Overview
Theravāda monks are strictly forbidden from consuming any food or nutritive substances after solar noon. However, to sustain the body during illness or exhaustion, the Buddha designated five specific fat and sugar substances as “Medicines” (Bhesajja). These five items are unique because they can be stored for up to seven days and consumed in the afternoon without breaking the monastic fasting rule.
The List
- Sappi - Ghee: Clarified butter made from the milk of cows, buffaloes, or goats, providing heavy physical sustenance and therapeutic heat.
- Navanīta - Fresh Butter: Unclarified butter fat, accepted and used for physical lubrication and strength.
- Tela - Oil: Vegetable and seed oils (such as sesame oil, mustard oil, or tallow fats) used to treat physical emaciation and skin disorders.
- Madhu - Honey: Pure wild or cultivated honey, acting as an instant, potent source of glucose and an antibiotic vehicle.
- Phaṇita - Molasses / Sugar: Boiling juice extracted from sugar cane or palm trees, boiled down into a thick syrup or solid blocks to relieve fatigue.