Keys to Complete Digestion: Agni & Ama
You are what you eat. This popular saying reminds us that what goes into our bodies eventually dissipates out into our bloodstream and nourishes all our bodily tissues becoming our skin, bones, and vital organs. Ayurveda takes the concept a step further with the saying – You are what you digest. After eating a meal, you should feel nourished and energetic. This is a sign that food particles are being properly broken down by the digestive fire, agni, and fully absorbed into the body’s tissues. Heaviness and lethargy after meals is a sign of poor digestion which means food particles are not fully broken down, and what’s left over is sitting around creating a thick sludge-like waste product, ama, that circulates in the system.
Agni and Ama
The terms agni and ama are key to understanding the process of digestion and disease formation. Agni is the digestive fire or digestive enzymes. Ama is the raw, unripe, or partially digested product that results from weak agni.
Agni is the digestive fire or digestive enzymes
The food we eat is broken down throughout the digestive tract in order to enter the bloodstream and nourish the body. Healthy, balanced agni digests not only the food but the emotions and other sensory experiences our bodies encounter on a daily basis. Weak or unbalanced digestion leaves the food particles not fully broken down, not absorbed, or just left to sit in a system with poor motility. Agni and ama have opposing qualities, so eventually, ama build up in the system will further weaken agni, perpetuating the cycle of poor digestion. Chronic ama can show up as leaky gut, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), or malabsorption.
Ama is the raw, unripe, or partially digested product that results from weak agni.
Agni is…hotsharplightdryclearspreadingAma is…colddullheavyoily, wetstickystagnant
Causes of ama
Taxing the digestive system means that even strong, healthy agni won’t be able to digest everything that gets taken in and some undigested substance will be left. Left to accumulate and circulate in the body day after day, it is considered the cause of countless discomforts, maladies, and diseases. Initially ama may manifest as sluggishness, congestion, dull skin, inflamed joints, or other symptoms that result from inhibited circulation and nutrition. Eventually it can lead to more serious conditions including elevated blood sugar, late-onset diabetes, kidney stones, and bacterial infections to name a few. The following foods and activities will dampen a strong digestive fire, leading to ama formation.
OvereatingEmotional eatingImproper food combinationsEating large meals at nightLack of exerciseExcess amounts of cold or raw foodsPackaged, processed, or stale foodEating quickly, while distracted, or on the runIrregular eating habitsSleeping or eating before the previous meal is digestedEating heavy food or fried foodExcess of sweet, sour, or salty tasting foods
Clear up accumulated ama
If ama has accumulated in the body, there are several steps to clear it out.
Removing the cause – any of the above causes that lead to the accumulation of ama above need to be removed. Revisit the qualities of ama above…food that is heavy, cold, oily, and sticky (ice cream, cheese, leftovers, fried foods…) will produce ama. Not giving the body time to process meals (eating on the go or while under stress) will produce ama.
Deepana – stimulating the digestive fire – making the digestive fire stronger will encourage more food particles to be digested and reduce ama formation. This is done with herbs like ginger, black pepper, pippali, trikatu, and ajwain. An Ayurvedic practitioner can help tailor the herbs based on individual constitution and digestive strength.
Pachana – digesting the ama – certain herbs and spices will encourage the system to digest the ama currently in the system. These include garlic, ginger, and lemon. There is a popular tea, called CCF that is used for promoting digestion. Mix dried cumin, coriander, and fennel seeds and use 1 tsp of the mixture + a few slices of fresh ginger with 1 cup of hot water to make a tea to sip after meals. Simply drinking warm or hot water during the day will also help remove ama from the system.
Fasting – lightening the amount of food taken in can give the digestive system a rest and reboot. For those with a strong appetite, removing all food is not recommended. Fasting may be a fruit fast, where for one day, just fruit is eaten. Fasting could also be having light meals such as broth, miso, or steamed veggies. In some cases, just skipping dinner can help kindle the digestive fire for the next day.
Exercise – physical exertion causes an increase in body temperature and circulation which digests ama and cleans out the channels through which food and vital fluids flow through the body. Aim to break a sweat when working out. Try to spend some time in nature, going for a walk or jog to get fresh air. Be mindful of sun exposure, especially for those with a Pitta constitution between the hours of 10am and 2pm.
CCF + ginger tea