A Comprehensive Guide to Ayurvedic Specialties
Ajīrṇa (Indigestion)
Dietary & Lifestyle Causes (from provided ślokas 7-9):
अत्यम्बुपानाद्विषमाशनाच्च संधारणात्स्वप्नविपर्ययाच्च । कालेऽपि सात्म्यं लघु चापि भुक्तमन्नं न पाकं भजते नरस्य ।।७।।
Excessive water intake, irregular eating, suppression of natural urges, and inversion of sleep patterns (sleeping by day, being awake at night) cause even wholesome and light food eaten at the right time to remain undigested.
ईर्ष्याभयक्रोधपरिप्लुतेन लुब्धेन रुग्दैन्यनिपीडितेन । प्रद्वेषयुक्तेन च सेव्यमानमन्नं न सम्यक्परिपाकमेति ।।८।।
Food consumed by a person afflicted with jealousy, fear, anger, greed, grief, misery, or hatred does not get digested properly.
मात्रयाऽप्यभ्यवहृतं पथ्यं चान्नं न जीर्यति । चिन्ताशोकभयक्रोधदुःखशय्याप्रजागरैः ।। ९।।
Even a proper quantity of wholesome food is not digested due to worry, grief, fear, anger, sorrow, excessive sleep, or sleeplessness.
The prodromal phase is the stage of Agnimāndya itself, where the digestive fire is weak but full-blown Ajīrṇa (indigestion with Āma formation) has not yet manifested. The general signs are:
- Lack of appetite
- Heaviness in the abdomen after eating
- Irregular hunger
- General malaise and lethargy
3. Rūpam (Signs and Symptoms)
a) Āmājīrṇa (Kapha Dominant):
तत्रामे गुरुतोत्क्लेदः शोथो गण्डाक्षिकूटगः । उद्गारश्च यथाभुक्तमविदग्धः प्रवर्तते ।। १० ।।
In Āmājīrṇa, there is heaviness, nausea, swelling of the cheeks and orbital regions, and belching similar to the food just consumed.
b) Vidagdhājīrṇa (Pitta Dominant):
विदग्धे भ्रमतृण्मूर्च्छाः पित्ताच्च विविधा रुजः । उद्गारश्च सधूमाम्लः स्वेदो दाहश्च जायते ।। ११।।
In Vidagdhājīrṇa, there is giddiness, thirst, fainting, various pains due to Pitta, sour and smoky belching, sweating, and a burning sensation.
c) Viṣṭabdhājīrṇa (Vāta Dominant):
विष्टव्ये शूलमाध्मानं विविधा वातवेदनाः । मलवाताप्रवृत्तिश्च स्तम्भो मोहोऽङ्गपीडनम् ।। १२ ।।
In Viṣṭabdhājīrṇa, there is colicky pain, distention, various types of pain caused by Vāta, non-passage of stool and flatus, stiffness, delusion, and body ache.
d) Rasāśeṣājīrṇa:
रसशेषेऽन्नविद्वेषो हृदयाशुद्धिगौरवे ।
In Rasāśeṣājīrṇa, there is aversion to food, a feeling of uncleanliness in the cardiac region, and heaviness.
- In Āmājīrṇa: Symptoms improve with fasting (langhana), digestives (dīpanapācana drugs like Trikaṭu), and light, warm food.
- In Vidagdhājīrṇa: Symptoms improve with cooling measures, Pitta-pacifying drugs (like avipattikara cūrṇa), and mild fasting.
- In Viṣṭabdhājīrṇa: Symptoms improve with warmth, oleation (sneha), fomentation (sveda), and Vāta-pacifying measures (like hiṅgvāṣṭaka cūrṇa).
The sequence of disease manifestation, as derived from the text:
1. Nidana Sevana: Intake of etiological factors (dietary and lifestyle errors).
2. Doṣa Prakopa: Vitiation of Vāta, Pitta, and/or Kapha.
3. Agnimāndya: The vitiated Doṣas directly weaken the Jāṭharāgni (digestive fire).
4. Ajīrṇa & Āma Formation: The weak Agni fails to digest food, leading to the formation of Āma (undigested toxic residue).
5. Doṣa-Āma Mixture: The Āma combines with the vitiated Doṣas.
6. Vyādhi Utpatti: This Saṃprapthi (pathogenic combination) circulates through the body, lodging in weak channels (srotas) and manifesting as the specific signs and symptoms of Ajīrṇa and its complications (like Visūcikā).
- Agnimāndya: Correlates broadly with Functional Dyspepsia, Hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid).
- Āmājīrṇa: Correlates with Indigestion, Food Malabsorption, Gastroparesis (delayed gastric emptying).
- Vidagdhājīrṇa: Correlates with Acid Peptic Disease, Gastritis, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).
- Viṣṭabdhājīrṇa: Correlates with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS - Constipation predominant), Intestinal Gas & Bloating.
While Ayurvedic diagnosis is clinical, modern investigations can help rule out organic pathology and assess severity:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): To rule out anemia or infection.
- Stool Analysis: To rule out parasites, occult blood, or malabsorption.
- Upper GI Endoscopy: To diagnose Gastritis, Ulcers, GERD.
- Gastric Emptying Study: To diagnose Gastroparesis.
- Ultrasound Abdomen: To rule out gallstones or other hepatobiliary issues.
- H. Pylori Testing: If Peptic Ulcer Disease is suspected.
- Hydrogen Breath Test: To rule out Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), which can mimic Ajīrṇa symptoms.
