Vidagdha ajirna (pittaja indigestion), Ama ajirna (Kaphaja indigestion), Diet in indigestion & Spiritual therapy

Ayurveda for a healthy life- 76/2026 on 16.5.2026

4. Vidagdha ajirna (pittaja indigestion)

4A. Main symptoms : Burning sensation in the stomach, loose and sour smelling stools

4B. Causes : Eating hot, pungent, sour and salty food items in excess.

4C. Treatment

1. Induction of vomiting

A. A teaspoonful of madanaphala powder should be
consumed with warm salt water.

 B. A teaspoonful of vacha powder should be consumed with a decoction of yashtimadhu (glycerrhiza).

2. Langhan : Fasting till the patient feels hungry.

3. Drinking fluids

 A. Kokam sarbat

 B. Amalaki sarbat

 C. Coconut water

 D. Cold water medicated with powders of musta, ginger, ushira and sandalwood.

4. Purgatives

 A. A teaspoonful of haritaki powder should be consumed with warm water.

 B. A teaspoonful of triphala powder should be consumed with warm water.

 C. A teaspoonful of nishottara churna should be consumed with warm water.

 D. A teaspoonful of sonamukhi churna (powder of senna leaves) should be consumed with warm water.

5. Recipes to improve digestive power

 A. A decoction of ginger, coriander, cumin seeds, nagakeshar and amalaki.

 B. A decoction of guduchi, ginger, fennel seeds and musta.

 C. A decoction of ginger, coriander, cumin seeds and cardamom.

5. Ama ajirna (Kaphaja indigestion)

5A. Main symptoms : Nausea, vomiting, heaviness of stomach and laziness.

5B. Causes : Eating heavy, sweet, sour, salty food in excess.

5C. Treatment

1. Induction of vomiting

 A. A teaspoonful of vacha powder should be taken with warm salt water till vomiting is induced.

 B. A teaspoonful of madanaphala churna should be taken with a decoction of yashtimadhu (glycerrhiza) till vomiting is induced.

2. Langhan : Fasting till the patient feels hungry. Light diet is recommended as referred in conditions of fever. Avoid oil, ghee and fried items.

3. Drinking fluids : Buttermilk, water medicated with cloves or musta, juices of radish, onion or ginger in warm water.

4. Recipes which increase digestive power

 A. Pathyadi churna : A mixture of powders of haritaki, vacha, asafoetida, indrayava, garlic, ativisha & sanchala salt with hot water.

 B. A mixture of powders of triphala, ginger, pepper, pippali, saindhav and asafoetida triturate with lemon juice, take with hot water.

 C. A mixture of powders of ginger, pepper, pippali, turmeric, daruharidra, karanjamula with hot water.

 D. A mixture of powders of garlic, cumin seeds, saindhav, sauvarchala (padelone), ginger, pepper, pippali and asafoetida with lemon juice.

 E. Levigate root of aghada (grind to a fine smooth paste while in moist condition) in water and then administer it.

 F. A mixture of powders of pippali, ajamoda (celery) and chavya with hot water.

6. Diet in indigestion

The following table lists the beneficial and harmful diet and other practices.

Sr No.	Type of food	Beneficial	Harmful
1.	Cereals	Cereals more than a year old rice, wheat, popped rice	Cereals less than a year old
2.	Pulses	Kulith (horse gram)	Chana (chickpea), masur, chavli, moong (green gram), matki, pea and math
3.	Meat	Chicken & mutton soup	Fish and beef
4.	Vegetables	Snake gourd, carrot, karela (bitter gourd), radish and drumstick	Tendli (ivy gourd) and leafy vegetables
5.	Fruits	Grapes, amalaki and lemon	Jamun, bor, mango and kapittha (woodapple)
6.	Milk products	Buttermilk, kadhhi	Milk and ghee, paneer, cheese
7.	Sugar based products	Sugarcane juice and honey	Jaggery
8.	Spices	Garlic, asafoetida, ginger and cumin seeds	Chillies
9.	Water	Warm and hot water	Cold water
10.	Enema	Enema of oil is prescribed in vishtabdhajirna, oil-enema	Suppression of natural urges for passing stools, urine, flatus, vomiting and belching, cold meals

7. Indigestion – Spiritual therapy (Karmavipak)

If a patient suffering from indigestion does not respond to appropriate treatment by specialists, he should undertake spiritual therapy based on his past deeds.

1. A wealthy (capable) person who does not perform vaishvadeva and the five great sacrificial fires (mahayadnya) suffers from indigestion. He should perform three prajapatya and one kruchchhra prayashchitta (atonement) and offer food to 100 pious Brahmans (priests).

2. An individual who eats beef suffers from intractable indigestion. He should undertake kruchchhra and atikruchchhra prayashchitta and chant (repeat) the Shri sukta and the Agnirashmi rucha (verses).

3. An individual who poisons others food without any reason suffers from indigestion. He should chant (repeat) Yate Rudra sukta and give 108 offerings (ahuti) of rice and ghee into the sacrificial fire and should offer food to 40 pious Brahmans.

4. An individual who steals food suffers from indigestion. He should fast for 3 days and undertake the prajapatya prayashchitta. He should offer 1008 oblations of rice and ghee into the sacrificial fire while chanting (repeating) the Agnirashmi rucha.