About Astringent

Elements: Air, Earth
Balanced by 'Salty', 'Sour', 'Sweet'.
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Astringent foods make the mouth feel rough or dry. Astringent taste cleanses the mouth but causes difficulty swallowing. Leafy greens, green bananas and cranberries are astringent. Astringent taste makes an apple crunchy. It makes lentils and peeled potatoes stick to each other.

Minerals & Astringency

A second definition of Astringency is high in minerals. Mineral rich foods tend to create a rough mouth feel. Salt, foods high in potassium, magnesium, etc are considered astringent. Pica is a medical disorder where people eat non-foods such as clay, soil, paint, or wood. Often this unusual craving can be satisfied with vitamin and mineral substances, supplying the missing nutrient.

Astringent & Waste Products

Astringent taste causes a tightening of tissues obstructing lymphatic flow, elimination of toxins, and may cause constipation. However if you are having diarrhea, a good astringent like cranberry or pomegranate juice can be very helpful. Astringent taste also dries up any secretions and absorbs mucus (Kapha).

Qualities of Astringent

Astringents are cooling and drying making them good for Pitta inflammation on the skin and in the gastro-intestinal tract. Exercise caution, however, if the source of the inflammation comes from dryness (Vata).

Astringent Taste & Emotions

Emotionally, astringent taste helps someone cool off and collect scattered thoughts. Astringency is the physical analog of fear causing the cells of the body to withdraw.

Astringent Herbs

Triphpala, amalaki, haritaki, arjuna and manjistha.

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