3. DEFINITION
“ अम्लाया पित्तं अम्लपित्तम् । ” (Vachaspatyam)
According to Vachaspatyam, Amlapitta means Pitta leading to sour taste.
“ पिदाह्याद्यम्लगुणोपिक्तं पित्तं अम्लपित्तम् । ” (Vijayaraksita)
Vijayarakshita, commentator of Madhava Nidana defines the words as that the Pitta having Vidahi quality give
rise to Amla or sour taste.
“ अम्लं चेपि अम्लगुणोपिक्तं पित्तम् । ” (Chakrapani)
Which means the qualities of Pitta i.e. sourness is increased leading to Amlapitta.
“ अम्लं अम्लापदक
ं पित्तं यत्र िदम्लपित्तम् । ” (Gananatha Sen)
Shri Gananath Sen in his book Sidhanta Nidana has given similar definition, as the qualities of Pitta i.e. sourness
is increased which leads to Amlapitta.
The above classical description of Amlapitta emphasizes that Amlapitta is a patho-physiological condition in
which the Pitta gets vitiated i.e., Vriddhi (excessiveness) and sourness of Pitta is increased.
10. TYPES
Acharya Kashyapa has mentioned three types.
1. Vataja
2. Pittaja
3. Kaphaja
Madhavakara has explained four types.
1. Vatadhika
2. Kaphadhika
3. Vatakaphadhika
4. Shleshma pittaja
According to dusti sthana of the srotus - Madhavakara and Bhavamishra both have described mainly two types
1. Urdhavaga Amlapitta
2. Adhoga Amlapitta
This classification is mainly based on the presentation of the symptoms suggestive of the GI tract. This classific
ation has its own importance in the management, as far as the clinical strategy is considered.
19. TREATMENT PRINCIPLE
1. Nidana parivarjanam
Kashyapa Acharya advises to avoid the food materials which are processed. While explaining the sadhya
sadhyata, he adds that the disesases like Amlapitta becomes sadhya in those who are not greedy towards t
heir food habits.
2. Apakarshanam or shodhanam
Kashyapa acharya has described vamana as the first line of treatment, followed by langhana and laghu -
bhojana. Eventhough the Amlapitta is a Pittika disease, the most effective sodhana is vamana. Kashyapa
opines that just like a tree with its trunk and branches are destroyed by striking the blow at its root. He
says that, pecuiliarly for the chronic conditions; vamana is to be done definitely.
पूर्वं तु र्वमनं कार्यं पश्चात् मृदु वर्वरेचनम् ।
क
ृ तर्वान्ति वर्वरेकस्य सुविग्धस्य अनुर्वासनम् ॥
( Y.R 57 / 14 )
20. As per the Chakradatta and Yogaratnakara, the second line of treatment is to perform mridu virechana.
Drugs used for vamana are lavanambu, sukhosna, dugdha, ikshurasa, madhudaka or tiktadravyas and for
the virechana triphala, trayamana, katuki along with trivrit is mentioned.
According to Bhavaprakasha, the decoction of patola, nimba, and madanaphala with saindhava lavana sh
ould be used for vamana in Amlapitta
Avipathi choorna is one of the most commonly used yogas for virechana, which is mentioned by Vaghba
ta acharya.
The next regimen consists of administration of anuvasana followed by asthapana, in the chronically afflic
ted patients. The drugs such as tiktaka gritha, indukanta gritha, aragwadhadi gana gritha etc. are usually
used for the purpose of anuvasana. Madhuyashtyadi taila and Ksheerabala taila are also used in this
regard.
After anuvasana, in chronic cases, nirooha is mentioned. Usually ksheeravasthi is the ideal one to be
administered here. Instead of plain ksheera, ksheera kwathas with guduchyadi gana, tiktaka kwatha, indu
kanta kwatha, aragwadhadi gana is usually used.
21. Yogaratnakara added raktamokshana as a tool if Amlapitta is not cured by both of the sodhan
a procedures, vamana and virechana.
