Healing Of Autoimmune Disorders Through Ayurveda - An Ancient Medicine Science

Have you heard this quote "Health is Wealth" I think you all are aware of this quote because we have been hearing this since our childhood. This quote signifies the importance of health. In today's time due to increased urbanization, our diet has become very sedentary and poor. This poor diet will escort their way towards numerous diseases. Most of the diseases occurring due to this are Autoimmune Disorders. As we are Ayurvedacharya, so let's explain this from the Ayurvedic aspect and get to know about interesting facts!!!

AYURVEDA - ANCIENT MEDICINE SCIENCE

Ayurveda is composed of two words "ayur and veda" i.e. science of life. By the way, it's not only the science of life but it's beyonds that. Ayurveda mainly works on the concept of tridosha and panchmahabhuta (5 elements). Our body is composed of five elements and they are Akash (space), vayu (air), agni (fire), jala (water) and prithvi (earth). Then from these five elements 3 doshas (humors) are formed. Akash (space) and vayu (air) forms vata dosha, agni (fire) forms pitta dosha, jala (water) and prithvi (earth) forms kapha dosha. The balanced state of these three doshas is known as health. In our ancient classical texts, the definition of health is stated in below verse.

"Samdodha samagni samdhatu malkriya prasannatma indreya manns swasthaitiabhideyate"

(Charak Sutrasthana 15/41)

This shloka states that health is sam dosha (balanced vata, pitta, kapha), samagni (balanced digestive fire), samdhatu (balanced body tissues), malkriya (balanced excretion of waste products), prasannatma indriyamann (happy soul, senses and mind).

Acharya charak very elegantly explained about the dincharya (Daily regimen), ritucharya (seasonal regimen), so that we can stay away from diseases and build a good immune system. But if we do not follow the diet and healthy lifestyle as explained by our acharyas then it will lead itself to poor digestive fire i.e. mandagni. As a result, our body forms Aama.

NOW YOU MUST BE WONDERING WHAT AAMA IS?

In common language Aama is basically undigested metabolic waste or a toxin. As per acharya charak,

Dushiyatagnis dustoanna ntatta pachti laghavapi Apachyamanam shuktwam yatayannam visharooptama

(Charak Chikitsa 15/44)

Acharya charak explained that due to low or weak digestive fire, food is not being digested properly and as a result of which undigested amlapadharth is formed which is known as Aama (endotoxins). This aama now acts as poison and causes lots of autoimmune disorders. So the main cause of autoimmune disorders is Ama dosha (endotoxins). It is also known as Aama visha.

SO THE NEXT QUESTION IS HOW THIS AMA IS FORMED? WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

The two main causes that promote ama formation are mandagni (poor digestion) and Viruddha ahara (Toxic food combinations). Viruddha ahara is defined as Food items which are opposite in action, properties, combinations etc are known as viruddha ahara. It is a very vast term which not only includes toxic combinations but also includes the food items which are opposite to season, time, nature etc.

TYPES OF VIRUDDHA AHARA (TOXIC FOOD COMBINATIONS)

1. Guna virudha (opposite in properties)- eg- Combination of Fish with milk
2. Sanyoga virudha (Opposite in combination)- eg- Jaggery with maize
3. Sanskar virudha (opposite action after cooking)-eg Cooked Haril pakshi with Mustard oil
4. Kalvirudha (opposite due to seasons)- eg Intake of cold and dry food items in winters
5. Matravirudha (opposite to proportion)- eg Equal quantity of ghee and honey
6. Swabhava virudha (Opposite to nature)- eg sarson ka saag and milk of shee

HERE ARE SOME OTHER FACTORS WHICH ALSO CONTRIBUTE IN AMA (ENDOTOXINS) FORMATION

• Abhojana (Skipping meals)
• Ajeernaashana (Intake of food during indigestion)
• Dushita bhojana (Contaminated food)
• Vega dharana (Suppression of natural urges)
• Ojakshya (weak immune system)
• Divashayan (irregular sleeping habits)

