Raktapitta Pathya: Ideal Foods To Take In Bleeding Disorders

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
Ideal food forms half of the treatment of any disease. Raktapitta is not an exception. Ahara or food (ideal diet) is equated to the term Tarpana in the context of Raktapitta Chikitsa. Putting it in other terms, Tarpana or nutritive food should be provided in the form of bhojana (ahara or food) or yavagu (medicated gruels) in Raktapitta. Yavagu means gruels. Gruels form simple, light and easily digestible foods. In this context of Raktapitta Chikitsa, the yavagu is prepared with some disease modifying herbs. Thus Yavagu forms not only a food but also a medicine for Raktapitta patients.

Related reading Tarpana and Ahara in the treatment of Raktapitta

Raktapitta Pathya

Ahara (Bhojana, Pathya) in Raktapitta
Ahara or Bhojana rupa tarpana (tarpana or nutrition in the form of food) is explained under 4 categories in Ayurvedic treatises. They are –

Yavagu Rupa Ahara – Foods in the form of medicated gruels, can be consumed by both vegetarians and non-vegetarians

Shaka Rupa Ahara – Foods in the form of leafy vegetables and vegetable preparations, for those who are shaka satmya (compatible to only vegetables, vegetarians)

Anna Rupa Ahara or Pathya Ahara – This comprises of edible foods prepared from grains and millets and soups which are beneficial for Raktapitta

Mamsa Rupa Ahara – Food in the form of meat or meat soup preparations, for those who are mamsa saatmya (compatible to meat, non-vegetarian foods). These people can take the above said types of diet also.

Yavagu Rupa Ahara in Raktapitta
Yavagu preparations are liquid gruels prepared with rice and water such that the final preparation has more of liquid and less of rice. It is one of the lightest types of foods which can be easily digestible. The Yavagu preparations mentioned and explained in Raktapitta has multidimensional benefits. Apart from being the best nutritious drinks, they also have disease modifying effect since these Yavagus are prepared in water processed with medicinal herbs.

Shaka Rupa Aharas
Shakas or leafy vegetables are mentioned keeping in view those patients who are pure vegetarians and for those in whom there is shaka saatmya (vegetables are compatible, people used to take vegetables regularly). These vegetables shall also be included in the diet of Non-vegetarians. 

The below mentioned Shakas are said to be the best in Raktapitta –

• Patola – Pointed gourd
• Nimba – Neem
• Vetra Agra – tender shoots of bamboo
• Plaksha – Ficus lacor
• Vetasa Pallava – tender leaves of bamboo
• Kiratatikta – Swertia chirata
• Gandheera – Euphorbia nerilifolia
• Katillaka – bitter gourd
• Kovidara Pushpa – Flowers of Bauhinia variegata
• Kashmarya puspa – Flowers of Stereospermum suaveolens
• Shalmali Pushpa – Flowers of Bombax ceiba

These vegetables should be steamed and fried in ghee or the soup of the same should be prepared

Anna Rupa Ahara or Pathya Ahara, Yusha (Grains, millets, soups)
The edible foods which are beneficial in Raktapitta are as mentioned below –

• Shali – Rice
• Shashtika Shali – Rice or paddy grown in 60 days
• Neevara – Wild variety of rice
• Koradusha – Paspalum Scrobiculatum (Sanwa millet)
• Prashantika – Italian millet
• Shyamaka – Setaria italic / Echinochloa crus (Common millet)
• Priyangu – Callicarpa macrophylla

Supa-Yusha (Soups and drinks) –
Soups and hot drinks prepared using one or more of the below mentioned are highly beneficial in Raktapitta, in the form of diet – 

• Mudga – green gram
• Masura – Lens culinaris
• Chanaka – Cicer arietinum (Bengal gram)
• Makushtaka – Vigna aconitifolia
• Aadhaki phala – Cajanus cajan

Mamsa / Mamsarasa Rupa Ahara
Mamsa (meat) and or Mamsarasa (meat soup) of the below mentioned animals and birds are extremely beneficial for patients of Raktapitta. 

• Paravata – Pegion
• Kapota – Sparrow / Wild dove
• Lava – Common quail
• Raktaksha – Chukar partridge
• Vartaka – Button quail / Male bustard
• Shasha – Rabbit
• Kapinjala – Francolin or Grey Partridge
• Harina – Deer
• Kalapuchcha – Black tailed deer

One or more of the above said meat soups should be used mixed and soured with Amla Dadima Rasa (juice of sour pomegranate) and Amalaki Rasa (juice of Indian gooseberry) or fried in ghee and mixed with sugar.

Aushada Siddha Mamsarasa (medicated meat soups)
The Mamsa Rasas mentioned above (each one) shall be processed with the infusion or decoction of the same herbs used to prepare Yavagu. This adds value to the Mamsarasa. Apart from being good foods, mamsarasa also serves as disease modifying medicine (when processed with infusion of disease modifying herbs as done in Yavagu). Each Mamsarasa gets the below mentioned variants when processed with herbs mentioned in Yavagu preparation. They are –

• Padhmakadi dravya siddha mamsarasa
• Chandanadi dravya sidda mamsarasa
• Kiratatiktadi dravya sidda mamsarasa
• Dhatakyadi dravya sidda mamsarasa
• Masura prishniparni sidda mamsarasa
• Sthira mudga sidda mamsarasa
• Harenuka sidda mamsarasa
• Bala sidda mamsarasa (with ghee)

Aushadha siddha mamsarasas shall be prepared in the same way in which Yavagu is processed with herbal infusions.

Aavasthika Prayoga of Mamsarasa (Use of Mamsarasa in special conditions)
In presence of Vibandha (constipation) in Raktapitta –

Shasha mamsa (rabbit meat) with gravy of Vaastuka (Chenopodium album) should be given. Similarly Shasha mamsarasa can be used.

In Vata predominant Raktapitta, one of the below mentioned should be given –

• Tittira Mamsarasa (meat soup of black partridge) processed in Udumbara rasa (juice of Ficus glomerata) or Udumbara Twak Kshaya (decoction of bark of Ficus glomerata)
• Mayura Mamsarasa (meat soup of peacock) processed in Plaksha Niryuha (decoction of Ficus lacor or Java fig)
• Kukkuta Mamsarasa (meat soup of cock) processed in Nyagrodha Kashaya (decoction of Ficus benghalensis)
• Vartaka (Button quail, Male bustard) and Kakora (Greek pheasant bird) Mamsarasa processed in decoction of Bilwa (Bael fruit) and Utpala (Water lily, Nymphaea alba)

Yusha, Shaka, Mamsarasa

Preference of Yusha, Shaka and Mamsarasa in Raktapitta
Yusha and Shaka should be preferred in kaphanubandha raktapitta (i.e. Raktapitta associated with kapha) i.e. Urdhwaga Raktapitta (Raktapitta in which bleeding occurs from passages in the upper parts of the body i.e. nose, ears, eyes, mouth)

Mamsarasa should be preferred in Vatanubandha Raktapitta (i.e. Raktapitta associated with Vata) i.e. Adhoga Raktapitta (Raktapitta in which bleeding occurs from passages in the lower parts of the body i.e. anus, urethra and vagina)

Just Before Finishing –
This article covers the dietetic inclusions in Raktapitta. Various forms of food which could be given to Raktapitta patients along with the limitations of their usage have also been covered.
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