According to the principles of Ayurveda to “to kill a living being”
by words, deeds, thoughts is a Sin especially if it is a pet or a fellow being.
It has been advised not only our
neighbors, but all the living beings including the insects, ants also should be
considered as ourselves. But when the section of treatment beings, the widely
worshiped Goddess cows itself also becomes an edible item for persons with
specific diseases such as rheumatic complaints and debility. The meat of cow
also has been described as a body strengthening medicine. It proves that
Ayurveda is more committed to science not to religion.
Disease is the obstacle in achieving the goals in one’s
life (termed as the ‘Purusharthas’in the text) so health should be
maintained perfectly with maximum effort. The science of life has been
developed for that purpose. Ayurveda can be literarily translated into
‘Biology’ (Bio-life logos – science) so as Ayu means life and Veda means
science which deals with the health of human beings, plants, birds, reptiles,
and animals also. (Vrikshayurveda,
Khaga ayurveda, hastyayurveda etc). Since the principles of Ayurveda can be
applied to all living organisms, the so called Indian Medicine is only one
branch of that vast science, which includes plant medicine, avian medicine,
veterinary medicine etc.
Vegetarianism is attached with Ayurvedic science in the
mind of each person who deals with this auspicious medical system. It may be
astonishing for them to know the facts described in the ancient Ayurvedic texts
regarding the treatments of emaciation is to take the meat of animals that eat
meat of other animals! The patient who is physically weak for a long period is
prescribed to take the meat soup for getting muscle power and strength.
The texts including Caraka
Samhita, Ashtangahridaya etc which describes the properties of drugs as a
subject matter, classifies the different kind of meat of animals, birds and
other edible non-vegetarian items according to the habitat of the animal and
medicinal values of the food they intake. It can be concise as marshy animals
like pig, yalk. Which live in dry land like deer, rabbit, camel, monkey,
fox. Those who live in wet environment
and marsupial climate like tortoise, fish, crabs, snails, whales, oyster. Those
who habitat in rivers and lakes, like swan, duck, etc. The birds are further classified as domestic,
gallinaceous, eating while pecking. The
meat of each animal or bird is having the qualities and actions in the human body
according to the habitat in which they live and the method of preparation of
the medicines in which they are included as an ingredient. The health condition of that animal, sex,
age, are the other factors, which defines the qualities of the meat of that
animals. The properties of fishes and
eggs of birds are described separately in some section under the same
heading.
The meat of the animals, which eat flesh f other
animals, has wonderful actions on the chronic, heamorrhoids and intestinal
disorders. It has been also suggested
for patients with physical weakness due to ill nutrition. The meats of animals which live in burrows nourishe
the body and increase the body mass, virility, and power. The meat of cow is good for patients
receiving treatment for chronic problems related with nasal sinus, dry cough,
muscular wasting and pathologic appetite. The buffalo meat is described having
properties, which gives energy, bulk of muscles and body stability. It also is prescribed for insomnia (lack of
sleep). Meat of pig is having aphrodisiac property, perspirative and body
building qualities. The properly prepared meat of parrot is increasing the
digestive power and it causes constipation. The meat of domestic pigeon is
effective in disorders related with blood, such as hematemesis, haemostaxis
etc. The wild pigeon meat reduces urine
production in the body. Tortoise meat is
told to have brain nourishing and aphrodisiac qualities. The commonly used
chicken meat increases virility, power, voice quality and sweat production. The
goats of different kind have similar qualities of the human flesh since they
are most active and the meat is more absorbable and adaptable for the human
body.
The peacock meat is highly placed with properties
favorable for sensory organs like ear, eye, intellect, complexion, voice,
digestive power and longevity. It increases semen quality in men.
The eggs of swan, hen, peacock, etc are used for the
treatment of disorders of semen in male.
They also function as medicine for cough. Fishes are not indicated in many disease
condition s because they have more adverse action than positive effects in the
body. The prawns are most dosha
vitiating food among the all fishes.
The criteria for selection and slaughter process are
briefly described in the text, that the animals died of old age, by toxic
action of any poisonous matters, or killed in violence or attack are not taken
as edible. The animals are more fatty, more lean, emaciated, old aged, too
young are also not accepted for medicinal use.
The animals should be in their mid age to be useful for the medicinal
use. The right side portion of the male
animal/bird and the right side portion f the female animal/bird are heavier
than that of the other side. Thee body
parts such as head shoulder, thigh, chest, limbs, etc are heavier in descending
order. Blood, muscles, fat, bone,
marrow, and semen are heavier in ascending order. Stomach and
intestine are not that much heavy than the above. Organs of he animals, like testes, kidney,
liver, anus have more medicinal value than muscles. The flesh of animals slaughtered should be
processed without any delay after slaughtering.
The non-veg Ayurvedic is not much explored till now. It may be interesting news for the
non-vegetarian patients who likes to undergo Ayurvedic treatment but cannot
abstain from the years long habit of non-veg food. Let us neutralise the sin of violence
(killing) by the duties of life (dharma), which is the ultimate cause of wellness
sukha (wellness) if one is extremely ill to take only Ayurvedic treatment and
can use some of the meat medicines.
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