Thursday, March 9, 2017

Ama in Ayurveda





What is Ama: Ama is undigested food which is responsible for many chronic and autoimmune disease.Fire ( Agni) in the digestive system is that basic energy, required digest food. It is responsible for the process of transformation of food that is consumed, i.e, it makes the consumed food available for the body tissues. If Agni is maintained in normalcy, one can stay healthy. Once the Agni is hampered, then ama is created which cause disturbance in dosha of the body and leads to various type of diseases. Any disease is nothing but the altered state of Agni in the stomach (Impaired functioning of Agni).


Due to impaired state of agni, degestion of food will not occur properly leading to a condition called Ama. The manner in which the nutrition ingested is digested, the way in which its various components are metabolized into appropriate Dhatu or tissue element and how some of its constituents are broken down for being utilized for the production of energy required for vital activities, depends upon what kind of Agni (digestive power) you have.


According to Ayurveda there are 13 types of Agni in body namely-7 Dhatu Agni, 5 Bhutagni
and 1 Jatharagni . Among these 13 Jatharagni is the prime one and nourishes the other
Agnis.


Jatharagni=refers to the whole process of digestion in G.I.T.


Bhutagni=refers to the final digestion in liver AGNI.


Dhatu Agni=refers to tissue metabolism


In Ayurvedic these 13 types of Agni are further divided into four types on the basis of function as follows:


I n ayurveda there are three Pathological State of Agni:


•Mandagni=Low function  of digestive enzymes
•Triksnagni=High function of digestive enzymes
•Vishmgni=Irregular secretion of digestive enzyme


And Healthy state of Agni.


•Samagni=Normal secretion of digestive enzymes.


Malfunctioning of Agni leads to production of Ama (undigested foods that remains in tract and acts as foreign elements and are responsible for many autoimmune diseases). Ama can be developed at the level of Jatharagni (improper digestion in G.I.T), Bhutagni (liver dysfunction) or Dhatu Agni (disturbed tissue metabolism).


There are many ayurvedic herb which can help in your digestive system and these are:


Herbs acting at the Level of Bhutagni:


Trikatu: A herbal preparation having equal amount of three herbs namely Sunthi (Zingiber officinale), Maricha (Piper nigrum) and Pippali (Piper longum) is supposed to work on Jatharagni at the level.


Ginger (Zingiber officinale):  Is best remedy for dyspepsia and indigestion, stomach pain and nausea.


Herbs  acting at the Level of Bhutagni:


Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba): Bhringraj is one of the most important herbs supposed to work at the level of Bhutagni. It is one of the main herb of many herbal formulation to treat  liver disorder.


Kutaki (Picrorhiza kurroa): According to Ayurveda Kutai ( Picrorhiza kurroa) act as Pitta rechaka i.e. it helps in expulsion of bile. This herb is safe in treatment of liver disease.


Arogyavardhini: that is use most frequently for the management of liver disorder. According  to Ayurveda, Arogyavardhini is supposed to work on Bhutagni level therefore its use is not restricted up to only liver disorders rather it can be use in all type of ailment related to chronic gastrointestinal disorders/digestive diseases.


Cucurma longa: Curcuma longa commonly known as turmeric is another herb which help in liver function.  It is supposed to work on Bhutagni and therefore helpful in ailment
results due to Bhutagni Mandya like Diabetes Mellitus, Hepatitis etc.


Drug Acting on Dhatu Agni:


Rasagni-Khajoora, Munakka, Majjagni-Guduchi, Aswagandha,  Satavari and many more.