Changes

Food taken in excessive quantities aggravates all [[dosha]] and produces symptoms characteristic of each of the vitiated [[dosha]] separately.  In addition to the quantity of food, untimely intake and the quality of food, i.e., intake of heavy, unctuous, cold, unclean and mutually contradictory food are responsible for the formation and vitiation of [[ama]]. Wholesome food, even if taken in proper quantity does not get properly digested if the individual is afflicted with anxiety, fear, grief, envy, anger, greed etc. and other such negative emotional states. These causative factors lead to formation of [[ama]].  

Food taken in excessive quantities aggravates all [[dosha]] and produces symptoms characteristic of each of the vitiated [[dosha]] separately.  In addition to the quantity of food, untimely intake and the quality of food, i.e., intake of heavy, unctuous, cold, unclean and mutually contradictory food are responsible for the formation and vitiation of [[ama]]. Wholesome food, even if taken in proper quantity does not get properly digested if the individual is afflicted with anxiety, fear, grief, envy, anger, greed etc. and other such negative emotional states. These causative factors lead to formation of [[ama]].  

[[Ama]] is the undigested food material which remains inside body and  produces toxic effects. The clinical presentation of [[ama]] has two variations-[[visuchika]] (cholera) and [[alasaka]](sluggish bowels) - with primarily gastrointestinal and few systemic features. The line of management of [[ama]] includes emesis, fomentation, use of suppositories, and fasting followed by the use of [[deepana]] and [[pachana]] class of drugs. The patients should be given massage, [[asthapana]] and [[anuvasana]] types of [[basti]] and also oleation therapy after the patient is free from [[ama]], helping restore the patient’s lost strength.

[[Ama]] is the undigested food material which remains inside body and  produces toxic effects. The clinical presentation of [[ama]] has two variations-[[visuchika]] (diarrhea and vomiting) and [[alasaka]](sluggish bowels) - with primarily gastrointestinal and few systemic features. The line of management of [[ama]] includes emesis, fomentation, use of suppositories, and fasting followed by the use of [[deepana]] and [[pachana]] class of drugs. The patients should be given massage, [[asthapana]] and [[anuvasana]] types of [[basti]] and also oleation therapy after the patient is free from [[ama]], helping restore the patient’s lost strength.

</div>

</div>

==Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation==               

==Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation==               

</div></div>

</div></div>

Physicians describe two types of diseases caused by [[ama]] [[dosha]] –[[visuchika]] (cholera) and [[alasaka]] (sluggish bowels). [10]

Physicians describe two types of diseases caused by [[ama]] [[dosha]] –[[visuchika]] (diarrhea and vomiting) and [[alasaka]] (sluggish bowels). [10]

==== [[Visuchika]](cholera) ====

==== [[Visuchika]](diarrhea and vomiting) ====

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">

</div></div>

</div></div>

<div style="text-align:justify;">

<div style="text-align:justify;">

The expulsion of ''ama dosha'' (undigested food) through both upper and lower passages of the gastrointestinal tract with the features already described above is [[Visuchika]] (cholera).[11]

The expulsion of ''ama dosha'' (undigested food) through both upper and lower passages of the gastrointestinal tract with the features already described above is [[Visuchika]] (diarrhea and vomiting).[11]

</div>

</div>

==== [[Alasaka]](sluggish bowel) ====

==== [[Alasaka]](sluggish bowel) ====

==== Nature of [[ama]] ====

==== Nature of [[ama]] ====

The [[ama]] is termed as "ama visha" (clinical state of indigestion characterized by manifestation of toxic symptoms) because of resemblance of manifested symptoms to that of poisoning. It is considered incurable because of its acute presentation and contradictory line of management. Physicians describe two types of diseases caused by [[ama]] namely [[visuchika]] (cholera like symptoms) and [[alasaka]] (sluggish bowels). The [[ama]] which is formed due to weak digestive fire is heavy, liquid, different colored, unctuous, slimy, sticky, undigested, have fetid smell, continuous pain and considered as root cause of many diseases [Arundatta on A.Hr.Sutra Sthana 13/27].<ref name="A. Hridaya"/> This form of food will not be absorbed, gets associated with [[dosha]] leading to "saama dosha" (undigested food with vitiated [[dosha]]) condition.  

The [[ama]] is termed as "ama visha" (clinical state of indigestion characterized by manifestation of toxic symptoms) because of resemblance of manifested symptoms to that of poisoning. It is considered incurable because of its acute presentation and contradictory line of management. Physicians describe two types of diseases caused by [[ama]] namely [[visuchika]] (diarrhea and vomiting like symptoms) and [[alasaka]] (sluggish bowels). The [[ama]] which is formed due to weak digestive fire is heavy, liquid, different colored, unctuous, slimy, sticky, undigested, have fetid smell, continuous pain and considered as root cause of many diseases [Arundatta on A.Hr.Sutra Sthana 13/27].<ref name="A. Hridaya"/> This form of food will not be absorbed, gets associated with [[dosha]] leading to "saama dosha" (undigested food with vitiated [[dosha]]) condition.  

Food if it is properly digested and metabolized by [[agni]] leads to proper tissue formation otherwise leads to poisonous state like [[ama]] formation. Due to various etiological factors deteriorated state of agni is unable to digest even the light food. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/43]. This vitiated digestive fire forms an intermediate substance called [[ama]], which turns sour (shukta) during fermentation and finally turns in poisonous substance. (ama visha) [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/44]  

Food if it is properly digested and metabolized by [[agni]] leads to proper tissue formation otherwise leads to poisonous state like [[ama]] formation. Due to various etiological factors deteriorated state of agni is unable to digest even the light food. [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/43]. This vitiated digestive fire forms an intermediate substance called [[ama]], which turns sour (shukta) during fermentation and finally turns in poisonous substance. (ama visha) [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/44]  

==== Disorders of [[ama]] ====

==== Disorders of [[ama]] ====

Two types of diseases caused by [[ama]] namely cholera-like symptoms ([[visuchika]]) and sluggish bowels ([[alasaka]]). A frail person having weak digestive power and aggravated [[kapha]] condition, even exerting pressure does not push the undigested food out of the passage since it is obstructed by [[kapha]]. This condition is called [[alasaka]]. Taking food either in excess quantity or very little quantity is a type of "vishamashana" (a type of unhealthy dietary pattern). This leads to various [[ama]] disorders [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/236].

Two types of diseases caused by [[ama]] namely [[visuchika]] (diarrhea and vomiting) and [[alasaka]] (sluggish bowels). A frail person having weak digestive power and aggravated [[kapha]] condition, even exerting pressure does not push the undigested food out of the passage since it is obstructed by [[kapha]]. This condition is called [[alasaka]]. Taking food either in excess quantity or very little quantity is a type of "vishamashana" (a type of unhealthy dietary pattern). This leads to various [[ama]] disorders [Cha.Sa.[[Chikitsa Sthana]] 15/236].

==== Assessment of [[ama]] ====

==== Assessment of [[ama]] ====