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Especially
after the age of 40, when your body's own cleansing
and rejuvenating capability starts slowing down,
supporting it with a cleansing regime is important
for ongoing health and vitality.
The
Seed and Land Theory of Ayurveda
Proper digestion is crucial for health. When digestion
is efficient and complete, all of the food you eat
is either converted into nutrient fluids for absorption
into the body, or flushed out as wastes. When the
digestive process is incomplete or inefficient,
partially digested food matter is left behind in
the digestive system. This substance, called ama
in ayurveda, becomes toxic to the physiology if
allowed to stay in the body or build up over time.
Ama is not only inherently toxic in itself, it also
clogs the channels of the body, further disrupting
the flow of digestion and leading to an escalating
cycle of toxin build-up. Ama is fertile ground for
infections and disorders to germinate, take root
and flourish. Ama build-up is considered the first
stage of imbalance in the physiology. If not addressed,
disorders invariably follow.
The digestive process leaves behind toxins either
when you eat foods that are not fresh, natural or
suited to your constitution and digestive capability,
or when you follow eating routines and practices
that are not ideal. Eating processed or artificially
flavored foods and foods that are grown with chemical
pesticides and fertilizers can lead to toxin build-up.
Drinking iced water or ice-cold beverages douses
the digestive fire and causes ama to be generated.
Eating heavier foods after sundown, eating a new
meal before the previous one is digested, or eating
when stressed or working also impact digestion.
For help with choosing foods that are best for you
and for ayurvedic digestion guidelines, read our
"Eating for Balance" articles.
How to tell if you have ama build-up
It is best to visit an ayurvedic healer and have
him or her assess your ama levels. The following
are general indications that you may have an accumulation
of toxins in your physiology:
1.
Your tongue has a white coating in the morning when
you wake up.
2. You yawn after a main meal and just want to curl
up and snooze.
3. You feel tired and lethargic all day long, even
though you eat well and sleep well.
4. Your appetite is poor or you crave junk foods.
5. You feel a general lack of motivation or zest
for life.
6. You feel "spaced out" and your mind
is cloudy.
7. You experience abdominal bloating and gas, especially
after a main meal.
8. You feel heavy and congested or constipated.
9. You have a general sense of malaise, with vague
aches and pains.
If you experience three or more of the above on
a regular basis, your physiology would probably
benefit from a cleansing regime.
Full-fledged ayurvedic cleansing programs, called
Panchakarma, are best done under the supervision
of an ayurvedic physician. Harsh sudden purges are
also not recommended in ayurveda. A gentle program
of cleansing, done over 45-60 days, is least stressful
for the physiology, easiest to follow on a regular
basis, and adequate for enhancing the digestive
fire to burn off simple ama accumulation.
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