SYMPTOMS OF AMA (ENDOTOXINS) FORMATION INCLUDES

• Ajeerna (Indigestion)
• Anilamudhta (Impediment to the flow of Vayu)
• Mandagni (Poor digestive fire)
• Angsada (Malaise)
• Atyapraseka (Excessive salivation)
• Srotosang (Obstruction of channels)
• Balakshaya (Weak strength)
• Gauravata (Heaviness)
• Vegavrodha (Disturbance of the natural urges)
• Klama (Lethargy)

Ayurveda views these autoimmune disorders as a deep-seated deposition of ama (endotoxins) in the body tissues which prevents normal functioning.  Then our immune system targets these deposits to get rid of the accumulations in the body, which results in the overactive immune response and development of autoimmune disorders.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR AMA (ENDOTOXINS) AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS IN AYURVEDA?

Ayurveda mainly focuses on restoring the Agni (digestive fire) and oja (Immunity) which ultimately assists in managing these conditions and restoring the balance of the body. This can be done by aptarpana chikitsa.

"Leenam pakvashayastham vaapyaamam sravyam sadeepaneh shariranugatae saame rase langhanepachanam"

(Charak Chikitsa 15/75)

As per above shloka, when aam is in the intestines then we should do langhan (intermittent fasting) or use of agni deepak (digestion promoting) and virechak (purgative) medicines or herbs. This aids in managing amadosha (endotoxins).

Aptarpan Chikitsa

In aptarpana chikitsa mainly langhana (intermittent fasting) and deepan-pachana (Appetizing and digestive) play an important role. This can be done done with ayurvedic herbs and herbal formulations  After deepana pachana for complete elimination of prakupita dosha (elevated humors), sadhyo virechana (Purgation therapy) can be given followed by samsarjana karma (Dietary regimen along with medication therapy). Doshavsechan (removal of elevated doshas) can be done with detoxification panchakarma procedures.

Apart from all this, nidan parivarjana (Abstinence of the cause) is also important because Acharya sushrut said this as ardha chikitsa (half way of treatment).

NOW LET'S DISCUSS SOME OF THE AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS!!!

1. Ulcerative Colitis - It is the autoimmune inflammatory condition in which there is formation of ulcers in the cecum and colon. As a result of which, the patient may experience increased motion frequency with blood and mucus in stools. Other symptoms may include Weakness, unintentional weight loss etc. In ayurveda we can correlate this with raktatisara , which occurs due to elevation of pitta dosha in the body. This can be managed very well by ayurveda with herbs like kutaj (Holarrhena antidysenterica), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Lajjalu (Mimosa pudica) and numerous other pitta shamak (pitta pacifying) herbs.
2. Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura - ITP is also a pitta disorder which can be correlated with ubhyamarga raktapitta. In this the symptoms may include low platelet count due to which bleeding occurs through mouth or Uterus etc.  This is also managed with ayurvedic herbs or minerals like Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), Gandhak (purified sulphur), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), papaya leaves (Carica papaya) etc.

Few Other Autoimmune Disorders

1. Psoriasis
2. Scleroderma
3. Sarcoidosis
4. SLE
5. Nephrotic Syndrome

CONCLUSION

At last we can conclude that Ama is the prime cause of autoimmune disorders which can be managed very well with ayurvedic herbs and herbal formulations. To prevent the recurrence of the disease one must know about the healthy diet and lifestyle. In the last line I would say Eat healthy not less because it's not a short term diet but a long term lifestyle change.

Incompatible Foods According to Ayurveda - Viruddha Ahara

It is often seen that a huge proportion of the population now a day's is suffering from many stomach disorders such as ingestion, gas, bloating and fatigue. There is no surprise in that we can see different types of herbal remedies on the market for the treatment of these disorders. These conditions usually begin when we start combining incompatible food (Viruddha Ahara). The idea of some foods digest well together while others do not is completely new.

