What is AMA?
Ama is a Sanskrit word that translates to "uncooked" or "undigested".
Ama is the residual waste that lingers in our body, and is the by-product of incomplete digestion.
Essentially, we should start fresh each day with no lingering waste from the day before.
In Ayurveda, ama is the root cause of disease.
I think the word disease has become known as such an intense word, but the word broken down is dis-ease.. the inability for our body to passively function efficiently and happily- easily.
Just that simple, eh? So ama is the root cause of disease, should be an easy fix then?
There is an optimistic idea that our body naturally cleans and restores itself, given the time, nutrients and energy. However, if we do not give our body the time, nutrients and energy to do so, ama begins to build up. This build up can occur each day, building up until our body, months, years behind, begins to show symptoms of dis-ease.
What next?
Ama presents itself in the form of mucus, bacteria, inflammation, fat- all that nasty stuff we consider a nuisance. Over time, ama inhibits regulatory processes, absorption of nutrients, and increases the overgrowth of bacteria / viruses- eventually forms plaque, tumours, cysts, etc.
Do YOU have AMA- why?
Why is ama remaining inside your body instead of flushing away each night during our natural detoxification and regeneration cycles? For that I would recommend meeting with a specialist- whether it is a nutritionist, naturopath or MD who can support you in the right direction, clearing your body's natural path to healing.
Traditional remedies to flush excess ama:
Fast
Allow your body to have time to finish its last meal, this will completely use up waste.
Space out your meals for at least 4 hours, this allows time for optimal digestion.
Get active/go for a walk in between eating times.
Stretch out the torso of your body in between eating times.
Drink detoxifying plants:
Quality coffee
Quality teas
Burdock root
Dandelion root
Ginger root
Turmeric root
Fresh cilantro and parsley
Seaweeds (I like to take spirulina tablets as a multivitamin)
Beets
Cabbage
Add spices into your life:
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Clove
Black pepper
Nutmeg
Chili
Curry
Drink chai
Sea salt
In general cook and season with fresh spices and herbs, try grounding them yourself for maximum active potency.
Consume healing oils like:
Homemade ghee
Pastured butter
Simmered whole milk with spices
Simmered coconut milk with spices
100% olive oil
Quality active whole milk yogurt
Pasture raised animal oils and undamaged plant oils
Consume alkaline acids like:
Kombucha
Lemon, lime
Raw fresh fruits and vegetables
Fermented veggies
Unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
Thanks for reading!
Samantha