The term ama in ordinary
parlance means unripe, uncooked, and indigestible.
Food products that are incompletely digested and
cannot be absorbed, remain in the gastro-intestinal
tract and are passed through stools or through
vomition. The food, which is partially digested and
cannot be absorbed, but cannot be assimilated by the
tissues, is termed as ama.
In the context of medicine, however, this term refers
to events that follow and factors which arise as
a consequence of the impaired functioning of kayagni
(body heat). The factors that appear to
enter the picture of ama vikaras are related to what
is today known as food poisoning. All internal
diseases begin with ama's presence in the body and all
diseases caused by the external factors eventually
produce ama.
|
| Symptoms of Ama |
 |
- Strotorodh (Obstruction of systems)
- Bala bransha (Loss of strength)
- Gaurav (Heaviness)
- Anil mudhata (vitiation of Vata)
- Alasya (Lethargy)
- Apakti (Indigestion)
- Nishtiva (Continuous Phlegming)
- Mala sanga (Constipation)
- Aruchi (Anorexia)
- Klama (General weakness)
|
| Causes for origin of Ama |
|
- Jatharagni mandya (decreased secretion of
digestive juices)
- Dhatwagni mandya (decreased heat of tissue)
- Dosha samurchana (due to effects of vital
catalyst)
- Krumi visha (toxins produced by worms )
- Mala sanchaya (collection of waste matter)
|
| Etiology of Ama
production |
|
- The ingestion of food containing articles, which
are incompatible to one another.
- The ingestion of heavy or indigestible articles
of food.
- Over-eating.
- Ingestion of foods for which one has an aversion
or the consumption of foods that are disgusting.
- Ingestion of foods that produce distension of
the abdomen.
- Consumption of raw and uncooked foods.
- Eating of foods that are too cold.
- Use of foods that are irritating and capable of
causing inflammation of the stomach and
intestines.
- Consumption of unclean and contaminated
(infected) food;
- Eating of fried, dry or dehydrated foodstuff.
- Use of foods soaked in too much of water
(possibly for long durations of time).
- Intense emotional stresses such as, grief, rage,
worry, fear-complex, etc.
- Hunger and irregular diet-habits.
|
Apart from
this given below are the qualities of foods and the
effect they have on our health after their
consumption.
|
| QUALITY OF FOOD |
EFFECT ON OUR HEALTH |
| VERY DRY |
- Causes loss of strength and colour.
- Dryness of skin.
- Obstruction in the movement of flatus and
faeces.
|
| VERY OILY |
- Increases kapha.
- Excess salivation.
- Feelings of heaviness in heart.
- Laziness.
- Loss of appetite.
|
| VERY HOT |
- Toxicity.
- Excitement.
- Burning sensation.
- Thirst.
- Loss of strength.
- Giddiness.
- Bleeding disorders.
|
| VERY COLD |
- Debility.
- Loss of taste.
- Weak digestive capacity.
- Oppression in chest causing nausea.
- Stasis of food for a long time.
- Horripilation.
|
| VERY HARD |
- Obstruction to urine and faeces.
- Feelings of not being contented.
- Of not spreading to all parts of body.
- Not undergoing quick digestion.
|
| FLUID FOODS |
- Produces running nose.
- Polyurea.
- Cough.
- Opthalmia.
- Destroys digestive power.
|
| SWEET FOODS |
- Diminish digestive capacity.
- Not good for health.
- Does not nourish body.
|
| VERY SALTY |
|
| VERY SOUR |
|
|
|
Healthy
Living
