What is Panchamrutham?
Panchamrutham is the combination of five ingredients Milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, coconut water and banana. Here milk, curd and ghee are considered one and the same since the origin is from milk.
WHAT IS AMRUTHA?
Milk is considered as amrutha or ambrosia. In Ayurveda, milk is wholesome food and needed for the development of body i.e bones, nerves, blood and muscles. Properties of milk of are imparted to whatever food it is added to, that it eliminates the doshas found in a particular food, pacifies vayu and increases serum secretion. When milk is mixed with ghee and honey it removes debility. Milk has the presence of abundant calcium phosphate needed for the structural units of the body.
CURD
According to Ayurveda, curd is considered as an incarnation of the devine being that controls respiration. This regulates the life and gives energy. According to Ayurveda, curd is acidic and increases appetite and keeps the stomach in neutral pH. Curd has many medicinal properties. It cures pitta doshas, and gives brightness to the skin. Curd intake prevents arbuda(cancer) as per Ayurveda!!
GHEE
Especially cow's ghee is nutrient, ant-bilious, tonic, improves memory. It increase the good fats in the body and mental powers, improves voice, beauty and complexion. The use of ghee along with nutritious foods hasten the digestion process and helps in total assimilation and increases seminal fluid as per Ayurveda.
HONEY
Honey contains most of the vitamins and trace elements which nutritionists consider necessary for health: the B vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, ascorbic acid(vitamin C) and nicotinic acid. Unlike fruits and vegetables it doesnt lose its vitamins during harvesting, storage, and preperation.Trace elements include iron, copper, manganese, silicon, chlorine, calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, aluminium, and magnesium. Honey is consumed not only as a food but also a medicine. It is a good cosmetic and an excellent protective germ-proof shield. It can be applied to burns to prevent the formation of blisters and to promote quick healing of the skin acting as mild anti-biotic.
SUGAR
Sugar in this context means brown sugar. Brown sugar is considered more complex and more flavourful ; it contains calcium, iron and vitamins. The use of brown sugar is again gaining popularity since its more nutritious than white sugar.
COCONUT WATER
It has minerals, sugars and proteins and vitamins. It has many medicinal properties and is good for infants suffering from intestinal disturbances or oral re-hydration. It is the tonic for the old and sick, diuretic and can be injected intravenously in emergencies. The modern scientific findings say that it is good for infants too as it contains growth promoting properties. It keeps the system cool and prevents pricky heat and summer boils and aids in subsiding the rashes caused by chicken pox, measles etc. Presence of salinity and albumen makes it a good drink in cholera and checks urinary infections and effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones.
BANANA
The fruit contains many minerals such as potash, sodium, lime, magnesium and traces of aluminium and ferric oxide, chlorine sulphuric anhydride, phosphoric anhydride, silica and carbon anhydride which are needed to promote growth of the body. Recent studies have proven that low amount of potassium in their diet have increased the risk of stroke. Banana is the answer for such conditions.
Panchamrutha is considered divine only after the idol of worship usually made of panchaloha( an alloyof five metals) is bathed with it. Some scientists are of the opinion that panchaloha has an electromagnetic effect but the psychological factors play a very important role too. the indigenous people strongly believe that Panchamrutha cures cancer(arbhuda roga). The recent findings gives that the recipe is rich in potassium an element found to prevent cancer. No wonder our forefathers named this recipe as five amruthas.