Therapeutic Potential of GodhūMa (Triticum Aestivum L.) (Bread Wheat) As āHāRa and āUṣAdha Across the BṛHatrayis (Classical āYurvedic Texts) — A Review

Āyurveda has two primary targets, one is to maintain the health of the healthy and the other to treat the sick and bereaved. To be precise, it is equally beneficial in preventive and curative aspects. As far as Āyurveda is concerned, Āhara (Diet) and Auṣadha (medicine) are two sides of the same coin. Some diseases can be managed with Āhara alone, some with Auṣadha. But even when Auṣadha is the primary intervention, Āhara plays an equally important role because it supports the auṣadha. Godhūma (Triticum aestivum L.); is one such dravya that is considered as Pathyāhāra (suitable to the condition) in numerous diseases out of which Prameha (Diabetes) is just one. But what is not known is that it has also been extensively recommended as auṣadha in several diseases across the texts. In the Bṛhatrayis- Charaka Samhita by Ācārya Charaka, Suśruta Samhita by Ācārya Suśruta, Aṣṭāṅga Saṅgraha and Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya by Ācārya Vaghbhata, the wide spectrum of pharmacological applications of Godhūma have been elaborated, indicating it to be a very therapeutically potential dravya. In modern pharmacology, the properties, and applications of Triticum aestivum L. are very well researched and documented, specifically its importance as a primary diet in a diabetic. But the therapeutic potential from the Āyurvedic point of view has never been reviewed before. This review article targets to fill this void, by presenting the therapeutic indications of Godhūma mentioned in the Bṛhatrayis.