ऊर्ध्वगं र्वमनैर्धीमान् अर्धोगं रेचनैर्वरेत् ।
अम्लवपत्ते तु र्वमनं पटोलाररष्टपत्रक
ै ॥
कारर्येन् मदन क्षौद्र वसन्धुर्युक्ैैः कफोल्बणैैः ।
वर्वरेचनं वत्रर्वृत् चूणं मर्धुर्धात्रीफलद्रर्वैैः ॥
( B.R. 56 / 53 – 5 )
विर्या शुद्धस्य शमनी ह्यनुबन्धव्यपेक्षर्या ।
दोषसंसगवजे कार्याव भेषजार्ारकल्पना ॥
पाचनं वतक्भूवर्यष्ठं पथ्यं च पररकल्पर्येत् ।
( Y.R 56 )
22. 3. Prakriti vighatam or shamana chikitsa
Prakritivighata refers to the use of drugs which suppress the elevated dosha, such treatment is also term
ed as the samana therapy.
Kashyapa opines that after vamana, if the doshas persist, the physician should resort to the samana chik
itsa with the aid of laghu bhojana, samana and pachana.
25. VAMANAM
Drugs used for Vamana are:-
According to Chakradutta and Yoga ratnakara
Lavanambu
Sukhosna
Dugdha
Ikshurasa
Madhudaka
Tiktadravyas
According to Bhavaprakasha,
Decoction of Patola, nimba, and Madanaphala with Saindhava lavana should be used for Vamana in Amlapitta
26. VIRECHANA
Drugs used for the Virechana are :-
According to Chakradutta and Yoga ratnakara,
Triphala, Trayamana, Katuki, along with Trivrit is used.
According to Bhavaprakasha,
Trivrit choorna, Madhu, and Amalaki is used.
27. ANUVASANA
The drugs such as Tiktaka gritha, Indukanta gritha, Aragwadhadi gana gritha etc are usually used
for the purpose of Anuvasana.
Madhuyashtyadi taila and Ksheerabala taila are also used
28. RAKTA MOKSHANA
क
ृ ििमनपिरेकस्यापि दोषोिशान्तिर्भिपि न यपद कायो रक्तमोक्षस्य युक्त्या ।
क
ृ िपशपशरपिलेिस्य अम्लपित्तघ्न र्क्ष्यौदनसमुपदििृप्ते िाि रक्षा च कायाभ ॥
( Y.R 57 / 14 )
If even after vamana and virechana, if the aggravated doshas are not pacified, then raktamokshana
should be administered methodically.
After that cold application should be done and pathya aharas for amlapitta can be applied. Also
vata dosha should be taken care of.
29. PATHYAS IN AMLAPITTA
Ahara
1) Anna Varga – Yava, godhuma, purana sali, mudgayusha, lajasaktu.
2) Saka Varga – Karavellaka, patola, kusmanda etc.
3) Phala Varga – Dadima, amalaki, kapittha etc.
4) Dugdha Varga – Godugdha
5) Mamsa Varga – Jangala, mamsa rasa
6) Miscellaneous – Sarkara, madhu, narikelodaka.
Vihara
Seetopachara, vishrama etc.
30. APATHYAS IN AMLAPITTA
Ahara
A) Guru, vidahi, viruddha, ushna, katubhojana, kulatha, rasona, navanna, tila
B) Lavana, amla, katurasa, madya, arishta, preservatives in food as well as drugs
C) Adhyasana, samashana, vishamashana, virudhashana
D) Bakery items which are excess in salts and oil
E) Fermented foods like bread, pickles, maida products
Vihara - Vegadharana, atapasevana, ayasa after food, divaswapna, vishama nidra
Psychological - Chinta, krodha, shoka, bhaya.
Editor's Notes
AS.Su 5chap – roganutpadaneeyam
Su.su 42 chap – rasa vishesha vijyaneeyam adhyayam