by Sheela Rani Chunkath
All milk is not created equal. With the advent of milk cooperatives in the country and the banishing of cows, buffalos, goats, camels and donkeys from major metropolises, we have stopped distinguishing milk from various sources. Cow’s and buffalo’s milk are mixed together and very often our packets of milk contain a mixture of both milks. And with pasteurization and standardization of milk by adding butterfat, the milk you consume is hardly what one would describe as milk in the first place.
In ayurveda, the properties of milk from various sources are listed. Cow’s milk is given a lot of importance. Vagbhata has listed the properties of cow’s milk in eight beautiful lines. He describes its nature, its properties, and its benefits. The verse starts off by stating that milk is sweet, even after digestion and is unctuous. Snigdham is the word that Vagbhata uses to describe the oily nature of milk. Don’t forget that milk is full of butter.
Milk increases your ojas i.e. your vitality and nourishes all your tissues – your blood, muscle, fat, bones and bone marrow. It pacifies vata and pitta. So if you have aches and pains or a burning sensation in your stomach, reach for a glass of cow’s milk. It is considered an aphrodisiac as it increases your virility. It is however cooling and would increase your phlegm so it is better to avoid milk if you have a cold, running nose or lung infection. It is also not advisable for diabetics to drink large quantities of milk.
In general cow’s milk is considered a restorative and rejuvantive drink. For those who are convalescing, milk is a great food. It increases your strength and power of understanding. Now we know why milk is considered such an important item of food for children.
Grandmothers also encourage young mothers to drink milk as it is a lactagogue. Often milk is given with shatavari for those mothers who have a problem with lactation. Milk has a laxative effect, so do not drink milk if you have an upset stomach. Butter on the other hand has a constipative effect.
Milk is a good drink to have when you are fatigued after a long hard day, if you have palpitations or giddiness and are generally feeling tired. Apparently milk is a good drink to have to recover from a hangover too. A land where milk and honey flows is considered both prosperous and auspicious. So a home should have abundant usage of milk as it is considered the equivalent of Lakshmi.
For people suffering from asthma or dry cough, milk is particularly useful. I love the taste of well simmered and thickened milk with a pinch of cardamom and saffron, sweetened with palm candy. The best thing to have when you are hungry ot thirsty is a glass of milk as it assuages both hunger and thirst. It is also useful for those suffering from intermittent fevers, urinary infections and bleeding disorders.
So if you have access to pure cow’s milk please have some everyday and if it is from cows which are pasture-fed on organic grass, so much the better. You perhaps think this is a tall order but this is what our grandparents probably had every day as a matter of routine.
Buffalo’s milk does not have the same properties as cow’s milk. It is much heavier and is useful for those with a sharp appetite and those suffering from insomnia. So if you can’t sleep, have a glass of buffalo’s milk last thing at night.
Goat's milk, which Gandhiji was fond of, is light and good for those who are emaciated, have fever, asthma, bleeding disorders or are suffering from diarrhoea.
Camel’s milk is considered hot and salty. It is carminative and light. It pacifies vata and kapha and cures many conditions from parasitic infestations, piles to ascites.
As I said in the beginning all milk is not the same and for most of us pure cow’s milk is the best.
--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/