What the texts say
Stale kakamachi comes near the end of Charaka's long list of incompatible foods. Vagbhata spells out what stale means, kakamachi cooked and kept overnight, and also bars it when cooked in a pot used for fish or ginger. The rule is about this one plant, not about leftovers in general.[1][2]
The modern view
We have not found a modern study of stale kakamachi.
From the classical texts
Related
Kakamachi and honey
Charaka says kakamachi (makoy) with honey leads to death, in the same line as long pepper cooked in the fat used for frying fish.
FoodReheated food
Vagbhata says to give up food heated a second time, and Sushruta says such food does not taste as it should.
FoodBurnt food (jala hua khana)
Charaka lists burnt food as incompatible in cooking (paka viruddha), in the same line as undercooked rice and food cooked over poor fuel.
Sources
- Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana 26.84 (Atreyabhadrakapyiya Adhyaya).
- Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutra Sthana 7.35-36, GRETIL e-text.
Updated 4 November 2026