Lecture 4

Question 1

3 words to describe Prana

Answer 1

Intelligent, balanced and harmonious

Question 2

What can we do if prana is balanced?

Answer 2

Self heal

Question 3

What does Dravyagunastra mean?

Answer 3

The rules of the qualities of medicines

Question 4

What are the 5 elements linked to pharmacology?

Answer 4

Air: astringency and bitter
Fire: spices
Water: mucilage
Earth: roots and structure

Question 5

Herbs for air? (Astringent and bitter)

Answer 5

Yarrow, yellow dock

Question 6

Herbs for fire

Answer 6

Ginger, cloves

Question 7

Herbs for water

Answer 7

Marshmallow , liquorice

Question 8

What doshas does sweet link to? How does this effect elements?

Answer 8

Pitta and Vata, due to sweet having earth and water qualities. Earth builds and grounds vata as well as nourishing and lubricating with water.
Pitta: ground pitta stress and comforts.

Question 9

Actions of sweet herbs?

Answer 9

Sweet: Glycyrrhiza glabra, ashwaganda, Shatavaria, fennel

Question 10

Actions of sweet herbs? (mucilaginous)

Answer 10

Mucilagionus: Althaea officinalis, aloe Vera, Linum usitatissimum

Question 11

Qualities of sour if positive for vata?

Answer 11

Earth and fire

Question 12

Qualities of sour (earth and fire explained)

Answer 12

Due to low secretions sour will increase and nourish vata
- promotes digestive juices , Agni
Relieve constipation
- promote secretions in lungs

Question 13

Sour herbs

Answer 13

Rose hips, Scuzandra berries

Question 14

Why is sour no good for pitta and kapha?

Answer 14

Sour promotes damp heat!! Increase acid and inflammation

Question 15

Qualities of salty

Answer 15

Fire and Water

Question 16

Effects of salty

Answer 16

Stimulates Agni, increase saliva, maintains blood pressure

Question 17

Salty herbs?

Answer 17

Allium stativum (not for inflammation or pitta), urtica doicia , kelp (seaweed), celery seed

Question 18

Why is salt good for vata?

Answer 18

Counteracts cold, constipation, weak digestion, nourishment (urtica doicia)

Question 19

Elemets in pungent herbs

Answer 19

Fire and air
Hot, dry, light

Question 20

Effects of pungent

Answer 20

Stimulated Agni, circulation and metabolism, carries medicine

Question 21

Pungent herbs

Answer 21

Allium Sativum, Zingiber officinale, cloves, chilli, rosemary

Question 22

Why is pungent good for vata?

Answer 22

Clears dampness and raised metabolic rate and engery.
Burns Ama was toxin

Question 23

What are the rules with pungent herbs with vata?

Answer 23

Aggravates when in excess.
However in moderation warmth can balance coldness of vata

Question 24

Bitter tasting herb elements

Answer 24

Air and ether
Cool, light, dry

Question 25

What are bitters used for and what is it not good for?

Answer 25

Anti- inflammatory, detox and anti-microbial. Not good for life, very drying (vata no)

Question 26

Bitter herbs

Answer 26

Neem, golden seal, berberis, gentian

Question 27

What does bitter taste promote?

Answer 27

Bitter receptors further down the GIT which triggers bile (cholagogue)

Question 28

Bitter for blood and stool?

Answer 28

Blood purifying , colon elimination

Question 29

Why is bitter good for pitta?

Answer 29

Clears heat and inflammation

Question 30

Butter herbs for antimicobial

Answer 30

Berberis

Question 31

Bitter herbs for anti-inflammatory

Answer 31

Yarrow and dandelion

Question 32

Indian butter herb good for antiseptic

Answer 32

Neem

Question 33

Bitter nervine

Answer 33

Lavender

Question 34

Astringent qualities

Answer 34

Earth and air (cool and heavy)

Question 35

Role of astringent herbs

Answer 35

Contracts, heals skin, reduces discharge (diarrhoea, urine)

Question 36

Astringent herbs

Answer 36

Witch hazel, guggul, plantain

Question 37

Why is astringent good for pitta?

Answer 37

Cool and does , reduces inflammation and discharge

Question 38

Why is astringent good for kapha?

Answer 38

Dries dampness, for lungs you want expectorant

Question 39

What is “virya”

Answer 39

Thermal effect of the herbs , formulas overall temperature

Question 40

Why would you need a Herbs with warming virya?

Answer 40

Hypermetabolic, cold, low Agni , mucus

Question 41

What herbs are warming in virya?

Answer 41

Chili, black pepper , garlic

Question 42

Why would you need cooling virya?

Answer 42

Hot inflamed, irritability ,stress

Question 43

Qualities of juices?

Answer 43

Cool, moist, heavy

Question 44

Qualities of infusions

Answer 44

Moist, easy, good for all

Question 45

Qualities of powders

Answer 45

Heavy, dry, building. Good for long term Or Chronic problems

Question 45

Qualities of tinctures

Answer 45

Heating, penetrates, disperses (aggravates inflame)

Question 46

Guna of sweet…… good for Vata and pitta

Answer 46

Cooling, nourishing , moist heavy

Question 47

Guna of sour ….good for Vata

Answer 47

Warm, light, moist

Question 48

Guna of salty ….. support Vata

Answer 48

Hot, mosit, heavy

Question 49

Guna of pungent

Answer 49

Hot, dry, light, sharp

Question 50

Guna of bitter ….. pitta

Answer 50

Cool, light, dry

Question 51

Guna for astringent

Answer 51

Very dry, cool and heavy