विष्टम्भि मूत्रलं हृद्यं यथाद्रव्यगुणं च तत्| लाजास्तृट्छर्द्यतीसारमेहमेदःकफच्छिदः ॥३६॥
Its properties depends on material from which it is prepared. LAJA (FRIED PADDY): Laja is prepared by frying paddy. Relieves thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, diabetes, obesity, mitigates kapha,
cough and pitta, increases appetite, easy to digest and cold in potency. Prithuka (parboiled and flaked paddy) is hard to digest, strengthening increases kapha and causes constipation. Prithuka is prepared by boiling paddy for short while and pounding it with pestle and mortar.
DHANA (FRIED BARELY AND OTHER GRAINS) stays long in the stomach causing indigestion, is dry, satisfying, scarifying, and hard to digest. Dhana is made by frying barely which is soaked in water and saktu is flour either raw or fried. SAKTU (CORN FLOUR): Corn flour is easy to digest, relieves hunger, thirst, fatigue , eye diseases and wounds, is nutritious and taken as a drink gives strength immediately.
Corn flour should not be eaten without drinking water in between, should not be consumed twice in a day Should not be had at night Should not be taken solely, without other kinds of foods. Should not be had after meals It should not be hard to chew and it should not had in excess quantity.
न भुक्त्वा न द्विजैश्छित्त्वा सक्तूनद्यान्न वा बहून्| पिण्याको ग्लपनो रूक्षो विष्टम्भी दृष्टिदूषणः ॥४०॥
Many tasty eatables are prepared from the flour of rice and other cereals, horse gram, bengal gram and other legumes, with addition of spices, sour and fragrant substances, some of them are boiled in water, some are steamed, some are fried in oil etc, vegetables like onions, brinjals, etc. are also used in some preparations. These are usually consumed as side–dishes or snacks in between meals. However in view of their difficult digestibility, some warnings have been enumerated above. PINYAKA produces giddiness, dryness indigestion and vitiates vision. Pinyaka is the residue of sesamum, groundnut and other oil seeds, after extracting the oil from it.