Annavaha what?

Anna-vaha-srota or ahnuh-vah-ha-shrota - is where all health begins. Get to know this important part of your body system. Learn to care for it. By doing so, you will keep disease at bay. If you are tired of taking medicines that do not work, keep reading.

It is the universal belief that all health begins in the gut. We can go further than this and say all health begins in the mind because what affects the mind affects the body and what affects the body affects the mind.

In taking care of brain and gut (second brain), what makes Ayurveda treatment so different than the rest of the medical systems thinking? The focus on agni - the digestive strength to transform, assimilate and digest all we eat (think, hear and say!). To heal agni, is to heal the gut and to heal all imbalances in the body.

For those who struggle with abdominal pains, inconsistent bowel movements, nutrient deficiencies and malabsorption, Ayurveda offers us a leg up on conventional medicine - giving you more individualized attention by asking the right questions, understanding the root causes (that make sense) and most importantly delivering natural treatments that keep you feeling great in your life.

Annavaha srota disorders - disorders of the digestive tract

General symptoms - fatigue, heavy stomach, lack of taste, fevers, stiffness, indigestion, constipation or lose stools, abdominal distension, dizzy, excess gas and belching, swelling, burning sensation in the chest, acidity, pain in small joints, blackouts, weight loss and weight gain

Disorders:

• Agni Mandya - slow digestion

• Ajirna - chronic undigested food/indigestion

• Aruci - loss of interests in food

• Chardi - vomiting

• Grahani - chronic malabsorption syndromes - diarrhea alternating with constipation

• Anaha Adhmana - abdominal pain and gurgling

• Amla Pitta - acidic related conditions

• Sula - pricking pain

• Asayapaka - mouth ulcers

General Main Causes

• Akale - untimely intake of food

• Ahita bhojana - inappropriate food intake - wrong combinations, eating before previous food has digested, ignoring indigestion (by not stopping eating or eating heavy foods)

• Vaigunyat Pavakasya - weakness or disturbance in the digestive fire/agni

• Atimatrasya - overeating

• Eating raw foods (lots of uncooked salads, sushi)

• Eating lots of heavy, dense foods

• Eating excessive sweet, sour and salty foods

• Day time sleep/laying down after meals

• Drinking lots of water before, while, or after eating

• Resisting urges to urinate or defecate

• Emotions of fear, anxiety, stress, greed, anger, grief while eating

• Ati drutam asnutah - eating in a hurry

• Irregular eating times

• Excessive consumption of dry, cold heavy foods

• Inappropriate fasting and cleanses

• Food intolerances

• Seasonal changes

• Staying awake late at night

• Late night eating

• Excessive talking or laughing while eating

• Excess pungent/spicy foods

• Overexposure to sun

General Lifestyle management

• Herbal therapy using Ayurvedic formulations are highly effective and necessary in treating chronic cases - full history and current health intake required. Herbs are to be chosen based on an individuals dosha imbalance with great consideration in current digestive strength, in mental and emotional state and willingness to take herbs and change diet and lifestyle. Herbal therapy is very specific with herbs being given in a dosage that is correct for that person and current state of imbalance, at a specific time of day with the correct anupana or that which is taken with the herb to increase its effectiveness.

• Strengthen weak agni, digestive fire with the use of warming herbs and spices in the diet and to bring balance to the doshas such as fennel, cumin, and coriander

• Eat food in moderation

• Eat light foods

• Eat a small piece of fresh ginger with a pink of pink salt before meals to kindle agni

• Eat only when you feel hungry

• Drink warm to hot water - helps in the assimilation of nutrients and to dissolve ama or toxins

• Wind-relieving yoga pose

• Keep a regular schedule of eating meals

• Keep a regular schedule of sleep

• Avoid daytime sleep

• Reduce anxieties and worries through daily pause and reflection; journaling

• Regular exercise

• Include buttermilk in the diet

• Breathing exercises

• Include pomegranates in the diet

• Avoid pungent foods including garlic

• Avoid junk foods, processed foods and alcohol

• Avoid fermented foods and drinks and excessively salty and sour foods

Purishavaha srota disorders - disorders of the feces route, colon and rectum

General symptoms: difficulty passing stools, small or large amount of stools, painful bowel movements with sound, watery stools, body weakness, headaches, gassy, heavy body, low backaches, pain in abdomen, hemorrhoids, fissures, bloating, prolapse, indigestion

Disorders:

• Krimi roga - worms and parasites

• Vibandha - constipation

• Atisara - diarrhea

• Pravahika - mucous in feces, small amounts with pain

General Main Causes

• Lack of fiber in the diet

• Emotional stress and trauma

• Excessive traveling

• Straining during bowl movements

• Certain medications

• Chemotherapy

• Lack of chewing of food when eating

• Suppressing natural urge to have a bowl movement

• Excess intake of food in one sitting

• Intake of food before last meal has digested

• Excess consumption of sweet or sour foods

• Lack of exercise

• Day time sleep

• Less water intake

General Lifestyle Management

• Light, simple food

• Goat’s milk

• Vegetable soups

• Plenty of fluids

• Regular exercise

• Breathing exercises

• Meditate

• Yoga asanas - diamond pose, wind-relieving pose, back bend bow pose

• Herbal therapy using ayurvedic formulations and highly effective and necessary in treating chronic cases - full history and current health intake required

Rasavaha srota disorders

General symptoms - lack of interest in foods, distaste, tired and heavy body, fevers, anemia, fatigue, body pain, early greying of hair

General Main Causes

• Heavy food

• Cold food and drinks

• Deep fried foods

• Excess food in one sitting

• Excess thinking

General Lifestyle Management

• Warm foods and drinks

• Soups

• Warm water

• Pomegranates

• Non-oily food

• Herbal therapy

• Regular exercise

If you are suffering from digestive upset, ulcers or pain, get help sooner than later. Ayurveda offers natural remedies to your most troubling symptoms and takes time to understand and treat the main root cause of the disorder, educating you in specific diet and lifestyle recommendations that are right for you. The goal is to bring balance where there is imbalance, by finding and correcting the root cause, to prevent it from coming back, and rejuvenating the body, mind and soul. Ayurveda treatments are highly individualized. Seek help now for your troubling symptoms. You are worth it.

Journeying together,

Kari Prabhakar

Your Ayurveda Health Counselor