REVIEW ARTICLE ISSN 2456-0170

UNDERSTANDING SYMPTOMS OF DIGESTION IN AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE 1Dr Neha D Gadgil 2Dr D Sathe 3Dr Akshar A Kulkarni 1&3Assistant Professor, Department of Kriya Sharira, SDM College of & Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka 2Professor and HOD, Department of Kriya Sharira, Sumatibhai Shah Ayurveda Mahavidyala, Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra

ABSTRACT Aharapaka (digestion of food) is the main spring of Sharira Poshana. Jatharagni plays central role in conversion of peculiar substance into easily absorbable form by the process called as digestion. As the digestion processes, our body shows certain signs which reflect

the stages of digestion. Udgarashuddhi (clear belching), Utsaha (enthusiasm), Laghuta (lightness), Khut(hunger), Pipasa (thirst), Vegotsarga (excretion) are JirnaharaLakshana. Out of these Udgarashuddhi,Laghuta are observed at initial phase. Kshut and Pipasa are seen at middle stage. Vegotsarga i.e. excretion of Mala and Mutra, Utsaha are there at the end stage of digestion. Keywords: Jirnaharalakshana, Aharapaka, Udgarashuddhi, Vegotsarga, Kshut, digestion

INTRODUCTION The thing which is being swallowed is digestion. consider as Ahara or food. Ahara is the root JIRNAHARA - of healthy as well as diseased condition1. Different wordings are used in various Ahara gets utilized by body after its to describe Jirnahara Lakshana. digestion. Digestion or Aharapachana is the According to , process by which conversion is done of Svasthanagata Dosha (Dosha at their place), unfamiliar (Vijatiya) substances into Udirana (Ignition of Jatharagni), Kshut familiar substances (Sajatiya). Digestion is Bodha (feeling of hunger), Vivruta Srotas done by Jatharagni, with assistance of other Mukha (free channels), Shuddha Udgara Ahara Parinamakara Bhava viz., (clear belching), Vishuddha Hrudaya Kleda, Sneha, Kala& Samayoga2. In (Alertness of all senses), Vatanulomana, classics, certain signs and symptoms are VisrushtaVata-mutra-purisha Vega (free described which reflect the stages of excretion of waste products) are described as digestion, called as Jirnahara Lakshana. Jirnahara Lakshana4. These are Udgarashuddhi (clear belching), According to Sushrut Samhita, Srushta Utsaha (enthusiasm), Laghuta (lightness), Mala-Mutra, Laghuta in Deha (feeling of Khut (hunger), Pipasa (thirst), Vegotsarga lightness in body), Vishuddha Udgara, (excretion) 3. Study of each Jirnahara Suvimala Hrudaya, Vatanulomana, Lakshana gives thought of stage of Annayam Shraddha (liking towards food), 242 www.ayurpub.com Nov-Dec,2016 Vol I, Issue 5

Neha Dattatraya Gadgil et al; Understanding Symptoms of Digestion in Ayurvedic Perspective

Klamaparigama (freshness), Shithila Kukshi Adhovata means passage of flatulence. (feeling of looseness in abdomen) are Mutrotsarga means excretion of urine. explained as Jirnahara Lakshana5. Malotsarga means defecation. According to Ashtanga Hrudaya Samhita, Utsaha (enthusiasm) - Prasrushta Mala-Mutra, Suvimala Hrudaya, Utsaha term can be correlated with Vivruta Svapathaga Dosha, VishuddhaUdgara, Srotas Mukha, Vishadakarana, Vishuddha Kshut Uapagamana, Vatanulomana, Agni Hrudaya. Udirana, Vishadakarana, Laghuta in Deha DISCUSSION are elucidated as Jirnahara Lakshana6. Jirnahara Lakshana According to Ashtanaga Sanhraha Samhita, Jirna means old. In relation with Ahara it Svasthanagatam Dosha, Vatanulomana, refers as Digested food. It is supposed that Utsrushta Mutra-Purisha Vega, Vishuddha one should not consume next food (full Udgara, Vishuddha Hrudaya, Vishuddha meal) until previously taken food is digested Srotas Mukha, Vishadakarana, Laghu completely. Jirnahara Lakshana reflects Sharira, Kshut Bodha are expressed as process of digestion. In addition it tells Jirnahara Lakshana7. about completion of digestion, like the end According to Madhava Nidana, Udgara stage of digestion is formation and excretion shuddhi, Utsaha (enthusiasm), Vegotsarga of waste product. After which one is (excretion of waste products), Laghuta, supposed to consume next food (full meal). Kshut, Pipasa (thirst) are considered as Also any variation in Jirnahara Lakshana Jirnahara Lakshana3. gives idea about abnormality. So knowing Udgarashuddhi (clear belching) - Jirnahara Lakshana is important. Other terms used to denote this is Vishuddhe Udgarashuddhi (clear belching) - Udgare. Basically Udgara is of Prana Vayu is responsible for any kind of Vayu8. movement in body. Likewise, as ingested Laghuta (lightness) - food moves from Amashaya to Similar terms used to indicate Laghuta are Pachyamanashaya, Vayu is accountable for Dehe Cha Sulaghou, ,Klamaparigame. that. As food moves into Pachyamanashaya, Kshut (hunger) - the cavity inside that is occupied by food, Similar terms used to show Kshut are Agnou resulting into displacement of Vayu which Chodirne, Jatayam Bubhukshayam, Shithila was positioned in Pachyamanashaya. So the Kukshi, Udrikta Agni, Annayam Shraddha, displaced Vayu tries to move through Kshutupagama. nearest way from Pachyamanashaya, i.e. Pipasa (thirst) - mouth in terms of belching. As food has Other term used to denote Pipasa is Trushna. undergone first stage of Avasthapaka in Vegotsarga (excretion) - Amashaya, the displaced Vayu does not Parallel terms used to symbolize Vegotsarga have any smell of ingested food. That’s why are VisrushteshuVatamutrapurishvegeshu, it is called as Udgarashuddhi. Vatanulomana, Svasthanastheshu Dosheshu, Doshe Svapathagate. Vatanulomana or

