AMA AND DISEASES IN AYURVEDA

ABSTRACT

It's been ages since mankind has been suffering from diseases. Isn't it.?
Be it a normal cold or fever or be it a deadly pandemic taking its toll on human lives, diseases and their pathogenesis has remained a relevant topic worth understanding.
With time, our lifestyles have changed tremendously. So we have the same transition in the mode of diseases we are affected with too! Depending on our habits, and on our daily routine, our health also struggles to coexist.So what does the natural science of Ayurveda have to say about all of it? Let's see.

CONCEPT OF AMA AND DISEASES IN AYURVEDA

Ayurvedic practises are solely focussed on keeping the body healthy against external infectious agents. Rather than having to help the body cope up with the disease once it gets infected with it, it's always a better option to prevent the onset of one.

This optimal health status standardized by ayurvedic methodologies are dependent on a number of other factors too. One of the main being the pathological events that take place inside the body. The pathogenesis of almost all the diseases is thus in a way or other directly correlated to Ama dosha in Ayurveda. You might have heard a lot of terminologies related to diseases, their diagnosis, their cause, their symptoms etc. So is Ama just one such a terminology in Ayurveda or is there more to it.?

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AMA!

Ama is the un-metabolized food materials which remain un-ripe and stagnated within the gastrointestinal tract. Metabolism is governed by digestive fire known as Agni in Ayurveda . So when the body suffers from an impaired bio-fire, it leads to indigestion, improper metabolic activities and the accumulation of the un-metabolized materials forming endotoxins within the body tissues. Such endotoxins are known by the name Ama

HERE ARE THE COMPONENTS THAT GET TRIGGERED BY AMA IN OUR BODY

Ama being the result of the weak digestive fire in turn causes a stark negative effect on the three basic constitutional factors Vata, Pitta, Kapha as well as on the seven Dhatus and the three excretory products called Mala as per the Ayurvedic classics.

Human body is considered as a substratum which is functional in the presence of a kindled bio fire (Agni), The three constitutional factors (Tridoshas) along with their related body tissues (Sapta dhatu). When there is any endotoxic content within our body, they trigger all the above mentioned biological entities, inducing pathological conditions to the body. Hence the digestive fire is an accurate marker of many diseases and health concerns in the science of Ayurveda.

AMA AND PATHOGENESIS OF VARIOUS DISEASES

The hypo-functioning Agni and the resulting Ama together brings about variations in the homeostasis of the body, when

• Ama gets combined with Vata and Pitta doshas resulting in their disintegrated state called Sama dosha.
• Sama Dushya which is the Ama induced condition of Dhatus.
• Sama mala, which is the similar induced condition of Ama dosha related to Mala.

The Sama Vata state leads to the aggravation of Vata in its abdomen and paves way to conditions like arthritis, Joint pain, and irregular bowels. This could be priorly indicated in the body via astringent taste in the mouth, dry or scaly skin, constipation, bloating etc.

The Sama pitta results in the aggravation of Pitta dosha which ends up in forming inflammatory conditions and affects the effective digestion directly. It leads to heartburn, bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, acid indigestion and diarrhea.

The pattern repeats the same when Ama mixes with Kapha dosha and causes the obstruction of subtle and gross body channels. It accumulates in the stomach leading to the suppressed appetite, sinus issues as well as salty taste inside the mouth.

HOW DOES YOUR BODY REACT TO AMA.

In the cases of Ama dosha , there will be a number of pathological events that the body gives away corresponding to the dosha to which it is associated with. From the obstructive body channels causing circulatory disruptions, to aggravating Tridoshas, Ama dosha causes deterioration in the nutritional supply to the body and brings about decline in the potency of Dhatus

WHAT REALLY CAUSES AMA

As it is reasoned as the Agnimandya which causes Ama, we need to get to the root cause as well. That is, what causes Agnimandya.?Our digestive system could be impaired in a number of ways. Dietary habits, improper sleep cycle, sexual indulgence in excess, over eating, day-time sleep, lack of discipline in daily regimen and similar lifestyle can easily lead to the formation of Ama.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

It's always wise to avoid the causative factors of Ama, just like the ancient saying goes.! Taking the required quantity of quality food articles at proper time, maintaining a balanced diet and daily regimen as well as keeping the mind free of negative energy helps in keeping the Ama toxins at bay.

In cases of Ama diagnosis and resultant health conditions like Visuchika, Alasaka etc, Ayurveda prefers Agni dipana, Snehana, Swedana, and until manageable cases Sodhana therapy taking into consideration intensity of Ama dosha, condition and Prakriti if the individual. It is advised to avoid treatment of extreme cases of Ama dosha as it will only bring about the effect of poison into the body no matter what we administer to the patient.

The primary effort is taken to keep the digestive fire healthy and actively functioning. Ayurveda advises a number of Agni deepana drugs and herbs that naturally helps to boost the strength of digestive fire thus ensuring healthy metabolic and enzymatic reactions of the body.

Herbs including the Trikatu, Ginger, Black pepper, Ahwan and similar spices helps to clear out the Vata dosha and herbs like Cinnamon, and Bitter spices helps to bring about clarity in Pitta dosha. The expectorant and emetics, as well as Garlic, Tulsi etc brings balance in Kaphaja Ama.

With patience and a little care towards what we provide and expose our body into, we can always find remedies to our health issues naturally. From the onset of disease to its recovery, our body goes through a lot. So why give up on health measures and give in to diseases while you can stay healthy by holding onto the little conscious things