Cooling

Vīrya in Ayurveda denotes the potent energy or active property of a substance, determining how it acts on the body and the doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha). It can be understood as the primary cause of a substance’s therapeutic effect, influencing digestion, metabolism, and the body’s internal balance.

Herbs with a cooling virya (potency) will cool digestion and metabolism, moisten the tissues, and help treat hot, inflamed conditions. They’re beneficial to vata and kapha. It is important not to overuse them, as digestion may be impaired, becoming sluggish. Herbs with a bitter, astringent, and sweet taste tend to be cooling.