VIEWS OF AYURVEDA ABOUT INCOMPATIBLE FOOD

The view of Ayurveda about incompatible food is quite different from the traditional view which believes that a balanced diet including meats, grains, dairy products, vegetables, and fruits is sufficient to live a healthy life. But according to Ayurveda, the careful combining of food can effectively improve the quality of a person's digestion. Moreover, combining foods of different radical energies can affect the digestive fire which in Ayurveda termed as Agni. Overwhelm Agni can lead to the creation of toxins, gas, and fermentation, etc. Ayurveda believes that each food has its own Rasa (Taste), Vipaka (a Post-Digestive Effect), and Virya (Heating or Cooling energy). Certain foods also possess Prabhava (Unexplained and undesirable effect). When 2-3 food of different Rasa, Vipaka, and Virya combined. They produce Prabhava which in turn overwhelm the Agni. Ayurveda suggests that a person should take fruits, proteins, fats, and starches separately at different times of the day. Because when they have eaten together they remain in the stomach for a minimum of 8 hours which can diminish the Agni and then this diminished Agni can cause variation in the intestinal flora. If this problem remains for a long time in the body it may cause Toxemia, Sinus and some other complex disorders.  Therefore, Food combining is very important and a person should pay towards its eating habit because it is the most powerful and effective tool in Ayurveda for improving digestive health.

CAN I CHANGE MY EATING HABITS?

This is the basic question which comes in every person's mind after reading this article but the answer to this question is YES. In the beginning, a person may face difficulty in changing its eating habits but if a person adapts these changes slowly and gently then these changes can act as a valuable opportunity for healing, and improved health. However, when a person is feeling motivated then he or she just made only one change at a time. Over time, you can progress toward the ideal. It is not necessary to stop consumption of incompatible food abruptly but reducing frequency can also act beneficial.

Note: Viruddha Ahara can also cause food-food interaction which is a serious issue. Therefore, it is always better to know about them.

FOOD COMBINATIONS TO AVOID

According to Ayurveda some of the incompatible food combinations are as follows:

1. Milk: Milk which is a white color liquid is a primary source of nutrients for all human beings. Because it is easy to digest but sometimes it may be consumed with those foods that are completely incompatible with it. Few names of the food that are incompatible with milk are Bananas, Meat, Sour Fruits, Fish, Cherries, Kitchari, Curd, and Bread containing yeast.
2. Starches: Starch is a polymeric carbohydrate which is the most essential carbohydrate in human diets. Most of the times it is often seen that people consume starches with those things that are completely incompatible with it. Few foods with which starch is incompatible are Eggs, Dates, Tea or Milk, Persimmons, and Bananas.
3. Melons: They are basically used in most of the countries for the making of squashes. But they are also not compatible with a variety of foods such as Grains, Starch, Fried foods, and Cheese.
4. Nightshades: Now you guys are thinking that what are Nightshades. Basically, nightshades are the foods that we consume daily such as Potato, Eggplant, Chilies, and Tomato. But there are some foods with which nightshades are completely incompatible. They are Melons, Yogurt, Cucumber, and Milk.
5. Yogurt: It is a food prepared by bacterial fermentation of milk. Yogurt (Dahi) is often consumed as such or in the form of lassi which is either salted or sweetened. But Yogurt may also cause different types of food-food interactions if it consumes with Cheese, Meat, Sour Fruits, Milk, Mangos, Fish, Starch, and Hot drinks.
6. Mangos: Mango is the most favorite fruit among the huge proportion of the population but the king of fruits is also incompatible with certain foods such as Yogurt, Cheese, and Cucumbers.
7. Eggs: Eggs should not be consumed with Yogurt, Melons, Fish, Bananas, Mangos, Cheese, and Meat, etc.
8. Corns: They are incompatible with Dates, Raisins, and Bananas.
9. Lemon: Lemon is incompatible with Milk, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Yogurt, etc.
10. Honey is incompatible with Ghee.