Varaṇādi Kashaya
Amṛtōttaram Kashaya
Bhṛṅgyādi Kashaya (small)
Bhṛṅgyādi Kashaya (big)
Cīruvilwādi Kashaya
Citrakādi Kashaya
Daśamūla Pañcakōlādi Kashaya
Gandharvahastādi Kashaya
Grahanyantakam Kashaya
Gulūcyādi Kashaya
Indukāntam Kashaya
Katukāmalakādi Kashaya
Pañcakōlam Kashaya
Pathyā Katphalādi Kashaya
Pippalī Kashaya
Sapthasāram Kashaya
Vilangakṛṣṇādi Kashaya
Mustarishta
Varanadyarishta (Drugs of Varaṇādi Gana)
Abhayarishta
Amrtārishta
Dantyärishta
Daśamülärishta
Daśamülajīrakārishta
Duralabharishta
Jirakädyarishta
Viswamrtam
General Note on Arishtas: It is better not to advise Arishtas and Asavas in conditions of acidity, ulcer, or Pitta-Raktaja predominance.
Abhayarishta with Hinguvacādi Gulika acts as a good appetizer, especially for Kapha-Vāta conditions.
Dasamulajirakarishta is an excellent appetizer and Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) stimulator, especially during the post-natal period.
Varaṇāsavam
Citrakāsava
Chavikāsava
Guggulvāsava
Madhūkāsava
Pañcakōlasava
Pippalyāsava
Pūtikaranjāsava
Pūtivalkāsava
Agnimukha Cūrṇa
Śivākṣara Pacana Cūrṇa
Intuppu Kāṇam (Saindhavādi Cūrṇa)
Hutabhugādi Cūrṇa
Trikaṭu Cūrṇa
Aṣṭa Cūrṇa
Avipatti Cūrṇa
Avipattikara Cūrṇa
Bhaskara Lavaṇa Cūrṇa
Bṛhat Gangādhara Cūrṇa
Bṛhat Vaiswānara Cūrṇa
Cauṣaṣṭi Pippalī Cūrṇa
Cūrṇarājan
Dādimāṣṭakam Cūrṇa
Hiṅguvacādi Cūrṇa
Karpūrādi Cūrṇa-Big
Kapiṭāṣṭakam Cūrṇa
Nārāyaṇa Cūrṇa
Pañcakōlam Cūrṇa
Pañcasakāra Cūrṇa
Rajanyādi Cūrṇa
Samasarkkara Cūrṇa
Shaddharaṇa Cūrṇa
Tālīsa Patrādi Cūrṇa
Vaiswānara Cūrṇa
Vidanga Cūrṇa
Yōgarāja Cūrṇa
Note on Nārāyaṇa Cūrṇa: For Ajirṇa (Indigestion), use hot water as Anupāna (AH). For non-ulcer dyspepsia, use Anupāna as Badara Swarasa (Juice of Jujube fruit)/Kashaya; for spastic colon, use a suitable Arishta/Āsava etc.
Mahāśankha Vaṭī / Bṛhat Sankha Vaṭī
Paṭu Pañcakādi Gulika
Sanjīvanī Vaṭī
Śankha Vaṭī
Aparājita Khalam Gulika
Antrakūṭhāram Gulika
Bhuktānjarī Gulika
Candraprabhā Gulika
Citrakādi Gulika
Grahanyantakam Gulika
Hinguvacādi gulika
Laśunādi vați
Lavangadi vați
Ponkarādi gulika
Süryaprabha gulika
Vilwädi gulika
Tālīsaptrādi vataka
Vyöshādi vaṭaka
Varaṇādi Ghṛta
Cīruvilwādi Ghṛta
Indukāntam Ghṛta
Gulūcyādi Ghṛta
Pippalī Pippalīmūlādi Ghṛta
Saptasära ghrta
Shatpala ghrta
Süraṇādi ghrta
Soubhagyaśupthi modaka
Sürpävaleha
LEHYA KALPANA:-
Ardraka rasayana
Bähuśäla gula
Citraka haritaki lehya
Kalyāņa gula
Matala rasayana
Vilwadi lehya
Soubhagyaśupthi modaka
Sürpävaleha
Ayamōdaka Drāvaka (Ajamodā Ark)
.Dipyāka Rasa
By SNA (SNA Oushadhasala Pvt.Ltd.): Used for Indigestion, dyspepsia, sprue, and other gastric complaints.
Rasōnādi Drāvaka (Rasnādi Ark)
By ETM (Thaikkattu Mooss ETM Oushadhasala (INDIA) Ltd) (Proprietary): Used for Vāyu Kōpa (Vāta aggravation) / gas trouble.
Sitärdraka (Sitārdrak)
Reference: Likely from Ayurveda Prakāśa (AP) or similar texts.
Manufacturer: KAL (Kerala Ayurveda Ltd) (AP)
Indications: Anorexia (loss of appetite), Dyspepsia (indigestion), Flatulence, Pyrexia (fever) etc.
Note: Dose: 5-15 ml with suitable adjuvants (Anupāna).
Pānchalavana Bhasma (YG)
Kānta Bhasma
Kāsīsa Bhasma
Śaṅkha Bhasma
Svayaṁagni Bhasma
Dhātrī
louha
Tără
mandūra
Vidanga louha
Vishama jwarantaka lõha
Makaradhwaja
rasa
Rasa sindūra
Siddhamakaraddhwaja
Agnikumāra Rasa
Agnitundi Rasa / Agnituṇḍi Vati
Gandhaka Vati (RTS)
Lakhukravyāda Rasa
Sūtasekhara Rasa
Tamra Bhasma
Vaikrānta Bhasma
Varātikā Bhasma