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Digestive disorders

Digestive disorders

Ayurveda has described an important factor of digestion and metabolism in our body as Agni. Agni converts food into the form of energy, which is responsible for all the vital functions of our body. Agni is the invariable agent in the process of Paka (digestion, transformation).Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life, and is performed by the Agni. Ayurveda categorizes agni into several types based on its strength and function:

·     Mandagni: Weak digestion, leading to incomplete digestion and accumulation of toxins (ama).

·     Tikshnagni: Strong digestion, which can lead to hyperacidity and inflammation if not balanced.

·     Vishamagni: Irregular digestion, causing unpredictable hunger and digestion issues.

·     Samagni: Normal level of digestion.

The cardinal signs of balanced agni include

› Normal appetite (healthy hunger involves lightness, clarity, and a pleasant anticipation of food, but not an urgent need to eat)

› Clean tongue (no coating)

› Proper appreciation of taste

› Good digestion, balanced metabolism

› Can digest a reasonable quantity of any food without issue

› Proper (and regular) elimination

› Complete absence of nausea (or suppressed appetite)

› Easily maintains homeostasis

› Stable health

› Steady weight

› Normal blood pressure

› Good immunity

› High energy, strong vitality

› When agni is balanced, it tends to support strong immunity, and a long, healthy life.

Stages of digestion

·      Phase 1: Slow and steady (kapha); takes place in the mouth and the upper stomach; getting the food ready for digestion.

·      Phase 2: Intense (pitta); takes place in the lower stomach and the small intestine; actual breakdown of food

·      Phase 3: Light and quick (vata); takes place in the large intestine; nutrients are absorbed and waste created is segregated

After every meal, this process begins and takes anywhere between 4 to 6 hours, depending on how strong your digestive fire (agni) is, what your prakriti(nature of body in Ayurveda) is and what type of food you’ve consumed.

BALANCED DIGESTION FOR DIFFERENT CONSTITUTIONS (Prakriti)

Light & Quick (Vata)

·      You have a variable appetite that goes from feeling ravenous to eating small meals and feeling satiated.

·      You crave warm foods.

·      You have gassy bowels

Slow & Steady (Kapha)

·      Since your digestion is slow, you don’t get hungry quickly. Your appetite builds up slowly. You can skip a meal easily unlike Vata types.

·      Bowel movement is smooth and regular

Strong (Pitta)

·      You have a strong appetite and experience sharp hunger pangs at mealtimes. Not eating at the right time can make you “angry”

·      Your digestion is quick, so you snack more frequently.

·      Your bowel movement is regular but leans toward loose stool.

SLIGHT TO MODERATE IMBALANCE

Indigestion equals to imbalance and this can look very different depending on your metabolism. Imbalances in digestion are common and easy to identify and fix. They often arise out of eating at odd times, eating the wrong types of food and large quantities of food.   Eating the right food and herbs to match your Ayurvedic body type and making small lifestyle changes will bring back the balance rapidly.

Here’s what imbalance looks like for each body type and why:

Light and Quick (Vata)

·      Cold, dry, or junk foods like candy or sodas are simply not right for you

·      You get gas and bloating easily. Skipping meals or eating junk worsens it.

·      You have alternating episodes of constipation and diarrhoea

Slow and Steady (Kapha)

·      You have no to very low appetite because you feel full, bloated, and heavy in the abdomen region

·      When you do feel hungry, you want sweet, greasy, fatty, and high-salt foods, just the kind you shouldn’t eat.

·      You have a tendency toward constipation.

Intense (Pitta)

·      You have frequent episodes of heartburn and acid reflux.

·      Despite the indigestion, you still feel hungry and want to have spicy, salty foods.

·      You get diarrhoea and experience a burning sensation after/during passing stool.

SEVERE IMBALANCE

When your regular course of digestion is thrown off balance,  your energy, muscle mass, bone density, immunity, and brain function all suffer consequences. More often than not if this imbalance prolongs, it eventually makes you highly susceptible to disease.

Light and Quick (Vata)

·      Besides excessive burping, hiccups, gas, and abdominal pain, you may have chronic constipation.

·      Since constipation leads to the buildup of toxins (ama) in the body, your immunity will suffer.

·      Prolonged imbalance leads to low energy, fatigue, and anxiety.

Slow and Steady (Kapha)

·      Since you do not like to exercise, any imbalance in digestion leads to an accumulation of toxins. This shows up as more lethargy, poor focus, obesity, and a feeling of malaise.

Intense (Pitta)

·      You are prone to inflammation; so you may suffer from acid reflux, gastritis, ulcers and inflammatory bowel disorders.

Causes of Digestive Disorders:

According to Ayurveda, digestive disorders can arise due to various factors such as improper diet, unhealthy lifestyle, emotional stress, and incompatible food combinations. These factors can disturb the balance of doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and agni leading to digestive issues.

Common Digestive Disorders:

Ayurveda identifies several common digestive disorders:

·     Ajeerna (Indigestion): Symptoms include bloating, gas, and discomfort after eating.

·     Grahani Dosha (Irritable Bowel movements): Characterized by irregular bowel movements and abdominal pain.

·     Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis): Linked to digestive disturbances and accumulation of ama (toxins).

·     Alasaka (Indigestion) :Digestive disorder by accumulated toxins

·     Vishucika (Gastroenteritis): Characterised by severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

·     Amlapitta (Hyperacidity) : a condition characterized by increased acidity in the stomach, often accompanied by symptoms like heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion.

·     Arsas (Hemorrhoids): It is characterized by swollen veins in the anus and lower rectum that can cause discomfort, pain, itching, bleeding, and difficulty in passing stools.

·     Atisara (Diarrhoea) : It is characterized by frequent, loose, and watery stools that may be accompanied by symptoms like abdominal cramps, dehydration, weakness, and sometimes fever.

·     Chardi (Vomiting) : It is considered a physiological response by the body to expel toxins or undigested material from the stomach. But when it become severe it leads to a disease.

·     Malasanga (Constipation) : Refers to the obstruction or impairment of the natural elimination processes of the body, particularly concerning the excretory functions. The term "mala" refers to waste products or toxins, and "sanga" means obstruction or blockage.

Management of digestive disorders

Ayurvedic treatment of digestive disorders focuses on balancing agni and restoring harmony among the doshas. Treatment strategies include:

Dietary Modifications: Prescribing a diet that supports balanced agni and avoids incompatible food combinations.

Herbal Remedies: Using herbs and formulations to improve digestion, reduce inflammation, and detoxify the body. Ginger, fenugreek, cumin seeds ,turmeric have proven efficacy in treating various digestive disorders.

Lifestyle Changes: Promoting regular eating habits, stress management, and adequate physical activity.

Panchakarma: Ayurvedic detoxification therapies like Panchakarma are used to eliminate toxins (ama) from the body and restore digestive health.

Preventive Measures: Ayurveda emphasizes preventive measures such as eating mindfully, avoiding overeating, consuming fresh and seasonal foods, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent digestive disorders.

Overall, Ayurveda offers a holistic approach to understanding and managing digestive disorders by addressing the root cause through personalized treatments that consider an individual's unique constitution (prakriti) and imbalances (vikriti).