Is Ayurvedic Treatment for Digestion Successful?

Good digestion is a key to good health. As per Ayurveda, our physical and mental wellness depends on gut health. The immunity, emotional balance, and overall well-being depend on digestion. Any disturbance in gut health can lead to ailments. The principle of Ayurveda says that good health can be achieved with a good gut, as we all are aware that our body is regulated by tri doshas, which are Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. Any imbalance in these three energies can lead to sickness.

The sedentary lifestyle, poor food habits, and bad routine often disturb the natural balance of the human body. This can shake the natural rhythm of our body, silently making it weak and prone to diseases. When our body vibrations are disturbed, gut issues arise. In this blog, we will learn what causes an imbalance in the digestion and what Ayurvedic treatments are available for strengthening the digestion. Here, we will explore the ancient Ayurvedic approaches to restore gut health, the natural remedies, and how successful Ayurveda is for digestion.

Gut Health Ayurveda

According to Ayurvedic classical texts and practices, digestion is an important metabolic mechanism that is driven by a digestive fire, called ‘Agni’. Agni is an energy that extracts the vital nutrients from the food we eat. These nutrients are absorbed in the body, and the waste is eliminated. When this agni is disturbed, the whole digestive system suffers. When Agni is balanced, it ensures smooth digestion.

Smooth the digestion, strengthen the immunity. When Agni is imbalanced, it can pave the way for the accumulation of toxins, also known as ‘Ama’. When ama is piled up in a human body, it makes a way for various physical and mental ailments. There are 3 types of digestive fires or Agni that regulate our digestion.

The Three AGNIS:

1. Balanced Agni: Known as ‘Samagni’, this Agni helps in smoother digestion. When the Agni is balanced, it helps in digesting the food efficiently, ensuring optimal well-being of the gut.
2. Low Agni: Also known as ‘Mandagni’, it reflects slower digestion that leads to symptoms like bloating and heaviness. 
3. Overactive Agni: This is also known as ‘Tikshnagni’, which causes symptoms like diarrhea, heartburn, and can also lead to problems like hyperacidity.
4. Erratic Agni: Usually called ‘Vishamagni’, it is often related to the imbalance of Vata dosha. This can make a person feel constipated with gas and indigestion.

Any of the above Agnis except ‘Samagni’ needs to be corrected using Ayurveda, to ensure strong and better digestive health!

The digestive health is highly influenced by the Tridosha Balance. Examples:

1. When Vata is imbalanced, one can face symptoms like dry stools, bloating, and gastric problems.
2. When Kapha is disturbed, it leads to heaviness and a lethargic body.
3. When Pitta dosha is imbalanced, it can lead to more severe issues like inflammation, severe acidity, and even stomach or intestinal ulcers. Sometimes, poor digestion can also lead to hemorrhoids or other chronic problems.

Ayurvedic Body Cleanse

Ayurveda works by detecting the following:

• Ayurveda brings its classical and most reliable non-invasive diagnosis into use. Like nadi parikshan, mal and mutra parikshan, and other diagnostic methods are used by the practitioner to diagnose the real problem or the real cause of the digestive disorder.
• After that, Ayurveda checks the body type of the patient, as every body type is unique and requires a unique treatment plan.
• Then, the ayurvedic practitioners combine various aspects of Ayurveda- medicines, routine, diet, and therapies to customise a treatment plan as per the individual’s body type and problem.
• Various therapies and medicines are given to detox the gut by eliminating the toxins from the body and bringing its natural rhythms back.
• Now, yoga and pranayama are also included in the ayurveda cleanse method, to aid the treatment and prepare the body not only for cure but also for prevention.
• The major Ayurvedic cleansing methods involve- Langhana, which includes fasting or eating very light, Pachana, which is a herbal therapy to reset digestion, and Shodhana, which is a Panchakarma detox used to resolve deep-seated digestive problems. This method is a combination of various powerful ayurvedic therapies and massages like Virechn, Abhyanga oil massage, and Basti. These are used to restore the energy and immunity of the body, ensuring wholesomeness.

Ayurvedic Remedies for Digestion

Ayurveda is like a boon to humankind. This year-old effective science of healing offers a vast range of healing methods and medicines with no side effects. Some of the most effective remedies that the rich Ayurvedic texts include and are used to create the formulations are:

1. Triphala: Those reading our blogs regularly might be aware of the powerful benefits of triphala when used as a medicine. Triphala- the combination of three herbs is a wonderful laxative that flushes the toxins out. This helps in clearing the colon, improving bowel movement, and strengthening the digestive Agni without taking the harsh chemical-based medicines.
2. Hingwashtak: This is a churna in Ayurveda prepared using various Indian medicinal spices and herbs. This helps to relieve the symptoms that usually arise from constipation and other gut-related acute to chronic problems.
3. Pomegranate Peel Decoction: This is an effective medicine often prescribed to patients dealing with dysentery or diarrhea. This cures the inflammation of the gut and intestines.
4. Avipattikar: This churna is known for curing indigestion or gut ailments arising out of imbalanced Pitta. This churna balances Pitta and resolves Pitta-related gut ailments from the root cause.

These were some common and effective parts of an effective treatment plan for digestive disorders in Ayurveda. There are several other herbal medicines, like ayurvedic probiotics, that are prescribed to the patients depending on their situation and body type.