Ayurveda on Ama, The Toxins of our Lifestyle
For the longest time, Arya*, 43, believed she suffered from depression. When she sought Ayurvedic treatment, it was for her long-standing issue of menstrual cramps. But two weeks into the treatment, she felt a freshness, a clarity of senses never experienced before. It wasn’t depression Arya suffered from. The ‘dark cloud’ that she often felt clogging her brain, was in fact, brain fog – a side-effect of the inflammation that had caught hold of her body over the decades.
With a vata-pitta prakriti, she was always underweight, but as within most Indian communities, she was coaxed to eat more to gain weight, even when her appetite, like her bowel movement, remained erratic. As with all cases, Arya’s treatment too began with a cleanse of the inflammation first. Any treatment without that would merely worsen her existing issues. Weeks into the treatment, Arya was experiencing a sudden burst of clarity and energy.
Now a keen follower of Ayurveda, Arya is aware when there is ‘ama’ or the accumulation of toxins in her body, though rare, usually after a particularly stressful period at work or continuous nights of disturbed sleep. She also knows how to manage it with appropriate diet and lifestyle corrections.
So if inflammation is ‘ama’ (pronounced as “aa-ma”) in Sanskrit, does Ayurveda mention it? Very much. The concept of Ama is the most important fundamental principle of Ayurveda in understanding the physio-pathology of diseases. Ayurveda describes Ama as the biological entity responsible for many pathological events inside the body.
They are the toxins that build up in our body due to factors like weak digestion, impaired sleep, stress, incompatible food, exercising after food, pollution etc. Formed due to the improper functioning of ‘Agni’ or digestive fire that helps break down food, Ama is formed from unmetabolised food material. This Ama vitiates the doshas and disturbs dhatu (tissues – structure) after combining with them and initiates the pathogenesis of diseases.
Confirm the Presence of Ama in Your Body
The classical scripture says it can be felt in the form of:
- At Level 1 – Your Gut: Heartburn, diarrhoea, bloating, smelly stool, loss of appetite, incomplete evacuation, etc.
- At Level 2 – Your Skin: Eczema, breakouts, rashes, inflammation, boils – all signs of Ama blocking oxygenated blood.
- Level 3 – Your Mind: Brain fog, memory lapses, fatigue, confusion – signs of Ama in brain tissues.
Phases of Ama
- Formative phase: Ama begins to form but symptoms haven’t appeared.
- Interactive phase: Ama interacts with Doshas or Dhatus forming Sama Vata, Sama Pitta, or Sama Kapha.
Sama Dosha Symptoms Table
| Sama Vata | Sama Pitta | Sama Kapha |
|---|---|---|
| Obstruction of channels. | Static | Obstructed channels |
| Lack of appetite. | Foul odour | Appetite nearly lost |
| Drowsiness. | Acid eructations | Prevents normal belching |
| Borborygmi | Burning sensation in throat and heart | – |
| Oedema | Green coloration | – |
| Pricking sensation. | Heaviness | – |
| Pain in joints & all body parts | – | – |
| Constipation | – | – |
|
वायुः सामो विबन्ध अग्नि साद तन्द्रा अन्त्रकूजनैः। वेदना शोफ निस्तोदैः क्रमशो अङ्गानि पीदयन् ॥(अ.हृ.सू.१३/२७) |
दुर्गन्ध हरितं श्यावं पित्तं अम्लं घनं गुरु। अम्लीका कण्ठ हृद् दाहकर सामं विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ अ.हृ.सू. १३ ॥ |
आविलः तन्तुलः स्त्यानः कण्ठदेशे अवतिष्ठते। सामो बलासो दुर्गन्धः क्षुद् उद्गार विघातकृत् ॥ अ.हृ.सू. १३ ॥ |
| Herb to be consumed: Guduchi / Dry Ginger | Herb to be consumed: Avipathi Choornam | Herb to be consumed: Triphala |
Disease Manifestation
Acute Condition: The Sama stage is where degenerative, inflammatory, or infectious disease manifests.
Complication: An extreme stage called Āmaviṣa can lead to severe disease or even death.
Resolution: If detected early, the body may recover fully or with mild/moderate damage. If not, the condition may progress into chronic or nirāma stages.
Inflammation Check-List
If you are wondering what in your lifestyle has been causing inflammation, ask yourself:
- Are you having incompatible foods?
- Are you overeating or eating out of boredom?
- Are your eating habits irregular?
- Is your sleep disturbed?
- Do you have chronic stress?
- Are you inactive for long hours?
*Name changed to protect privacy of the patient.