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| Photo by Ilona |
Buttermilk
or takra is a drink that promotes health and longevity. It has been
used in Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. It is made of liquid
left behind after churning the butter out of curd. Healing properties
of buttermilk are mentioned in all authentic ayurvedic texts.
Benefits Of Buttermilk:
“He who uses takra (buttermilk) daily does not suffer from diseases and diseases cured by takra do not recur just as amrita (divine nectar) is for the gods, takra is to humans.” Bhavaprakasha, chapter 6.7
Ayurvedic
physician use buttermilk both to maintain the health and to treat
diseases. It cures Vata and Kapha dosha imbalances. It clears
circulatory channels, stimulates Agni, nourishes brain tissue and helps in
assimilation of nutrients.
Regular
consumption lowers the blood pressure and slows down the aging
process.
It
prevents anemia, keeps body hydrated, helps to replenish intestinal
flora and maintains strong bones. Buttermilk also is also used to
treat irritable bowel syndrome, urine retention, poor digestion, high
cholesterol, gastrointestinal disorders, lack of appetite,
hemorrhoids and edema.
Buttermilk
is a rich source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12 and
riboflavin. 1 cup of buttermilk has less than 100 calories and it
gets digested quickly and easily. Probiotics in buttermilk stimulate
the digestive function. Lack of probiotics leads to many health
problems.
There
are traditional ayurvedic treatments which involve gently pouring
medicated buttermilk over the patient's body. Treatments are useful
in treating skin diseases, diabetic neuropathy, spondylitis,
hypertension, insomnia, headaches and fatigue.
Apply
buttermilk with cotton pad on your face to treat acne and reduce
pores. Wash it off after 10 minutes.
How to make real buttermilk:
1. Boil
the raw cow's milk to eliminate the bacteria and let it cool down.
You can read here why cow's milk is superior than other types of
animal milk.
2. Add
the curd to the milk (½ tbsp curd per liter of milk) and cover it.
Leave it overnight. The next morning it will be complete curd.
3. Put
the curd in churning machine. When butter starts to form add cold
water and it will become more solid. Separate the butter from the
liquid that is left over in the churning machine. That liquid is
buttermilk. If you add 1 liter of water per liter of curd you will
get cooling buttermilk which is advised to drink during summer or
used to treat Pitta disorders. If you add 250 ml of water per liter
of curd you will get warming buttermilk which is advised to drink
during winter or used to treat Vata and Kapha disorders.
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| Photo by Chiot's Run |
You
can add salt and digestive herbs such as cumin, ginger, fennel,
asafoetida, mint or long pepper to buttermilk. Salty buttermilk act
as a electrolyte formula. Without adding the salt it purifies the
blood. Mix dry powdered ginger and powdered black pepper with
buttermilk to treat indigestion. Buttermilk with powdered asafoetida,
powdered cumin and powdered rock salt will cure diarrhea and
abdominal pain.
For
severe digestive disorders take half of cup before each meal.
You
can consume it every day but in moderate quantities. It is not
recommended to drink buttermilk at evening.
Contraindications Of Buttermilk:
Lactose intolerance, low blood pressure, fainting, burning sensations, bleeding conditions, weakness, injuries, diseases related to Pitta dosha aggravation.Author: Ayurveda Tutorials
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