It seems that the twin gods Ashwinikumaras, the physicians of the Gods in heaven once entreated the Lord of Creation. Brahma in the following words:”Sir, you expressed the opinion that one should drink buttermilk which happens to be the only substance that can ward off all types of diseases. Therefore kindly let us know now extensively as to what are all the properties that exist in buttermilk, what exactly are its rasas (or tastes), what is its virility, what is the benefit of consuming it, how long one should take it, how much and in what way and what are the things that should be avoided while taking it and are there any deleterious effects of it and what exactly are they?” Thus requested, the Lord Brahma began expounding on the virtues of buttermilk in great detail.
This is how the subject of buttermilk is introduced in one of the ancient prakarana granthas or Incidental Texts called Takra Kalpa -the preparation of buttermilk.
The above fable is an index of the great esteem in which butter milk has been held by the physicians of Ayurveda. Its use is even now prevalent in great many ways. An attempt is done here to give a brief account of this nature as found in many Texts besides Takra kalpa and also as to what exists in current practices. Buttermilk is such an easily available and household article that it will be very useful to have a knowledge of its many uses in health and diseases. Modern medicine is also coming to appreciate many of these claims. The sheer diversity of the matters discussed is itself impressive.
When to take buttermilk and its excellence :
Buttermilk should be drunk after the meals and with salt. After drinking it, one should also drink some water and nothing else afterwards. Drinking water thus, hot or cold, will ensure that no acidity would remain at the throat or the teeth. This is a good measure for the healthy and strengthening if taken with meals this way. But the same taken alone and excessively will be weakening and inimical to virility. There is an ancient Sanskrit saying that buttermilk is to be taken after the meals, milk at the end of the day, ghee after cohabitation and water at the end of the night.
Buttermilk will act like nectar in the following diseases: splenic (or glandular) enlargement, piles, intestinal mal absorption [samhgraphard), anaemia, tastelessness and specially dysentery. Specially for dysentery or sprue which is difficult to be cured, it has been stated that this affliction will not get mitigated by thousands of medicines without taking buttermilk.