Is Your Digestion and Elimination ok?
Author: Linda Sinden Date Posted:21 January 2020
It’s a real pain when what is eaten sits uncomfortably in the stomach and one worries that something is not quite right. What happens to you when your digestion is off?
- Do you experience acidity, heartburn or reflux and maybe even loose or very soft bowel movements more frequently than 1-2 times a day? Does your food seem to be burnt up quickly and no matter what you eat, you don’t gain weight even though you may want to! Do you feel that your digestive system is not providing the nourishment you really need? If so, your digestive imbalance is expressing itself as a Pitta imbalance. This can lead to increased urination or hot urination, feeling irritable, easily angered, with lack of contentment. Inflammation increases and overtime this increases the likelihood of degenerative disease and if you already have a degenerative disease then increase inflammation can make your symptoms worse.
- Or does your food sit there uncomfortably heavy and digestion feels sluggish and dull? You could even feel tired after eating and be concerned that your food is not providing you with the energy you need to focus and manage life. Overtime a sluggish digestion can even cause you to gain weight around the tummy and it can be really hard to move this weight especially when over 40 years of age. This sluggishness can also contribute to feeling low, unhappy or depressed. If so, your digestive imbalance is expressing itself as a Kapha imbalance.
- Maybe your digestion is variable, with a tendency for wind and irregular digestive power; one day hunger is sharp and bowel motions may be soft or more frequent than usual. Another day your digestion can feel dry, heavy or sluggish with bowel motions hard or difficult to pass. Over time you may have developed constipation where bowel motions are less than once a day or the stool is hard, dry and hard to pass. This irregularity of digestion and elimination indicates an imbalance of Vata dosha is allowing toxins to accumulate in the body. As bodily wastes sit about in the body instead of being released each daily this can cause other symptoms or discomfort. As the colon is the main location of Vata dosha in the body, and Vata governs the nervous system when the colon becomes dry or alternatively hot and then dry, this irregularity causes undue pressure or stress on your nervous system. You may never have realised that what happens in the large intestine can contribute to how stressed or overwhelmed you feel.
Read on to see what you can do about it..
How to cope
Occasionally I have experienced Pitta imbalance in the stomach region where a prickly heat comes from inside and red itchy spots occur over a localised area above the duodenum. This Pitta imbalance can be quite uncomfortable and I address it pretty quickly by choosing Pitta Balancing Food> , drinking Pitta Tea and taking Herbal Digest before the meal and Aci Balance after the meal. A cool cloth over the hot itchy area has also helped while the balance of internal heat in my digestion is restored.
More commonly my digestion can turn to being heavy and a little sluggish if I have Kapha increasing foods like rice, wheat bread or gluten containing foods and yogurt. This is mostly managed by choosing to eat plenty of Kapha reducing food> such as fresh vegetables, kumera, wholegrains in moderation and lentils and beans. Lightly stir-fried vegetables cooked with a little ghee and Kapha Churna served over quinoa or barley with lentils or bean dishes help to keep my digestion light and easy, plus it is tasty! If feeling heavy after a meal taking Agni Balance is very helpful. Taking Digest Tone 1-2 tablets before my evening meal when my digestive power is lower as the sun is going down is really helpful. Additionally taking 2 Digest Tone at bedtime helps to nourish, cleanse and detoxify my system while I am resting. A win, win allround!
On the occasions where my digestion has become irregular or my eating patterns have become irregular for more than a day or so like when travelling then my bowel motions can become sticky, sluggish or constipated. This can also occur during Winter - Vata time of the year. In this case taking Digest Plus 1-2 tablets after breakfast and evening meals and 2-4 tablets of Digest Tone at bedtime is great at helping to restore regular elimination each day.
Digest Tone
What I like about Digest Tone is that it is non habit forming and it helps the body to restore normal healthy peristalsis. Digest Tone helps to balance all doshas, is both nourishing and cleansing and is a general allround tonic for most people. It also helps to detoxify and cleanse the gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract. It is best not taken if one is pregnant or if one has a tendency for diarrhea.
As you can see, keeping one’s digestive system comfortable and functioning well is really important for maintaining energy, healthy weight and staying well.
Personal Programme
If you are experiencing digestive discomfort or difficulties with elimination, then a personal assessment with tailored diet and herbals may be most helpful. Feel free to contact me at lindasinden@getbalance.co.nz and we can set up a time for a consult either in person or via skype or whatsapp.
Wishing you the bliss of balance,
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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