Ama in Ayurveda
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In Ayurveda, Ama refers to toxic waste that forms in the body when digestion and metabolism are weak.
Think of it as half-digested food or sticky waste that the body cannot process or remove properly.
What causes Ama?
• Digestive fire (Agni) is weak.
• Eat foods that don’t suit your body.
• Overeat or eat at odd times.
• Intake of heavy, oily, cold, or stale food.
• Mixing incompatible foods (like milk + fish, meat + milk)
Lifestyle-related causes:
• Suppression of natural urges
• Daytime sleeping
• Uncomfortable or improper sleeping posture/bed
Mind-related causes:
• Especially during eating
• Excessive worry
• Grief or sorrow
• Fear
• Anger
• Jealousy
• Greed
• Anxiety or mental disturbance
• Shame or embarrassment
• Excessive desire
Environmental or seasonal incompatibility
Symptoms of Ama
A person with Ama may feel:
Heaviness in the body
Loss of appetite
Sluggish digestion
Sticky white coating on the tongue
Gas, bloating
Tiredness
Joint stiffness and pricking pain
Brain fog, dullness
How Ayurveda Treats Āma
• Langhana
This means reducing food intake to give the digestive system rest.
• Pacana – Digesting the Āma
Along with light food, herbs or medicines
Improve digestion
Burn or neutralize Āma
Reduce heaviness
Examples (general): ginger, black pepper, trikatu, hot water.
Also medicines like Ashtachoornam tablets, Hinguvachadi tablets, Deepani tablets are some of them
Sodhana: cleansing the body through panchakarma treatments