Viruddhashara is a unique concept in Ayurveda referring to the consumption of incompatible foods. Eating incompatible foods can cause health issues similar to poison by disrupting the body's equilibrium. Some examples of incompatible food combinations mentioned are milk with sour substances, fish with milk, and honey processed with heat. Consuming incompatible foods can lead to diseases like vomiting, inflammation, and madness. The treatment involves cessation of the incompatible foods and use of opposing foods and herbs to restore balance.

1. VIRUDDHAHARA
UNIQUE FOOD CONCEPT OF AYURVEDA
By : Dr. Smitha Jain,
PG Scholar, Dept of PG Studies in Rasashastra

2. Introduction
 Food is an indispensible part of life.
 Food – powerful source of energy.
 Ahara - trayopastambha.
 In Ayurveda – importance of food :
Asta vidhi visheshayatana and Ahara vidhi
vidhana.
 Ahara – 2 types: Hita & Ahita.
Hitahara - प्राणिनाां प्रािसांज्ञकानाां प्रािमाचक्षते कशलााः॥
ु
Ahitahara – affects the equilibrium of body
and mind, resulting in ill health.
 Viruddhahara is a unique concept of
Ayurveda.

3.  Viruddhahara affects the body by causing the
effects similar to visha & garavisha.
 Incompatibility is the result of unsuitable
combination, contradictory qualities and faulty
processes.
 Importance of dietic rules- bestows health.
 Milk, honey, ghee are some of the substances
used in diet since ancient times. Certain
precautionary measures that are emphasized
for the intake of these foods are not followed in
present scenario. Hence the proper knowledge
regarding such incompatible foods is necessary
to maintain the health of an individual.

4. DERIVATION :
वि + रुध ् + क्त = विरोध विशेष ॥ (शब्धकल्पध्रुम)
Contrast/opposition in particular.
Definition :
 शरीर धातविरोधां किवन्तीतत िैरोधधकााः॥ (च.सू २६/८०)
ु ु
 विरुद्धमवप चाहारां विद्याद्विषगरॊपम ् ॥ (अ.हृ.सू ७/२९)
 उत्कक्लेश्य दोषान ् न हरे त ् द्रव्यां यत्कतत्कसमासताः।
विरुद्धां तवद्ध धातनाां प्रत्कयनीकतया स्थितम ् ॥ (अ.सां.सू ९/२६)
ू

5. antiquity
 च.सां.सू २६ - आत्रेयभद्रकापीयमध्याय
 सु.सां.सू २० - हहताहहतीयमध्याय
 अ.सां.सू ९ - विरुद्धान्नविज्ञानीयमध्याय
 अ.हृ.सू ७ - अन्नरक्षाध्याय
 काश्यप कल्प ७ - भोजनकल्पाध्याय
 भेल सत्र १२ - आत्रेयखण्डकाप्यीयमध्याय
ू
 आनन्दकन्द १८ उल्लास – अमतीकरिविश्रान्तौ
ृ
 Yoga Ratnakara, Bhaishajya Ratnavali –
mentioned viruddhashana as nidana of various
diseases.
 Modern literature – Food Incompatibility, Food
intolerance & hypersensitivity reactions.

6. Concept of viruddhahara
Acc to Charaka – the viruddhahara is
considered under ahitahara
• यस्त्ककस्चचत ् दोषमास्राव्य न तनहवरतत कायताः।
आहरजातां तत्कसिं अहहतायोपपद्यते ॥ (च.सू २६)
• दे हधातु प्रत्कयनीकभूतातन द्रव्याणि दे हधातुभभाः
विरोधमापद्यन्ते|
परथपरगुिविरुद्धातन कातनधचत ् कातनधचत ् सांयोगात ्
सांथकारादपराणि ।
दे शकालमात्राहदभभश्चपराणि तिा थिभािादपराणि ॥(च.सू २६)

7. Acc to Sushrutha :
Ekantha hitani : jala,grutha, ksheera.
Ekantha ahitani : agni, kshara, visha.
Hitaahitani : vishatulyani bhavanthi.

8. Sushrutha has given detailed explanation
about rasaviruddha:
 Madhura + Amla/ Lavana = rasa & veerya
viruddha.
 Madhura + Katu = rasa, veerya, vipaka
viruddha.
 Madhura + Tikta/kashaya = vipaka
viruddha.
 Amla + Lavana = rasa viruddha.
 Amla + Katu = vipaka viruddha.
 Amla + Tikta/Kashaya = viruddha in all
aspects.

9. Acc to Vagbhata:
बभलनाभमिोगिानाां विषमतया समतया अप्युभयिावप।
ु
सांथकाराहदिशादवप भितत तनसगावदवप विरोधाः ॥(अ.सां.सू ९)
1. Asadrsha guna
2. Sadrsha guna
3. Both sadrsha & asadrsha guna
4. Samskara
5. Maatra
6. Desha
7. Kala
8. Samyoga
9. swabhavataha

10. Food Incompatibility:
• Not being suitable for combination.
• Unsuitable through chemical action/interaction.
• Antagonistic action.
Food allergy/Hypersensitivity reaction:
• An allergic reaction resulting from ingestion of
food to which person is sensitive.
Food intolerance:
• An abnormal non-immunologic response to
ingested food.
• Pharmacologic/metabolic/toxic.