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Neha Dattatraya Gadgil et al; Understanding Symptoms of Digestion in Ayurvedic Perspective

Laghuta(lightness) - Svasthanastheshu Dosheshu or Doshe Feeling of lightness is subjective. After Svapathagame means after completion of ingestion of food, related increase of weight digestion all Sharira Bhavas - Dosha, Dhatu, is there. After action of Jatharagni, and Mala are placed at their appropriate assimilation takes place and increased place. Vata, Pitta and Kapha are formed weight comes to base line consequently. As during third, second and first stage of a result lightness is felt. Avasthapaka respectively. After Sara- Kshut(hunger) - KittaVibhajana (segregation of useful and Kshut is symbol of gastric emptying time. waste product), Ahararasa is carried to As food moves from Amashaya to Hrudaya and is circulated all over the body. Pachyamanashaya, stomach becomes empty. There by Dhatu Poshana is achieved. Mala So hunger is felt during or at the end of are excreted out. Second Avasthapaka. Utsaha(enthusiasm) - Pipasa (thirst) - Enthusiasm is quite subjective sensation. Thirst is felt when Ushna and TikshnaGuna When digestion completes, formed Mala are are functioning at their crest during the going to be excreted from body. After process of digestion. At that time body excretion, person feels lightness, energetic demands for Sheeta, Mrudu and Snigdha which is termed as Utsaha. When Mala are Guna to compensate in terms of Jala which excreted out, cleanness is experienced by all is reflected as Trushna or Pipasa. So thirst is Srotas (channels present in body). It is there during or at the end of Second termed as Vivruta Srotas Mukha. Because of Avasthapaka. pooled outcome of excretion, enthusiasm Vegotsarga (excretion) - and cleanness in channels of body, purity is Vegotsarga is indication of completion of felt at Hrudaya which is coined as digestion. Adhovata, Mutra, Purisha are Vishuddha Hrudaya (freshness felt at considered as Aharamala9. Mala are going to Hrudaya). Here meaning of Hrudaya is not form at the end of digestion. limited to heart. According to Ayurveda, Adhovata i.e. Aharamala Svarupa Vayu is Hrudayais seat for Manas, Indrya, Atma, formed at third stage of Avasthapaka10. Its and Ojas13. Thus it has broad spectrum. So elimination is the function of ApanaVata. Vishuddha Hrudaya means proper According to Ayurveda, Mutra nirmana functioning of Manas, Indriya will be very takes place in Pakwashaya. When Ahara good and person will be attentive. comes to Pakwashaya during third stage of CONCLUSION Avasthapaka, separation of Mala part is Body reveals certain marks to represent the done in two forms Drava Mala and Ghana process of digestion in the form of Jirnahara Mala. Drava Mala is turned into Mutra Lakshana. Udgarashuddhi, Laghuta are (urine) and is excreted by Apana Vata11. observed at initial phase. Kshut and Pipasa Ghana Mala is converted into Purisha and is are seen at middle stage. Vegotsarga i.e. excreted out of body by Apana Vata12. excretion of Mala and Mutra, Utsaha are there at the end stage of digestion.

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Knowledge of Jirnahara Lakshana gives idea about normal and abnormal functioning of gastrointestinal tract. REFERENCES 1. J. T.,Charaka Samhita,1sted, Delhi; Chaukhambha orientalia, 2004; 181 2. Acharya J. T. Charaka Samhita,1sted, Delhi; Chaukhambha orientalia, 2004; 332 3.Shastri N., MadhavaNidana, 1sted, Varanasi; Motilal Banarasidas, 1979; 234 4. Acharya J. T. Charaka Samhita,1sted, Delhi; Chaukhambha orientalia, 2004; 237 5. Acharya J. T., Sushrut Samhita, 9thed, Varanasi; Chaukhambha orientalia, 2007; 814 6.Kunte A. M., Ashtanga Hrudayam, reprint 2000, Varanasi; Krushnadas academy, 2000; 160 7. Dr. Shivprasad Sharma, Ashtanaga Sangraha, 3rded, Varanasi; Chowkhambha series office, 2012; 103 8.Kunte A. M., Ashtanga Hrudayam, reprint 2000, Varanasi; Krushnadas academy, 2000; 193

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Dr Neha Dattatraya Gadgil Assistant Professor, Department of Kriya Sharira, SDM College of Ayurveda & Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka-India

E-mail:[email protected]

Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared Cite this article as Neha DattatrayaGadgil: Understanding Symptoms of Digestion in Ayurvedic Perspective ayurpub2016;I(5):242-245

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