Behet Arakku: An Ingenious Way of Inventing Potent Medicines Out of Intoxicant Spirituous Liquors

Abstract

Achieving Arogya (Svastha) or a harmonic balance of Tri-Dosha, Agni, Sapta-Dhatu and Tri-Mala, through the protection of health in the healthy and the healing of disorders in the ailing, is central to the codified body of sacred teachings of Ayurveda. To attain Arogya, two corresponding kinds of medicines have also been mentioned, viz., promotive of vigour in the healthy and destructive of disease in the ailing. In this paper, some attempts are taken to discuss and highlight the ingenuity of formulating a new class of potent medicines known as Behet Arakku to combat the disease in the ailing, out of intoxicant spirituous liquors.