Alcohol in Ayurveda: Scientific Insights from Charaka Samhita on Madya and Health Effects
- DR Dinesh Vats
- Sep 12, 2025
- 5 min read
Dinesh Vats[1], Shobha Bharti[2]
Introduction
Ayurveda treats Madya (alcohol) with nuanced observation — neither blindly condemning nor indiscriminately praising it. Charaka offers detailed shlokas that describe alcohol’s physical properties, short-term effects, stages of intoxication, chronic consequences, and withdrawal. This article presents those shlokas verbatim (with references), scientific translations, clinical correlations, a chronological comparison chart, and a public-health disclaimer.
प्राकृतिक गुणः (Basic Nature)
प्रकृत्या मद्यमम्लोष्णमम्लं चोक्तं विपाकतः।सर्वं सामान्यतस्तस्य विशेष उपदेक्ष्यते।।(Charaka — Sutra Sthāna 27/178)
Scientific translation & correlation: Alcohol is naturally acidic (Amla) and hot (Uṣhṇa) in potency; its post-digestive effect (vipāka) is sour. Ethanol metabolism forms acetaldehyde and acetic acid, increases gastric acidity, and causes vasodilation (warmth).
मात्रा, समय एवं परिणाम (Dose, Timing & Outcome)
विधिना मात्रया काले हितैरन्नैः यथाबलम् ।प्रहृष्टो यः पीबेन्मद्यं तस्य स्यादमृतं तथा।।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/27)
Meaning & modern correlation: In the right dose, at proper time, with wholesome food and according to individual strength and cheerful mood, alcohol can give pleasant effects — appetite stimulation, social ease, and transient relaxation. Modern pharmacology notes low-dose anxiolysis and reward-pathway activation.
हृद्यम् आगम्य प्रभावाः (Entry into the Heart — Effects on Ojas & Systems)
मद्यं हृदयमाविश्य स्वगुणैरोजसो गुणान् ।दशभिर्दश संक्षोभ्य चेतो नयति विक्रियाम।।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/28)
Alcohol rapidly enters circulation and reaches the heart-brain axis.
Disturbs Ojas (vitality/immunity) via toxic metabolites and oxidative stress.
Produces multi-system disturbance: CNS, cardiovascular, hepatic, endocrine, immune, and mental domains.
प्रारम्भिक सुखद लक्षण (Early Pleasurable Effects)
हृदि मद्यगुणाविष्टे हर्षस्तर्षो रतिः सुखं।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/39)
Euphoria, thirst, increased desire, pleasure — corresponding to dopaminergic/opioid reward activation and mild anxiolysis.
श्लोकानुक्रमेण मद्यव्यवहार: श्लोक एवं वैज्ञानिक व्याख्या (Sequential Shlokas & Scientific Correlation)
1) Early — सुखद अवस्था (Prathama Mada)
प्रहर्षणः प्रीतिकरः पानान्नगुणदर्शकः ।वाद्यगीतप्रहासनां कथानां च प्रवर्तकः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/42)
Meaning: Induces cheerfulness, pleasure, enhances appreciation of food/drink, and stimulates music, storytelling, laughter. Correlates with transient reward-system activation and social facilitation.
न च बुद्धिस्मृतिहरो विषयेषु न चाक्षमः ।सुखनिद्रा प्रबोधश्च प्रथमः सुखदो मद्यः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/43)
Meaning: In the first mild stage intellect and memory are largely intact; alcohol gives pleasant sleep and refreshing awakening. Modernly: easier sleep onset but later REM fragmentation.
2) Middle — भ्रम और स्मृति दोष (Madhyama Mada / Madyavibhrama)
जायन्ते मोहनिद्रान्ता मदस्यातिनिषेवणात ।स मद्यविभ्रमो नाम्ना मद इत्यभिधीयते ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/40)
Meaning: Excessive intake leads to delirium, drowsiness — termed Madyavibhrama (intoxication-delirium). Modern: acute intoxication with risk of airway compromise and delirium.
मुहुः स्मृतिर्मुहुर्मोहो व्यक्ता सज्जति वाक् मुहुः ।युक्तायुक्तप्रलापश्च प्रचलायनमेव च ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/44)
Meaning: Intermittent memory lapses, fluctuating confusion, slurred speech, mixed coherent/incoherent talk, and ataxia. Modern: BAC-related cognitive and motor impairment.
स्थानपानन्न सांकथ्ययोजना सविपर्यया ।लिङ्गान्येतानि जानीयादाविष्टे मध्यमे मदे ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/45)
Meaning: Disorientation to place, confusion about drinking/eating, irrelevant talk, faulty planning — signs of the middle stage of intoxication.
