What the texts say
The word is noṣṇam, "not hot", one short clause in Charaka's verse of curd rules. The verse after it, 7.62, lists what a lover of curd risks by ignoring them: fever, raktapitta (bleeding from different parts of the body), visarpa (erysipelas), kushtha (skin disease), anaemia, giddiness and severe jaundice. The Ashtanga Hridaya says the same in Sutra 5.31: curd is not to be eaten hot, or at night.[1][2][3]
The modern view
We found no study that tests whether eating curd hot leads to the illnesses Charaka names.
From the classical texts
Questions people ask
Does this rule apply to kadhi and other cooked curd dishes?
The verse says curd should not be eaten hot. Kadhi and other cooked curd dishes are not named in it, so how the rule applies to them is a question for a vaidya.[1]
Related
Curd (dahi) at night
Charaka and the Ashtanga Hridaya both say not to eat curd at night. Charaka lists fever, skin disease and jaundice among the illnesses that follow.
FoodCurd in summer (garmi mein dahi)
The Ashtanga Hridaya says not to eat curd in spring, summer or autumn, and the same line says not to eat it at night or hot.
FoodHeated honey (garam shahad)
Charaka says hot honey, and honey for someone suffering from heat, lead to death. Sushruta also warns against honey with hot things.
FoodCurd and sugar (dahi-chini)
Charaka names sugar as one of the things curd should be eaten with. Dahi-chini is on his list of accompaniments, not his list of things to avoid.
Sources
- Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 7.61 (Naveganadharaniya Adhyaya).
- Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 7.62 (Naveganadharaniya Adhyaya).
- Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana 5.31, GRETIL e-text.
Updated 4 November 2026