Ancient scriptures of Ayurved described in detail, the natural characteristics of curd. By regularly consuming curd in our daily diet, the level of cholesterol in our blood gets reduced to a great extent.
Of course, this curd should be made from milk without cream. Curd gives vigour to the heart. Hence, persons with heart diseases should regularly consume curd or butter milk without cream.
Characteristics wise, curd is sweet, sour, astringent, warm, dry and increases digestive power. It cures effects of poison, swelling, dysentery, Intestinal diseases, Anaemia, low Hemoglobin, piles, spleen diseases, gas, swelling of belly, low digestive fire, loss of appetite, acute fever, thirst, vomiting, pain, fat problems and diseases of cough and diseases of gastric trouble. It is beneficial in diseases of loss of appetite and in removing obstacles of Nadis (Energy channels).
In ancient books of Ayurved, many of the above mentioned qualities of curd have been described. Doctors and Maharishis (Great saints) of ancient times were very well aware of these facts and hence, by considering curd as one of the five ‘Amruts’ (Divine substance), had given it a place in ‘Panchamrut’ (Five divine substances). In old times in our country, guests and outsiders were welcomed by giving them curd or butter milk – Lassi (Sweetened curd). Because of this reason, digestive powers remained strong and active.
Today, the place of curd is taken by tea. In these days in our country, the rate of problems of acidity, ulcer, gas, low digestive fire and loss of appetite have increased greaatly in comparison to old times. In those days, curd was being used to a large extent everywhere. Free distribution centres of butter milk were being run but with the entry of rule of English people, because of blind aping of western culture, our original ancient healthy tradition of drinking curd, butter milk has almost come to an extinct and the resultant effect is that since last about 100 years, in our country, the ratio of diseases of digestion and heart diseases have increased.