3) Transition to Severe — आघात एवं उन्माद (Transition / Severe)
मध्यमं मद मुत्क्रम्य मदमप्राप्य चोत्तमम ।न किंचिन्नाशुभं राजसतामसाः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/46)
Meaning: As intoxication passes the middle stage towards severe, only inauspicious effects remain: agitation, violence, stupor.
की मदं तादृशं विद्वानुन्माद मिव दारुणम् ।गच्छेदध्वानमस्वन्तं बहुदोषमिवाध्वगः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/47)
Meaning: A learned physician should recognize this severe intoxication as resembling insanity — wandering, derangement, and danger.
4) Severe / Coma — अन्तिम अवस्था (Uttama Mada)
तृतीयं तु मदं प्राप्य भग्नदार्विव निष्क्रियः ।मदमोहावृतमना जीवन्नषि मृतैः समः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/48)
Meaning: Person becomes motionless like a broken log, mind enveloped by intoxication; alive but like the dead — correlates with alcohol-induced coma.
रमणियाँ स विषयान्न वेति न सुहृज्जनम ।यदर्थं पीयते मद्यं रति च न विन्दति ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/49)
Meaning: Loses appreciation of pleasures and recognition of friends; fails to obtain intended pleasure from drinking.
कार्याकार्यं सुखं दुःखं लोके यच्च हिताहितम ।यदवस्थो न जानाति कोऽवस्थां तां ब्रजेद बुधः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/50)
Meaning: When a person cannot distinguish right/wrong or pleasure/pain — it is a state of extreme intoxication that a wise physician should identify.
दीर्घकालिक दुष्परिणाम (Chronic Use & Social Consequences)
सः दुष्यः सर्वभूतानां निंद्यश्चा ग्राहा एव च ।व्यसनित्वादुदर्के च स दुःखं व्याधिमश्नुते ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/51)
Meaning: Habitual drunkard becomes harmful to others, dishonored, difficult to correct, leading to disease and misery — mirrors Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and social consequences.
हन्त्याशु हि विषं किंचिद् किंचिद्रोगाय कल्पते ।यथा विषं तथैवान्तयो ज्ञेयो मद्यकृतो मदः ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/99)
Meaning: Alcohol is like poison — may kill quickly (acute) or cause chronic disease.
विस्थापन (Withdrawal)
विछिन्न मद्यः सहसा योति अमद्यं निषेवते ।ध्वंसको विक्षयश्चैव रोगस्तस्योपजायते ।(Charaka — Chikitsā 24/199)
Meaning: Sudden cessation in chronic drinkers leads to collapse (Dhvaṁsaka) and wasting (Vikṣaya); difficult to treat — correlating with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (seizures, delirium tremens, autonomic instability).
Chronological Chart — Charaka ↔ Modern Clinical Stages
Stage (Charaka) | Ayurvedic Description | Modern Equivalent | Clinical Features |
Prathama Mada (24/42–43) | Cheerfulness, appetite, social facilitation | Occasional alcohol consumer / Social drinking | Mild euphoria, anxiolysis, appetite stimulation; low immediate harm if rare. |
Madhyama Mada (24/44–45) | Memory lapses, confusion, slurred speech | Alcohol abuse / Binge drinking | Blackouts, impaired judgment, accidents, social/occupational harm. |
Transition/Severe (24/46–47) | Agitation, psychotic-like disturbance | Chronic alcoholism | Frequent heavy drinking, psychiatric features, violence, poor general health. |
Uttama Mada (24/48–50) | Motionless/comatose, loss of discrimination | Alcohol dependence (advanced) | Compulsive drinking, tolerance, withdrawal, risk of coma and death. |
Note on safety (zero-limit): Evidence from modern medicine indicates no level of alcohol is entirely risk-free. Even small amounts increase risks for certain cancers and other harms. Ayurveda’s safest recommendation for health is abstinence (zero alcohol) — particularly for vulnerable individuals (children, pregnant women, those with liver disease, etc.).
Clinical Takeaways
Charaka’s clinical trajectory of Madya closely mirrors modern toxicology and psychiatry.
Early pleasurable effects do not imply safety: repeated exposure leads to tolerance and escalating harm.
Clinical approach: screen for AUD, counsel on dose/timing, supervise detoxification when needed, and favor prevention and abstinence for high-risk groups.
References — Shlokas Cited (Charaka Samhita)
Sutra Sthāna 27/178
Chikitsā 24/27, 24/28, 24/39–51, 24/99, 24/199
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It does not promote alcohol use. If you or someone you know has problems with alcohol, please seek medical and psychological help immediately.
About the Authors
Dr. Dinesh Vats (BAMS) – Ayurveda physician and founder of drVats.com, he integrates classical Ayurvedic knowledge with modern medical insights through his clinical work and writings.
Dr. Shobha Bharti (BAMS) – An Ayurvedic doctor and trainee in General Medicine, currently undergoing a 2-year clinical training under Dr. Vats to gain advanced skills in integrative medical practice.
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