In addition to the above-mentioned foods, a person should not eat Leftovers (More than 24 hours) and Raw foods with Cooked foods. Apart from this Beans eaten along Fruits, Cheese, Eggs, Fish, Milk, Meat, and Yogurt can also cause various types of food-food interactions.

To understand little more about how these food combinations affect our body. Few specific examples are as follows:

• Milk and Bananas: It is usually seen that most of the people consume them together but both are very challenging to digest. Both have different qualities. Milk has cooling nature and bananas have heating. But this is not only the problem. Furthermore, Bananas on their breakdown becomes sour. Therefore, Agni (Digestive fire) needs to digest both milk as well as the sour substance at the same time. This may affect the digestion power of Agni which in turn affects the intestinal flora. The combination of milk and banana is very heavy and it lead to the formation of Ama and blockage of channels, especially if the digestive power is weak. However, Ripe banana can be consumed with milk but during day time and only by those people who have good digestive power and fast metabolism.
• Cheese and Nightshades: The combination of these two foods is so demanding for the digestive fire. Nightshades contain the alkaloids. However, the main role of the alkaloids is to provide a defense against various infections. These alkaloids are very difficult to digest and they also have the capacity to disturb the Doshas present in the human body. But when we combine these nightshades with cheese which is very rich in fats and heavy oil. Agni faces huge difficulty in digesting them.
• Beans and Cheese: Both beans and cheese have heavy nature and both are very difficult to digest. A very strong digestive strength is required for their digestion. Beans are sweet and mostly astringent. They can either have a cooling or heating nature and they also have pungent effect after post digestion. On the other hand, cheese has a sour taste as well as heating nature and also poses a sour post-digestive effect. Two different types of post-digestive effect can confuse the digestive fire because combined heavy digestion leads to the accumulation of Ama (undigested form derived from food) or poor digestion.
• Fruits and Complex Foods: Fruits are everyone's favorite because they are easy to digest, simply acidic, and quickly digestible. Whereas, digestion of fruits decreases when they are consumed with food that is complex in nature. The major  reason behind this is that the digestion of fruits is inhibited by the complex food which can cause gas, bloating, and fermentation.

Therefore one should think twice about digestion before consuming Pizza or some other Italian dishes which include nightshades along with cheese. However, different types of fruit-flavored yogurts can also cause the problem of ingestion or gas.

Ayurveda also suggests that very cold or iced water should be avoided during or after meals because it slows the digestion as well as Agni. Ayurveda insists that a person should drink a small amount of warm water while having meals. On the other hand, a person should properly chew the food for its softening and to ensure its proper mixing with saliva. According to Ayurveda, a person should finish his or her meal with Lassi. The lassi can be prepared by blending a small amount of yogurt (Dahi) with very small amount of cumin and ginger powder along with 1-2 cups of water.

IN WHAT PROPORTION A PERSON SHOULD EAT?

Ayurveda also has an answer to this question. Ayurveda divided the stomach into parts and suggest that only one-third part of the stomach should be filled with food when eating, the one-third capacity of the stomach should be filled with liquid and the one-third portion should be left empty. This will promote mental clarity as well as the proper digestion of foods.

There is a passage in the Ayurvedic literature that describes the actions of different types of food on the body. According to that literature, water is very beneficial in improving absorption as well as digestion of food. However, Salt which is added into food to bring taste is very helpful in retaining water. Whereas, Alkali's in food regulates the digestive fire. Meat gives energy to the body and Ghee stimulates the digestion of food. The foods that are sour and pungent increases Pitta Dosha. Milk products aggravate Kapha while Vata Dosha is over-stimulated by bitter or astringent substances, dry-fruits, and beans.

WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DAILY DIET?

After reading the above article you might be thinking about the perfect diet for a healthy lifestyle. Ayurvedic doctors suggest that a perfect daily diet for maintaining good health should include:

• 45-55% of well-cooked rice (basmati), corn, barley or wheat depending upon their availability.
• Half tea-spoon pickles (Achar).
• 20-25% legumes (well-cooked).
• 5-10% vegetable soups.