11. types
1. Desha (habitat)Viruddha:
Jangala desha & Anoopa desha.
2. Kala Viruddha: (season)
Sheeta & Ushna.
3. Agni (digestive power) Viruddha:
Chaturvidha agni.

12. 4. Matra (quantity) Viruddha:
Madhu & grutha in equal quantity.
5. Satmya (homologation) Viruddha:
Depends on individual.
6. Dosha viruddha:
Drugs and diet.

13. 7. Samskar (mode of preparation) Viruddha:
Processing – gunaantaradana.
8. Veerya (potency) Viruddha:
Sheeta and ushna together.
9. Koshtha Viruddha:
Mrudu/kroora.

14. 10.Avastha (State of health) Viruddha
11.Krama (sequence/order) Viruddha
12.Parihara Viruddha
13.Upachara Viruddha

15. 14.Paaka (cooking) Viruddha
15.Samyoga (combination) Viruddha
16.Hrit(pallatability) Viruddha
17.Sampad (Richness of quality) Viruddha
18.Vidhi (rules for eating) Viruddha:

16. Incompatible food examples
न मत्कसान ् पयसा सह अभ्यिहरे त ् ।

17.  Both matsya & kshreera : madhura in rasa
and vipaka abhishyandi strotorodha.
 Opposite veerya vitiates rakta.
 Among matsya – specifically mentioned
chilichima maha abhishyandi
amavisha kastasadhya.

18. सिं च अम्लां द्रिमद्रिां च पयसा सह विरुद्धम ् ।
Rasa & veerya viruddha.
In general – milk+sour substances
curdling/fermentation.

19. Ksheera + lavana
Rasa & veerya viruddha.

20.  भक्षतयत्किा हररतक मूलकाहद पयथत्कयजेत ् |
ां
न मूलक लशन कृष्िगन्धाजवकसुमुखसरसादीतन
ु ु
भक्षतयत्किा पयाः सेव्यां कष्ठबाधभयात ् ॥
ु

21. qualities of ksheera and moolaka
kheera moolaka
Rasa - madhura katu
Veerya - sheeta ushna
Vipaka - madhura katu
Sushrutha’s opinion of rasa viruddha can
also be applied here.
Thus it is viruddha by rasa, veerya & vipaka.

22. मधु चोष्िां उष्िातवथय च मधु मरिाय ।
मधु पीत्किा उषिोदकम ् ।
The harmful effects of ushna samskara of
madhu is proved by experimental study.

23. मधसवपवषी समधते ।
ु ृ
Best example for matra viruddha

24. काांथयभाजने दशरात्रपयवषतां सवपवाः ।
ुव
• घतमेक विना चान्यत्कसिं काांथयगतां निाम ् ।
ृ ां ृ
भक्तमारोग्यसुखदां हहतां सात्कम्यकरां तिा ॥ (र.र.स ५/२०८)
ु

25. Bhallataka + ushnodaka
Bhallataka – teekshna, pittakara, lekhana,
daha paaka & sravajanaka.
Upachara viruddha.

26. Sheetajala sevana after snehapana
Can be considered as parihara and
upachara viruddha.
Causes agnimandya & ajeerna.

27. diseases
 चरक - षाण््य, अन्ध्य, विसपव, विथफोट
उन्माद, भगन्दर, मूर्ाव, मद, अध्मान,
गलग्रह, पाण्डु, आमविष, ककलास ,
कष्ट, ग्रहिी, शोि, अम्लवपत्कत, पीनस,
ु
सन्तानदोष, मत्कयु.
ृ
 िाग्भट – विथफोट, शोफ, गल्म, विद्रधध
ु
यक्ष्म, तेजोबलथमततमतीस्न्द्रयनाश, ज्िर
ृ
अष्टौगदाांश्च महतो, विषिच्च मत्कयु.
ृ
 सश्रुत - व्याधधभमस्न्द्रयदौबवल्यां मरिां चाधधगच्र्तत ।
ु
विरुद्धरसिीयावणि भचजानो आत्कमिान्नराः॥ (स. सू २०)
ु ु

28. treatment
• िमन विरे चनां च तद्विरोधधनाां च द्रव्यािाां सांशमनािं
उपयोगाः।
तिा विधैश्च द्रव्यैाः पिमभभसांथकाराः शरीरथयैतत ॥(च.सू २६)
ू व
• विरुद्धशनजान ् रोगान ् प्रततहस्न्त विरे चनम ् ।
िमनां शमनां चैि पिम ् िा हहतसेिनम ् ॥ (स. सू २०)
ू व ु
• शवद्धरत्रेष्टा शमो िा तद्विरोहदभभाः ।
ु
द्रव्यैथतैरेि िा पूिं शरीरथय अभभसांथकृतत ॥(अ.हृ.सू ७)

