Perspective on Indigestion as per Ayurveda

Ayurveda for a healthy life- 65/2025 on 1.12.2025

Ayurvedic perspective ( to decide treatment part) on Indigestion

Preamble 

According to Ayurveda ‘रोगाः सर्वेऽपि मन्देऽग्नौ । (Ashtanga-rhudaya, Nidansthan, Adhyaya 12, Shloka 1), meaning, weakening of the digestive power is the root cause of all ailments. For a healthy life, the digestive system has to function in flawlessly. Detailed analysis on the functioning of the digestive system and the ailments associated with the digestive system in day-to-day life, have been given here in the topic, ‘Ayurvedic treatment for indigestion, etc. For the reader to understand the Ayurvedic perspective in an appropriate manner, the Allopathic perspective is also mentioned at the respective places. For understanding the entire subject, both the above mentioned information is useful.

According to Ayurveda, ‘अग्निरेव बलं पुंसाम् ।’, meaning, good digestive power is an individual’s asset; because, if the digestion is good, we obtain energy from the food. Human beings in general do not have control over their tongue, and hence, they suffer from some or the  other ailment associated with the stomach. Therefore, we pray at the Holy feet of Agnidevata – ‘May the readers study this Text and abide by the rules mentioned for preserving good health and thus, lead a healthy life’.

1.  Digestion of food  and digestive power

1A.    What is digestion ?

The process of converting larger particles of food into smaller ones so that the body cells can utilise them is called digestion. The digestive system represents the kitchen of the body.

In reality, the process of digestion starts outside the body. Grinding of grains, boiling, steaming, adding soda-bi-carb while cooking facilitates digestion of food. The digestive system is constituted by the lips, mouth, teeth, salivary glands, throat, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anal canal, liver and pancreas. Approximately 7 litres of digestive juices are secreted everyday in our body in the digestive system. Thus, proteins, starchy food and fatty substances are converted into amino acids, glucose, fructose, galactose, fatty acids and glycerine after digestion. These are absorbed and reach the cells of all the organs through blood.

In the cells, these food particles are digested in the real sense and various constituents of the cells and body are generated from them. The energy derived from food is utilised for cell metabolism.

2.    How is food digested by the digestive juices ?

Digestive juices are secreted by various organs. Every digestive juice has specific enzymes for digestion of a particular food item. The following table elucidates the enzymes and their type.

	Digestive organ	Digestive juice	Quantity secreted per day	Digestive elements and enzymes	Food constituent digested
1.	Salivary gland	Saliva	1200 ml	Ptyalin	Starchy food, carbohydrates
2.	Stomach	Gastric juice	2000 ml	Pepsin, Rennin, Hydrochloric acid	Proteins
3.	Liver	Bile	1000 ml	Bile salts	Fats, oil, ghee
4.	Pancreas	Pancreatic juice	1200 ml	Amylase, Trypsin, Steapsin	Starchy foods, Proteins, Fats
5.	Small Intestine	Succus entericus	2000 ml	Amylase, Lipase, Maltase, Lactase, Sucrase, Polypeptidase and Erepsin	Carbohydrates and starchy foods, Fats Maltose, Lactose, Sucrose, Proteins

2A. Constituents of food : The main constituents of food are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins and water. The proteins are converted into amino acids by pepsin, trypsin and polypeptidase. The enzymes lipase and steapsin with the help of bile salts convert fats into fatty acids and glycerol. Enzymes such as ptyalin, amylase and disaccharidases convert carbohydrates into glucose, fructose and galactose. These digested food particles are then absorbed and enter the various cells of the body through blood.

3.    What are the causes of increased or reduced digestive power ?

Sometimes in some occasions of functions like marriage ceremony, some people may even eat around more than 20 laddoos and easily digest them. On the contrary, there are some who on drinking even a single glass of milk develop diarrhoea (loose motions). Each one’s digestive power is dependent on hereditary factors and is also even affected by acquired ones.

Causes of increased or reduced digestive power :

A.   Hereditary factors : In some families, everybody has either good or bad digestive power. Thus, digestive power depends upon heredity. Babies directly feeding on mother show 8-10 defecation per day on the contrary some exhibit without defecation even for three consecutive days.

B.   Constitution : People with a balanced or a Pitta constitution have good digestive power while those with Vata and Kapha constitution have poor digestive power.

C.  Age : In children and youth the digestive power is good. In old age the digestive power reduces.

D.  Season : In spring and winter, appetite and digestive power are good but are reduced during summer and monsoons.

E.   Diet : Consuming excessive or insufficient quantity of food over prolonged duration reduces digestive power.

F.   Unbalanced diet : Lack of proteins and vitamins A and B in the diet reduce digestive power.

G.  Diseases of the digestive organs : Diseases affecting the stomach, intestine, liver and pancreas reduce digestive power.

H.  Severe illness : Fever, pneumonia, influenza, etc. reduce the digestive power.

I.    Chronic illness : Anaemia, tuberculosis, worm infestation, etc. adversely affect the digestive power.

J.   Psychological illness : Stress, anger, fear, anxiety, etc. reduce the appetite as well as the digestive power. These are the diseases noted due to Modern life style that is not allowing to concentrate on health of the individuals

K.   Exercise : It improves appetite and digestive power. A healthy person has a good appetite. Appetite is a good indicator of the digestive power.

All nations are very much following the Yoga day in order to develop discipline to follow proper regime of exercise in people to remain healthy. Hence every one must follow this for the overall interest of Nation.