Agni and Ama Ayurveda Digestive System

Agni and Ama Ayurveda Digestive System

Ayurveda puts great emphasis on the digestive system in regards to good health.

Agni

Ayurveda has described an important factor of digestion and metabolism in our body as Agni I like to describe it at the fire in the belly. Agni is what Ayurveda describes as the digestive fire and metabolic process of transforming food into nourishment. 

Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life, and is performed by Agni. In Ayurveda, the term “Agni” is used in the sense of digestion of food and metabolic products.
Agni converts food in the form of energy, which is responsible for all the vital functions of our body. Therefore, Ayurveda considers that Agni is the cause of life, complexion, strength, health, nourishment, lusture, oja, teja (energy) and prana (life energy). (Cha. Chi. 15/3.)[1]

The most famous of Ayurveda sages Charak wrote that when the function of Agni stops the individual dies, and when the Agni of an individual is in balance the person would be absolutely healthy and would lead a long, happy, healthy life. But, if the Agni of a person is vitiated, the whole metabolism in his body would be disturbed, resulting in ill health and disease. 

According to Ayurveda Agni is the basis of all life.

Modern medicine is catching up with the concept of a healthy gut we can see it in the media all the time. One of the most important ways to keep a physically healthy body is to pay attention to your digestive system. When our digestive system is compromised our bodies have difficulty functioning as they should and our immune system gets depleted.

What we eat and how we eat plays an important role, one of the reasons we have the season foods on this site is to help you to choose primarily the best seasonal food for the months.

If we eat and care for our body constitution in accordance with Ayurveda principles, we will be blessed with a healthy body. We mustn't forget the psychological aspects that can also affect the Agni and its functioning.

Ama 

In simple terms is toxins in the body derived from poorly undigested foods and poor quality food that we eat. When our Agni is compromised and put under stress by different factors foods or mental states the body will develop Agni that builds up in the intestines and is very toxic. 

A toxic sticky substance that begins to coat the system and permeate into the tissues and stops our metabolic from working efficiently.

This means that the body begins to suffer and the immune system is affected.

Signs of Ama in the Body

• Check your tongue, ama shows up as a white coating on the tongue
• Your bowels will be heavier, smelly and sticky
• Feeling tired and lethargic, usually after food
• You will likely have wind
• Another symptom is bad breath
• Bloating and Heaviness
• Stiffness Aching Body 

There are different types of digestive problems which show up for different doshas I will talk about them in a separate article.

For now, let's look at ways to keep the fire burning in the belly

Imagine you are tending a fire if you add too much wood/coal it will deaden the flames and might even choke out the fire. Too little kindling and the fire will go out. There needs to be a happy medium. 

• Choose foods that are suitable for your body constitution
• Eat according to the season you are in
• Chose locally grown food with more life and energy
• Eat three quality, not quantity meals each day
• Take your time when you are eating eat slowly and mindfully 
• Don't drink while you eat it slows down the fire and puts it out 

If your digestion system is impaired and you have ama in the body a purifying process is required to help to clear the digestive system.

There are many purifying foods processes herbs and practices in this site.

You can start with Triphala an ayurveda fomula thats helps regulate the digestion.