the Bhaishajiya Kalpana a completely safe process. The basic concept behind this is to avoid all unwanted and disease producing conditions that can arise in the Bhaishajiya Kalpana while combinations or processing of drugs/ medicines or any therapeutic measure. Charka describes all the contradictions and incompatibilities.

In Susruta Samhita the drugs are classified on the basis of their karma (action) and virya (temperament). The action is dependent upon the rasa and virya of the drug thus for combining various drugs the conflict of rasa and virya are strictly avoided and they fall under the incompatibilities under the rasa virudha, veerya virudha, vipak/pak virudha.

These incompatibilities are described in Ashtaang hridyam as equivalent to poison. All these contradictions and incompatibilities must be taken in consideration for optimum use of Bhaishajiya Kalpana and avoid the chances of any other diseases or unhealthy condition to arise.

References –

Sutra sthan-

Ashtaang Hridya by Bramhananda Tripathi published by Chaukhambha Surbharti Varanasi India

Sutra sthan 26/86-87

Charka Samhita –voll-1&2 by Bramhananda Tripathi published by Chaukhambha Surbharti Varanasi India

Sushrut Samhita- voll-1, 2 &3 –by Anantram Sharma published by Chaukhambha Surbharti Varanasi India

On keeping the contradictions of combination of Rasa in mind following conclusions are made in ayurveda.

Rasa based contradiction/incompatibility-

• Amla Rasa & Lvana Rasa
• Tikta Rasa & Kashya Rasa
• Tikta Rasa & Kashya Rasa

Rasa, Veerya contradictions/incompatibilities-

• Madhura Rasa & Amla Rasa
• Madhur Rasa & Lvana Rasa,
• Katu Rasa & Kashaya Rasa
• Katu Rasa & Tikta Rasa

Rasa, Vipak contradictions/incompatibilities-

• Madhur Rasa & Tikta Rasa,
• Madhur Rasa & Kashya Rasa

Rasa, Veerya, and Vipak contradictions/incompatibilities-

• Madhur & Katu Rasa,
• Amla Rasa& Tikta Rasa,
• Amla Rasa& Kashya Rasa.

Rasa, Veerya, Vipak and karma based contradictions/incompatibilities-

• Lavan Rasa & Tikta Rasa
• Lavan Rasa & Kashaya Rasa

The examples of contradictions or incompatibilities under sanyoga virudh (combinations) category are contradictions on taking milk with several substances.

Like as.

• Milk and pumpkin,
• Milk and citric fruits,
• Milk and salt,
• Milk and curd
• Milk and oil,
• Milk and alcohol
• Milk with all type of fish is incompatible.

Sanskaar virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics, and medicines which are contradicting on the basis of processing /preparation.)

For example preparation or cooking of pigeon in mustard oil is said to be instant killer. In the same way honey with hot water is incompatible.

Desha virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics, and medicines which are contradicting on the basis of ecological/climatic conditions.)

Excessive intake of cold and chilled substances in cold region and vice versa hot substances in hot region is contradicted.

Kaal virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics, and medicines which are contradicting on the basis of season and timings)

Same as above conditions applied as excessive intake of cold and chilled substances in the cold season and opposite of it.

Matra virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics and medicines which are contradicting on the basis of quantitative/dosage)

This is very interesting as modern science4also faces this problem of over medication or under medication results in various complications. like wise malnutrition is also due to over and under feeding.

Satmaya virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutic and medicines which are contradicting on the basis of habitual/ acquired adaptation)

If a person is compelled against the habitual or acquired adaptations of his body then with drawl symptoms are seen. Thus the bodily adaptations of all types must be kept in mind before making any preparation or medicine.

Kostahavastha virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics and medicines which are contradicting/incompatible due to bowel conditions)

Ayurved divides the patient as mridu (easy bowel conditions) and krura koshtiya (irritable bowel habits) thus for preparing purgative medicines these aspects are decided that a person with mridu koshta (easy bowel conditions) must not be given ushna tksheena rechan dravya (fast acting purgative drugs). And just opposite of it mild laxative used for irritable bowel conditions has no result at all.

Sampat virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics and medicines which are contradicting/incompatible due to natural state)

Any rotten or impure substance must not be taken.

Vidhi virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics and medicines which are incompatible/contradicting on the basis natural law.)

They can be taken as the incorrect eating habits.

Prihaar virudh- (the drugs, foods, therapeutics and medicines which are against the set rules for using the medicines)

This is the most vast incompatibility seen everywhere as pill popping.

In ayurved it is said to go against the set procedures of medicinal procedures.

All these contradictions and incompatibilities must be taken in consideration for optimum use of bhaishajya kalpana and avoid the chances of development of any other diseases or unhealthy conditions.

Charak Samhita voll-1 & 2-by Brahmananda Tripathi published by Chaukhamba Surbharti Vranasi India

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