Ayurvedic viewpoint - Digestive Health
Digestive Health
A healthy digestive system is at the root of good health and energy. If your digestion gets upset then it can throw your whole system out of balance. There are many digestive imbalances from heartburn to bloating to constipation to pain. All can range from being a minor discomfort to being a sign of a more serious imbalance requiring medical attention.
Typical symptoms
Heartburn
Wind (hiccups, belching, grumbling intestines, flatulence)
Nausea
Indigestion and pain
Excessive appetite or too little appetite
Bloating
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Food cravings
Yeast imbalances, i.e. Candida.
Ayurvedic viewpoint
Ayurveda is the traditional medical system of India. It uses natural remedies to give optimum
health. Ayurveda believes that an imbalanced digestive system is the cause of most disease.
Much of Ayurveda’s recommendations focus on keeping your digestion strong. It sees digestion as a combustive process and relates it to the working of a fire recommending that you gently stoke the fire and try not to smother it with excess cold, heavy, wet foods or aggravate it with excess spicy, oily or fried foods. If the fire is over burdened it creates too much ‘smoke’ or just
goes out all together. If it is under burdened it just burns itself out!
Amla fruit is one of the ’three fruits’ in Triphala—the most famous Ayurvedic digestive herbal formula
Treatment
There are some very effective natural treatments for balancing digestion. Here are some of the recommendations that Ayurveda makes:
Use Triphala Plus to clear stubborn constipation without causing dependency
Use Trikatu to stimulate appetite and promote digestion
Use Amla & Peppermint formula if you suffer from heartburn, acidity or excessive
hunger
Use Organic Neem to reduce Candida or parasitical infections
Use Asafoetida Plus to prevent bloating and erratic appetite
Use Organic Aloe Vera Juice to reduce any inflammation in the intestines
Use Guduchi & Neem formula to assist liver function and detoxification
Drink Detox tea with aniseed, fennel & licorice to help encourage good digestion.
Organic Triphala is a great formula to use long term by itself or in combination with the above herbs. Use it to mildly cleanse and nourish the bowel.
Some Ayurvedic dietary suggestions
Do not over eat making sure that you leave 1/4 of your tummy capacity free
Do not under eat and keep meal times regular
Leave 4-6 hours between full meals, so not too much snacking! You will know when the previous meal is digested when the breath is clean and the body feels light
Do not eat in between meals - this weakens the digestive fire
Eat cooked and warm food as cold, wet and heavy foods weaken the digestion.
Avoid foods straight from the fridge, iced drinks, sugary foods, too much dairy and pastries.
Drink hot water and spicy teas to stimulate the digestive fire
Follow a seasonal diet appropriate to the time of year
Testimonial
“I had suffered from indigestion, bloating and constipation for as long as I could remember. Things always got bad when I was under pressure and before my period. I decided to take some action and become more in control of my health. I started to take Triphala Plus to clear my constipation and after a week I was much more regular. I also added Asafoetida Plus before meals to help balance my appetite and to stop some of the intestinal cramping that would happen if I was stressed. I really feel much better and highly recommend that you take charge of your own digestion - no-one else is going to sort it out for you! Use herbs and eat the foods that are right for you.”
Juliet, 35, Teacher
If you are taking medication seek the advice of your doctor.