29. Viruddha does not affect the following individuals:
• व्यायाम स्थनग्ध दीप्तास्ग्न ियथि बलशाभलनाम ् ।
विरोध्यवप न पीडायै सात्कम्यमल्पां च भोजनम ् ॥(अ.हृ.सू ७)
Padamshika krama:
Tapering of unwholesome practices-
• पादाांशन त्कयजेत्कसात्कम्यमहहतां हहतमाचरे त ् ।
े
एकान्तरां ततश्चोध्िं द्व्यन्तरां त्र्यन्तरां तिा ॥ (अ.सां.सू ९)

30. discussion
 अन्नात ् भूतातन जायन्ते ।
जातातन अन्नेन िधवते ॥
 आहार सम्भिां िथतु रोगथतु आहार सांभिाः ।
Discussion on definition:
 Compared with visha & gara – the effect of
viruddhahara will be sudden/delayed in onset.
तनविवष द्रव्यकृतां गरसांज्ञकम ् ।
Majority of them shows their effect lately i.e
cumulative effect.

31.  The definition of ahita as per Charaka and the
definition of viruddha as per Vriddha
Vagbhata are similar.
Discussion on types of viruddha:
 The various types of viruddha which are
mentioned by Sushrutha, Vagbhata can be
incorporated under the 18 types of viruddha
explained by acharya Charaka.
 Only Sushrutha has explained the different
incompatible combinations of the shad rasas.
As ahara is rasa pradhana, this also has to be
given prime importance.

32. Common viruddhahara in day to day life:
 Milk shake, fruit salad(rasa & veerya viruddha).
 Intake of juice/ice cream/alcohol after hot & spicy
meal(upachara viruddha).
 Taking bath after food(vidhi viruddha).
 Taking cold water bath after exposure to sunlight.
 Taking milk/tea/coffee after consuming fish(guna
viruddha).
 Consuming curd at night (krama viruddha).
 Honey with hot water(samyoga viruddha).
 Cooked food – refrigeration – again heating
(samskara viruddha).
 Preservatives/coloring agents.

33. Role in manifestation of diseases:
 Viruddhahara – as a nidana of various diseases.
In kusta nidana-
विरोधीन्यन्नपानातन.....शीतोष्िलांघनाहारान ् क्रमां मुक्त्किा
तनषेििम ्। ....घमवश्रमभयातावनाां द्रतां शीतम्बु सेविनाम ्…
ु
Viruddhahara is mentioned first, by this we can
understand the role of viruddha in disease
manifestation.
 Amavata nidana – विरुद्धाहार चेष्टथय मन्दाग्ने.... Here
also the viruddhahara is mentioned first.
 Viruddhashana is one among nidanas of
vatarakta.
 The autoimmune disorders like RA, psoriasis,
SLE can be considered here.

34. Discussion on chikitsa:
 Nidana parivarjana is the main line of treatment.
 Importance of shodhana: as the definition of
viruddha says-
उत्कक्लेश्य दोषान ् न हरे त ् द्रव्यां यत्कतत्कसमासताः।
विरुद्धां तवद्ध धातनाां प्रत्कयनीकतया स्थितम ् ॥ (अ.सां.सू ९/२६)
ू
thus shodhana is the proper line of treatment as
it does the dosha nirharana.
 Importance of padamshika krama – there will not
be any recurrence of apachita doshas & upachita
gunas become stable.
 By adopting the dinacharya, rutucharya, achara
rasayana one can avoid most of the health
problems.

35. Exception for general rule:
 In jaatakarma samskara sushrutha has advised
to give madhu & ghrutha with ananta or
lakshmana. Here honey + ghee is given in
alpamatra, hence does not shows any harmful
effects, instead it may act as a triggering factor
& helps in initiating the body’s immune
mechanism.
 The ushna madhu prayoga is done with
vamaka dravyas which are given to induce the
vamana, here the effect of viruddha may not
cause harmful effects on the body because it is
expelled out from the body without undergoing
the process of digestion.

36.  The intake of milk after having haritaka varga/
moolaka is viruddha. Lashuna is one among
the harita varga dravyas. The lashuna
ksheerapaaka is the yoga indicated for
treatment of gulma -
साधयेत ् शुद्ध शुष्कथय लशनथय चतुष्पलां.....
ु
Here specifically mentioned to take the
nistusheekrutha and apoornaveeryasya.
 Under certain condition viuddhahara will
remain harmless to the body and effect of
viruddha are nullified – saatmya, alpa,
deeptagni, vyayama nitya, balinaam.

37. conclusion
 Viruddhahara is a unique concept of
Ayurveda.
 All viruddha act as apathya/ahita but not
vice versa.
 To find out rationality regarding concept of
viruddha, there is need to conduct
research in this field.

38.  Health education & propagation of
Ayurvedic principles of food should be
done.
 “we are what we eat”.
 Prevention is better than cure, hence one
should follow the deitic rules to maintain
the healthy life.