India is the country with the most vegetarians in the world and hardly any Ayurvedic doctors there eat meat. This leads many to conclude that the consumption of meat is probably forbidden in Ayurveda - for health, ethical and spiritual reasons.
Many Western authors of Ayurvedic books confirm this assumption. But does it really correspond to classical Ayurvedic guidelines?
The fact is:
Unfortunately, the meat debate is often very emotional and judgemental, sometimes even radical. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to objectify the topic.
Nothing is forbidden in Ayurveda. Instead of lists of commandments and prohibitions, there are individual recommendations of beneficial and detrimental foods. Most Ayurvedic doctors in India are devout Hindus and follow the precept of ahimsa, or non-violence. This includes the killing and consumption of animals. From this perspective, Ayurveda also takes a critical view of carnal food.
From a health perspective, the picture is broader. Meat (mamsa) is regarded as one of 12 food groups and valued as nutritious: „No food surpasses meat in its nutritional qualities“!
The Caraka Samhita describes the properties and effects of individual types of meat in detail.
Here are some examples (CS, Su.27.35-87):
- Pork is heavy, fatty, muscle-building, diaphoretic, aphrodisiac, promotes strength and eliminates fatigue.
- Chicken is neither heavy nor hot or sweet, regulates all three Dosha and especially Vata.
- Beef is helpful in cases of exclusive Vata increase, colds, irregular fever, dry cough, fatigue, excessive digestion and metabolism as well as muscle atrophy.
- Quail meat is astringent, sweet, digestive and lowers all three dosha.
- Goat meat is not very fatty, has a balanced thermic, does not disturb any dosha, is homologous to human musculature, does not block any body channels (Sratos) and is nutritious.
These lines show that meat was used for medicinal purposes in traditional Ayurveda.
However, the basic orientation is clearly lactovegetarian, so dairy products such as cow's milk, ghee, yoghurt and buttermilk are added to the plant-based diet.
ConclusionAyurveda eats flexitarian!
High meat consumption puts a strain on our body, resulting in Āma (digestive and metabolic residues) and raktadushti („contaminated blood“). This can lead to many diseases of the heart and circulation, stomach and intestines, joints and skin. Mentally, killing and consuming prey out of pure pleasure contradicts a sattva-orientated, pure and non-violent lifestyle.
At the same time, meat can build us up when we are exhausted, suffering from tissue loss and have lost weight. The use of meat for medicinal purposes can therefore be useful and necessary in individual cases. The following rule of thumb therefore applies in Ayurveda: better without, if necessary with - but then in moderation and only in organic quality.
With best wishes for your health,
Ralph Steuernagel
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