AMA 

Introduction

Ama is the product of decreased digestion, coupled with excess food intake. This results in the formation of complex in the gut, which acts as poison and produces many symptoms.

Ama is one of the most discussed terms in Ayurveda. The term Amaya is a synonym of disease. It means ‘that which is caused by ama’.

Ama is a product of indigestion formed in the stomach, which tends to cause many systemic diseases.

When vitiated doshas come in association with ama they are called saama doshas. These sama doshas are very tough to handle as they produces serious symptoms and are root causes for many diseases.

Similarly sama dhatus (tissues associated with ama) and sama malas (waste substances associated with ama) too cause many diseases.

Ama, owing to its sticky nature is responsible for many blocks occurring in the cells and tissues, channels etc, causing depletion of nutrition needed for tissue functions and retention of wastes within the body. All these become responsible for many diseases, lowers the strength and immunity of an individual.

Since ama cause very dangerous symptoms similar to that of poison, it is also called as ama visha.

Nirukti, Utpatti

Derivation of The Word Ama – (Nirukti)

The word ‘Ama’ is derived form the root.

Am Roga dhatu + Aa + Dhang Pratyaya (A.K). Here the presiding vowel is elongated and the word ‘AMA” is formed.

According to Hemachandra – Gatyartha Am dhatu + Nich pratyaya = Ama (A.K)

Ama by Utapatti :

“Amyatae Gamyate pakadartham iti Amah” (A.K )

The substance which is not digested properly and needs further digestion is called Ama.

“Amayate pidyate srotasamauha aneneti Amah” (A.K.)

Substance which is detrimental to srotas is termend as Ama.

It produce pain or create pressure on Srotamukha and accumulate in Srotamukha.

“A isat amyate pachyate iti Amah” (S.K.D.) “paka rahita kancha is bhasa”

Incompletely digested or unprocessed matter is Ama.

In Ayurveda the term “Ama” means – substance which is supposed to under go digestion ( Amyate……iti amah)

The term “Ama” is a synonym of vyadhi found in Charka Nidana sthana.

“Tatra vyadhiramayo gada ……ityanathantaram” (Ch.Ni – 1)

“Prayena Ama samuthena Amaya ityuchyate” (Chakrapani)

According to Aruna datta – “kilama samutthah sarve vyadhayah”

The most part of the disease are ingendered by Ama.

AA – As a prefix to verb & noun. It means near, near to.

MA – poison

Ama denotes a substance, or a group of substance which is near to poison or act like poison.

Derivation, meaning

Derivation of the term Ama

The term Ama is pronounced as Aama. It is made up of two root words Ā + ma. In this, ‘Ā’ means towards and ‘ma’ means poison. This explains that ama is a substance which is similar to poison or poison like substance. This also explains why ama is otherwise called amavisha.

Meaning of the term Ama

Amavisha – A substance similar to poison

Ajeerna ahara or ajeerna ahara rasa – Raw, uncooked, immature, undigested and incompletely formed product of digestion of food formed in the stomach

Apakwa Annarasa – incompletely formed digestive juices

State of indigestion of food

Amaya – disease (amaya is a synonym of disease)

Mala sanchaya – accumulation of waste substances

Prathama dosha dushti – first contamination of dosha

Avipakwa dravya – that which is not processed properly

Ama definition

Definition of the term Ama

The food which has undergone acidic form, incomplete digestion is known as ama.

The substance which obstructs the channels of the body and interrupts their soft functioning is called ama.

Ama formation

What is the root cause for “Ama”?

The weak action of Agni resulting in immature undigested food which is not assimilated and is the prime cause for diseases is Ama.

A few scholars consider indigested and improperly formed essence of food (apakva ahara rasa) as Ama, while others assume it to be the accumulation of waste products in the body (mala) and a few others consider it as an early stage of dosha vitiation (dosha dushti).

Due to hypo-functioning of digestive fire, the food which is incompletely digested yields to formation of immature digestive juices stomach. Due to the retention for longer period, this undigested food undergoes fermentation and further gets contaminated. This immature digestive juices in stomach is called ama.

The first product of digestion is the nutritive part of the food. This is the first tissue formed in the body. In Ama, it is incompletely processed due to the debility of digestive fire located in the stomach is called ama.

That part of nutritive juices which has been left out without being processed properly after the digestion of food due to weak digestive fire is called ama. This ama is the root source of all the diseases.