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Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Approach to
Indigestion
and Concept of Agni
by Dr. Savitha Suri
The word
“Indigestion” is commonly used to describe the discomfort in one’s belly
mostly caused after food consumption. Fullness, bloating, nausea, heart
burn are other symptoms of Indigestion.
Before
discussing Indigestion, understanding the process of digestion is very
essential. The Ayurveda approach of explaining digestion is very simple
and effective. The food we eat is digested by Agni or body fire which is
present in our body. It is very much similar to the way we cook the
food. The Agni or body fire helps to digest the food which is consumed,
much like the fire of a stove cooks the food kept on it. The Agni is
mainly situated in Jatara or in upper part of digestive system
and is called as Jataragni. The Agni is further categorized as
Bhootagni (which digests the 5 pancha mahabhoota factors
present in food), Dhatwagni (The Agni present in tissues which
help them to absorb required nutrients), Malagni ( the Agni which
helps in formation of body wastes like stools, sweat and urine) . The
Jataragni controls bhootagni, dhatwagni and malagni.
Through this it is evident that ayurveda approach of digestion explains
cellular metabolism too.
The factors
which help Agni to digest the food completely. : Thridoshas -Vata ,
Pitta and Kapha help Agni to digest the food.
 If
the process of digestion is compared to that of cooking rice, the
stomach, like the vessel., receives food. Vata provides the necessary
conditions like the air blower, Pitta acts like the stove, providing
optimum working conditions while Kapha provides the moisture needed much
like the water in the vessel. When all these factors are normal and well
balanced, an optimum condition is created to digest the food completely.
When food is completely digested by all the Agnis, the body tissues will
be well nourished and one is blessed with attractive complexion, glow,
longevity, strength, good health, growth, enthusiasm, vitality and
overall healthy development of body and mind.
The indigestion occurs when Agni is imbalanced by the factors (tridoshas)
which help Agni to digest food. The variations of Agni due to tridoshas
are of 4 types.
Samagni
(balanced Agni) :The Agni which is well balanced due to balanced
tridoshas indicate the condition called Samagni . Samagni digests the
food completely and nourishes the body tissues very well.
Vishamaagni
(varying Agni):- When vata is predominant this condition surfaces. The
regular food gets digested normally on some occasions and poorly on
others. Vata increasing foods and lifestyles lead to this condition.
This variation of Agni causes constipation, flatulence, pain in abdomen
and other vata predominant diseases. The indigestion caused by this type
of Agni is called Vistabdhajeerna
Teekshnagni
(increased Agni) : This variation of Agni occurs due to predominance of
pitta. Pitta increasing foods and lifestyle cause this variation. This
variation of Agni causes increased hunger, thirst, acidity, heart burn
and loose motions. The indigestion thus caused is called as
Vidagdajeerna.
Mandagni
(decreased Agni): As increased moistness reduces the intensity of fire,
the increased kapha reduces the intensity of Agni. Kapha increasing
foods and lifestyle cause this variation. Feeling Heaviness of body,
swelling of eyelids (lower), belching which emit the smell of food
consumed and water brash are few symptoms which of indigestion caused by
mandagni. The indigestion caused by mandagni is called as amajeerna.
The decreased Agni improperly digests the food and this indigested food
is sticky in nature and improperly nourishes tissues, causing weakness
of body. This sticky improperly digested food is called ama. Ama due to
its sticky nature blocks the channels of body, vitiate doshas ,
contaminates tissues, imbalance body functions and cause diseases.
Causes of imbalance of Agni which
lead to indigestion
-
Spicy
foods, chilly, oily foods, medicines, milk and milk products,
tobacco and alcohol.
-
Irregular
food habits and sleeping patterns.
-
Medications like pain killers, antibiotics, oral contraceptives and
steroids.
-
Intestinal parasites.
-
Diseases
of pancreas, liver, gall bladder, intestinal infections etc.
-
During
pregnancy, premenstrual period, menopausal period in women.
-
Emotional
upset like anxiety, stress, examination, family tensions, etc.
Home Remedies for
Indigestion
-
Fasting
completely for one day helps to normalize imbalanced agni and digest
ama.
-
Consuming
liquid foods, boiled vegetables or fruit juices for 2- 3 days also
improves Agni and relieves indigestion.
-
Avoid the
factors (mentioned above) which cause indigestion.
-
Mix a ½
tea spoon of lemon juice, ½ tea spoon ginger juice and little salt
in a cup of water and consume thrice daily.
-
Drinking
½ glass of warm water once in 2 hours increases Agni and digests ama.
-
Cook ½
cup of rice with 4 cups of water with crushed ginger (1”) and salt.
Powder long pepper (2 or 3)and fry it in a spoon of cow’s ghee and
add it to gruel. Consume this when it hot. This is very light to
digest and relieves colic pain.
-
Abdominal
Massage also helps to relieve indigestion. It loosens the tight
muscles and increases the blood supply to digestive system.
American Journal of Aphysical Medicine and Rehabilitation
mentions that “Abdominal massage has positive effects on some
clinical aspects of neurogenic bowel dysfunction in patients with
spinal cord injury. “
Consuming
well balanced food which keeps doshas and Agni in balanced condition
always keeps body healthy and free from diseases.
April 8,
2007
Disclaimer
The above article is educational in nature, and is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical
condition, please consult your physician.
Dr. Savitha Suri B.A.M.S is Chief Consultant physician at Chaitanya
Integrated Medical Center, Udayagiri, Mysore, Karnataka, India. She is
practicing Indian Systems of Medicines since 12 years. By arrangement
with
http://www.ayurhelp.com
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