Rasa

Rasa is defined as taste through the special sense known through the tongue.

In an Ayurveda context Rasa has other meanings also which are:

'Rasa Dhatu' - refers to the body fluid such as plasma which run throughout the body.

Rasa (Parada) - the element mercury.

Rasa (Swarasa) – the fresh juice extracted from a herb.

The Six Tastes

Madhura

The sweet taste has a building action, it promotes growth of body tissues and Ojas. It I soothing to the five sense organs and the mind and gives our body strength and improves complexion. It reduces Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha. It also relieves thirst and burning sensations and promotes the health and growth of skin and hair. It gives energy and good for the voice.

The sweet taste adds bulk to the body, is vitalising, nourishing and gives one a sense of contentment due to its effect on the mind. The taste is wet, cooling and heavy. Used in excess it creates obesity, laziness, excessive sleep, heaviness, loss of appetite, weak digestion, abnormal growth of muscles of the mouth and throat, difficulty in breathing, difficult in urination, abdominal distension, excessive salivation, loss of voice, goitre, swelling of lymph glands, legs and neck.

Amla

The sour taste improves the taste of the foods. It ignites agni or digestive fire. It invigorates, awakens the mind, increases body tissue, is strengthening, helps to relieve flatulence, promotes salivation thus helping with moistening and digestion of food, and nourishes. It is light, hot and wet. It reduces Vata and increases Kapha' 'and Pitta

When used in excess the sour taste causes thirst, makes the teeth sensitive and liquefies Kapha, aggravates Pitta and causes a build-up of toxins in the blood. It wastes away muscles and causes looseness in the body. It causes a burning sensation in the throat, chest and heart.

The salty taste promotes digestion and kindles the agni or digestive fire thus promoting digestion. It alleviates Vata and increases Kapha' 'and Pitta. It is cutting, biting, sharp and fluid. It works as a sedative, laxative. It relieves stiffness, contractions, softens accumulations and overpowers all other tastes. It promotes salvation, liquefies Kapha softens bodily organs, cleanses the channels. It is heavy, oily and hot.

When used in excess it it creates thirst, the sensation of burning, can cause fainting, stagnation of blood, decreases vitality, obstructs the functioning of the senses, causes wrinkles, greying and falling out of the hear. It promotes bleeding diseases, hyper-acidity of digestion, inflammatory skin diseases, gout and other mainly Pitta diseases.

Katu

The pungent taste is cleansing to the mouth, kindles agni or the digestive fire, purifies food, promotes nasal secretion, causes tears and gives clarity to the senses. It helps to cure diseases of intestinal torpor, obesity, abdominal swelling and excessive liquid in the body. It also helps remove oil, sweaty and sticky waste products. It alleviates Kapha and aggravates Pitta and Vata. It gives taste to food, stops itching, kills worms, corrodes the muscle tissue, moves blood clots breaks up obstructions and opens the vessels. It is light, hot and dry.

Tikta

Restores the sense of taste, although it does not always taste so good in itself. It has a detoxifying quality, kills worms, and is antibacterial. The bitter taste creates tightness of the skin and muscles. It relieves fainting, burning sensations, itching, thirst and inflammatory skin conditions. It promotes digestion of toxins, purifies lactation, helps scrap away fat and remove toxins accumulated in fat, marrow, lymph, sweat, urine, and excrement. It alleviates Kapha and Pitta and aggravates Vata. It is dry, cold and light.

When used excessively it causes wasting away of all the tissues of the body. It produces roughness, takes away strength, causes emaciation, weariness, delusion, dizziness, dryness of the mouth and other diseases of Vata.

Kashaya

This is a seductive taste. It stops diarrhoea, aids in healing joints, promotes the closing and healing of sores and wounds. It promotes absorption of body fluids, it is dry, cooling and light. It alleviates Kapha and Pitta and aggravates Vata. It is drying, firming, contracting.

In excess it causes drying of the mouth, produces pain in the heart, causes constipation, weakens the voice, obstructs channels of circulation, makes the skin dark, weakens the voice, causes premature ageing. It causes retention of gas, urine and faeces, creates emaciation, weariness, thirst and stiffness.