We’re back with another Eastern perspective on digestion. This time, we’re taking a closer look on a modality that’s now experiencing a resurgence: Ayurveda. Just like with TCM, some of the philosophies and recommendations from Ayurveda may seem strange or even ridiculous in comparison to the Western approach towards digestion. But as a modality that’s been practiced for thousands of years, it deserves some exploration. Perhaps even consideration, since many people today live and breathe it. So without further ado, let’s discover the principles of Ayurveda and how it treats digestion.

Ayurveda

Known as the sister science of yoga, the word Ayurveda roughly translates to “the science of life”, and it truly goes beyond the treatment of disease. It encompasses all aspects of one’s life, prescribing specific practices that serve the mind, body, and spirit. What’s fascinating about Ayurveda is the fact that aside from existing for thousands of years, it truly was ahead of its time for its belief that we are all unique, and therefore have different needs. These “needs” involve the use of balancing the elements (similar to TCM) that are represented by what they call the Doshas (doe-sh-uhs).

There are three Doshas, each representing a pair of elements. Vata (vah-tah) dosha is made of air and either. Pitta (pit-tah) dosha is made of fire and water. And Kapha (ka-fah) is made of water and earth.
Although everyone carries all three doshas, there is always a dominant dosha. One person may have more Vata, and another may have more Pitta. Some people may have two primary doshas, and others can have all three (they’re what’s known as tri-doshic). In order to have optimal digestion, a person should live according to the needs of their dominant dosha. (Which is very similar to the concept of bio-individuality!)
Ultimately, the goal is to balance one’s dosha, which helps to cultivate agni (ahg-knee) or digestive fire. Without a strong agni the body suffers; when agni grows weak, we become overwhelmed with ama (ah-ma), or toxins. In today’s world, we can associate toxic ama with processed foods and pollution. But in Ayurveda, agni is more than just physical toxins. It’s also internal, and can be mental, emotional, or spiritual. Negative emotions like depression, rage, and anxiety and a lost sense of purpose are all considered to be sources of internal ama.
From a gut sense, this is very real. Our gut produces several neurotransmitters like serotonin that help us to feel good. If our gut health suffers, so too does our mood. In a way, this can be seen as either “emotional” or “mental” toxicity. And in order to prevent this ama from accumulating, we need to maintain strong agni (i.e., digestion).

For the doshas, this is going to vary: everyone experiences ama differently, and will require different “prescriptions” in order to keep their agni strong:

Vata types are prone to having constipation, anxiety, gas, and poor circulation. They’re advised to consume warm, easy-to-digest foods, along with plenty of oil and healthy fat.
Pitta types are prone to having reflux, diarrhea, irritability, and anger. They’re advised to consume cooling herbs and spices like fennel and peppermint and partake in lighter meals.
Kapha types are prone to bloating, poor sleep, weight gain, and slow digestion. They’re advised to consume foods that are lower carbs but high in fiber, as well as simple warming spices like ginger
To accurately identify your dosha, it’s best to work with a practitioner in Ayurveda. However, there are online quizzes that can give you a good estimate, such as ones from thechopracenter.com or banyanbotanicals.com. Identifying your dosha opens a portal towards discovering your uniqueness, and how you can best serve yourself according to it.

For all of the doshas, and everyone else who doesn’t know their dosha, there are universal principles that Ayurveda prescribes for maintaining healthy digestion. If you’ve stuck with me so far, you’ll notice its similarities to TCM:

The first is to avoid drinking cold water. In Ayurveda, cold water is like jumping into a freezing pool. It paralyzes the digestive system, slowing things down and increasing the risk of toxic ama buildup. Instead, it’s recommended we drink warm or room temperature water instead.
The second is to avoid skipping meals. No matter what, our body likes routine. While it sometimes cannot be avoided, it is all too common nowadays for us to neglect the importance of sitting down and enjoying a good meal. In Ayurveda, we must establish a consistent schedule to ensure our body is running like a well-oiled machine. It’s also recommended that we consume our largest meal in the middle of the day, when agni is at its strongest.
The third is to cleanse regularly. Let’s back up a minute. By cleansing, Ayurveda is not referring to starvation or living off of juices. Cleansing should never be aggressive. Instead, things like intermittent fasting, oil massage, and consuming a mono-diet of kitchari a few times a year are recommended. (Kitchari is a simple meal made up of lentils, rice, and healing spices. It’s very easy to digest and gives your body a chance to rest while staying nourished.) By incorporating all of these practices, cleansing itself becomes a part of one’s lifestyle. Doing all of these things acts as a form of insurance against the potential build-up of ama.

Ayurveda is a sophisticated practice with a long, reputable track record. To this day it continues to be practiced, even amongst physicians. While we’ve only recently discovered the importance of bio-individuality through functional medicine, Ayurveda has always been ahead of the curve. It respects all of the aspects of life, rather than just one part. It knows that we are so much more than our body.
So what can we take away from it? First is that it’s so important that we pay close attention to what makes us unique. You don’t have to believe in the concept of doshas in order to recognize your uniqueness. Paying attention to your lifestyle, habits, and food choices can help you to tune in to what works and what doesn’t for your body. Understanding that all of these things are connected is also important. Just like TCM, Ayurveda knows that outside of food, it’s the way we choose to eat that plays an equally as great a role for maintaining healthy digestion.

As you can see, in the East, it’s about prevention rather than treatment. Simple things like eating consciously and free of distractions goes a long way towards maintaining a strong and healthy gut. Eating foods that are warm are also viewed as ideal. Cold, raw salads and smoothies don’t always work. And finally, if the gut suffers, so too do our internal “elements” which can be seen as other aspects of our health that include our mind, vitality, and purpose. Therefore, sometimes the treatment ends up benefiting more than just the gut.
Today’s topic was definitely different than most, but there’s something to be said for ancient, time-honored practices. Thanks for sticking with me, aand let me know if you’ve ever heard or benefitted from Ayurveda!

Further Reading:

[1] https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/ayurvedic-treatments#1
[2] https://www.mapi.com/ayurvedic-knowledge/digestion/five-secrets-of-good-digestion.html
[3] https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/health-guides/understanding-agni/
[4] https://www.mapi.com/ayurvedic-knowledge/digestion/five-secrets-of-good-digestion.html
[5] https://lifespa.com/ayurvedic-health-quizzes/body-type-quiz/
[6] https://lifespa.com/whats-so-amazing-about-khichadi/