What Does Ayurveda Have to Say About Alcoholism

Alcoholism is addiction to alcohol—unable to function without alcohol, unable to manage drinking habits, unable to control the craving for drinking, feeling the need to drink more and more, which leads to changed behaviour both within the family and society, and leads to all kinds of health issues.
This is how the West looks at alcoholism.

But in our dharma, consumption of alcohol is a maha pataka—a grave papa.
It calls for performing very severe penances.
Even drinking once calls for prayaschitta.

In Sanskrit, alcohol is called madyam or madira.

माद्यति जनोऽनेति मद्यम्
माद्यति अनया इति मदिरा

Madyam gives mada—what is mada?

अहं महात्मा धनवान् मत्तुल्यः कोऽस्ति भूतले
इति यज्जायते चित्तं मदः प्रोक्तः स कोविदैः

'I am great, I am rich, there is no equal to me on the surface of the earth'—this feeling is mada.
Madya gives mada, that is why people start drinking—they feel great after drinking.
But end up elsewhere.

Alcoholism in Ayurveda is called madatyaya.

मदिरायाः पुनः पुनः पानम् – अत्यधिकं पानम् – मदात्ययः
Drinking again and again, drinking in excess, is called madatyaya or alcoholism.

ये विषस्य गुणाः प्रोक्तास्तेऽपि मद्ये प्रतिष्ठिताः
तेन मिथ्योपयुक्तेन भवत्युग्रो मदात्ययः

Alcohol has everything a poison would have—all the features.
Its indiscriminate consumption will lead to madatyaya—alcoholism.

Those who need alcohol before food and those who drink alone are more prone to alcoholism.
Excessive drinking leads to unmada—mental illness—because ultimately alcohol has all the features of poison, and causes all kinds of physical illness.
It destroys the mind and intelligence.

बुद्धिं लुंपति यद्द्रव्यं मदकारी तदुच्यते
तमोगुणप्रधानं च यथा मद्यं सुरादिकम्

Astrology speaks about karmic reasons for one becoming an alcoholic—indicated in the horoscope.
Like for example:

बहुशास्त्रदारितमुखो राज्ञां दूतो विदेशगः सुतनुः
बुधराशौ दिनभर्तरि दृष्टे गुरुणा मदोन्मादः

One may be very intelligent, an expert in one’s area of knowledge, one may be an ambassador, very handsome, a model or an actor.
But, in the horoscope, if the Sun is placed in Mithuna Rasi or Kanya Rasi and it is aspected by Jupiter, he will become an alcoholic.

See, this is another misconception about planets. Jupiter’s aspect—generally everybody thinks it is favourable—but here, see, it is causing harm.
There are many other combinations like this.
So, whenever you see alcoholism, it is better to have the horoscope examined and perform suitable remedies.

मूर्तिस्थानस्थितस्य भूपुत्रस्य रंध्रस्थानगतस्य च
भानोर्दाहपीडोपशमनार्थं तत्प्रीतये धेनुदानादिकं विधेयम्
मंगलप्रीतये च पूर्वोक्तमेव जपहोमादानादिकं कुर्यात्

One of the arms of Ayurveda is daiva vyapashraya chikitsa, which prescribes japa, homa, dana to help in curing diseases.

Now we are looking at everything with suspicion.
We have ourselves created this situation.
Acharyas gave all these for the benefit of mankind.

The other day, we had given a set of mantras from Atharva Veda for cancer.
You are only asked to listen to them.

And can you believe—some people responded,
'Do you have proof that this can cure cancer?'
'Do you have testimonials that this has cured cancer?'

Can you believe?

We are ourselves responsible—all kinds of misuse of knowledge, all kinds of quacks making all kinds of claims, taking people for a ride.

Once, there was a PIL seeking ban of astrology, feng shui, and all kinds of healing practices, in Mumbai High Court, filed by an NGO.
I was instrumental in drafting and presenting information about the correct perspective on these matters, and eventually, the case was dismissed.

Sometimes, I wonder whether I did the right thing or not.

The other day, I saw an ad—a lady trying to sell gemstones quoting Rigveda mantra agnimeele purohitam and saying,
'Rigveda says if you wear gemstones, all diseases will be cured, everything can be achieved.'
Referring to hotaram ratnadhatamam in the mantra.

No wonder people are sceptical and suspicious.

Ayurveda specifically says when one should never drink—or if one drinks under these conditions, it leads to health issues:

क्रुद्धेन भीतेन पिपासितेन शोकाभितप्तेन बुभुक्षितेन
व्यायामभाराध्वपरिक्षतेन वेगावरोधाभिहतेन वापि
अत्यन्नभक्ष्याच्च ततोदरेण साजीर्णभुक्तेन तथाबलेन
उष्णानि तप्तेन च सेव्यमानं करोति मद्यं विविधान विकारान्

When angry, when in fear, stressed or worried, when thirsty, when hungry, after physical strain such as exercise, after lifting weight, while holding urge to attend to nature’s call, when the stomach is full, after food and when the food is undigested in the stomach, when weak and in sunlight—under these conditions, if one drinks, it will lead to illness.
This is purely from a health perspective.

Dharma says: never drink—irrespective of whether the circumstances are these or not.

So, for treatment of diseases arising out of alcoholism, Ayurveda uses the standard methodology—delineating into vata, pitta, kapha vitiations or combination thereof—and treatment of mental illness.
Using medicines like sarasatha ghrita, chaitasa ghrita, kalyanaka ghrita, and various dhupana prayogas.

There are mantras in Atharva Veda that deal with alcoholism.
It is called Eno Nashana Suktam.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi