Ayurvedic Concept of Ahaar Pachan or Digestion

Ayurveda is a holistic healing science. The main objective of human life according to Ayurveda is to attain the following four goals or Purushartha:

• Pursuing one’s religion (Dharma)
• Attaining economic and financial development (Artha)
• Attaining regulated sense-gratification) (Kama) and
• Accomplishing liberation (Moksha).

The basic objective for attaining all the four goals is health and that is Arogya.

Aahar in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, the term food is referred as Aahar. It includes all the food items that we ingest, whether solids or liquids. Food is the only thing which we allow to enter in our bodies very easily and which show an impact sooner or later in our overall heath and body structure. In Ayurveda, aahar or food is very important. That which passes through the aaharan process is called aahar. Food needs to consumed very carefull as some food is injurious to health. Food has to be adequate in terms of quantity/amount. The food that we intake also need to balance in terms of calories and nutrients. Food has got psychological and socio-cultural values also and it is this factor for which Ayurveda scores over others.

Aahar Pachan in Ayurveda

The process of digestion is known as Aahar Pachan in Ayurveda. In Ayurveda, any food (ahar) passes through the following:

• Taste (Rasa)
• Uses (Guna)
• Potency (Veerya)
• Metabolism resultant (vipak), and
• Impact (prabhav)

It is said that rasas undertake gunas and is undertaken by veerya. This is suppressed by vipak and finally prabhav makes all of them resultant. Therefore, when we consume food, we must take into consideration the fact that our food should have calories needed as per age. Similarly calorie intake during pregnancy and lactation and disease or recuperation should also be considered. Calories must come in balanced form in terms of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Food is consumed as solids or semi-solids and liquids. Salads must be an important segment of food. Water other than juices and milk is needed and must be pure and adequate.

The main aim of Ayurvedic Aahar Pachan or the digestion process should be such that human beings can achieve the ultimate goal of the science. i.e., maintaining health and treating disease.

For more information on ayurveda and wholesale purchase of ayurvedic products check out Ayurveda Herbal Remedy

 

Amlapitta and Ayurveda

It is common for many of us to face a burning sensation in stomach and chest at times. This is in most cases due to excessive secretion of acidic material in the stomach. This in medical terms referred as acidity or gastritis. In Ayurvedic terminology, this is referred as amlapitta, amla meas the super sour taste and Pitta is the Dosha . This means there is excessive secretion of Pitta Dosha (one of the three doshas) in the stomach.

There are several factors that lead to the acidity or amlapitta in the body like a poor or imbalanced diet, heavy smoking, weak immune system, stress etc. When there is acidity problem in the body, it is denoted by many symptoms like loss of appetite, burning sensation in chest, stomach, nausea, indigestion, abdominal bloating, etc.

Amlapitta Process

When the Pitta Dosha is disturbed from its normal state by taking viruddha bhojan (incompatible food), vikrita bhojan (stale food), ati amla (too much sour, spicy food), vidahi (decayed) and other food that is harmful to pitta dosha like fried, fermented food, smoking, alcohol etc, then the aggravated Pitta Dosha takes seat in stomach and produces Amlapitta or hyperacidity.

Ayurvedic Treatment

No matter how big or small the symptoms are, amlapitta should never be ignored because if not given proper treatment at the right time, it can lead to severe health problems. Luckily there are many remedies for acidity but the best remedy is using Ayurveda herbal remedy. The traditional Ayurveda medicines are used quite frequently for curing acidity. Ayurveda uses herbs like English mallow, Ginger, Meadowsweet, Chamomile, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Licorice, etc. for treating gastritis or acidity. Apart from these Ayurveda herbal medicines, dietary restrictions, different home remedies, water treatments are also used for Amlapitta treatment. Nowadays in the market you will find a variety of Ayurvedic medicines made using these herbs but it is always better to consult a professional practitioner.

For more information on ayurveda and amlapitta, Ayurvedic Treatment of Acidity or Amlapitta. For more information on Ayurveda and wholesale purchase of Ayurvedic products, check out Ayurveda Herbal Remedy.