Dear Vaidya: can you give textual reference to “abhishandhi” effect of bananas please. Thank you, Martin G.”
As previously discussed in my blog (and newsletter dated October 17, #42 Volume 3), the small and aromatic bananas are great to consume, because they do not carry channel-blocking property. However, in general, small aromatic bananas, particularly in the United States, are very rarely available. Larger bananas are readily found across the world and that is what people tend to consume. As far as the reference is concerned, here is a verse from Bhav Mishra’s Bhav Prakash Nighantu, – which is considered to be the best “nighantu,” the best commentary for Ayurveda’s materia medica:
As you can read in the verse above, large bananas are “bisthambi:” very heavy to digest and channel blocking through the creation of ama; they also increase kapha dosha on a cellular level, and are heavy (guru). Carrying these 3 properties,: bhishtambi prabhava, increasing kapha dosha, and having guru (heavy) and sheet or cold guna (property), they slow down or dampen agni or the metabolic fire in the stomach. This is the root cause of disease, as a reduced digestive fire will result in toxins or ama, and there can be no disease without ama. Specifically: anything cool or cold in property shrinks the circulatory channels. A banana is bhishtambhi in more ways than one as you can see. Due to its cold and heavy properties, that shrinks channels and creates ama on the cellular level. Large bananas increase shleshak kapha which restricts movement. This is why my ancestors capped it as an abhishandi fruit. Favor small bananas anytime, whenever available.
