Digestive Process Flashcards by Jeremy Ferguson

Where does digestion start and end

Mouth/Rectum

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In Ayurveda the digestion system is referred to as

Mahāsrotas

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What are the two phases of digestion

Gross Digestion
Subtle Digestion

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What Vāta energies are associated with digestion

Prāna, Samāna, Vyāna, Apāna

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What Pitta energies are associated with digestion

Rañjaka and Pãcaka

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What kapha energies are associated with digestion

Bodhaka and Kledaka

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What are the 3 stages of gross digestion

Madhura Avasthāpaka: Sweet Stage
Amla Avasthāpaka: Sour/Salty Stage
Katu Avasthāpaka: Pungent/Astringent/Bitter Stage

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Where does digestion occur during Madhura Avasthāpaka

Mouth and upper part of the stomach

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What dosa is produced by the Madhura Avasthāpaka
Subdosa?

Kapha
Bodhaka and Kledaka

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What elements are involved with Madhura Avasthāpaka

Prthvī, and Aap

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Duration of Madhura Avasthāpaka?
What can prolong the digestion period?

1.5-2 hours
Eating sweet, salty, heavy, or cold foods

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Signs of imbalance in Madhura Avasthāpaka

Nausea, excessive mucus, and weight gain

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Food mixes with Bodhaka Kapha which is another name for

Saliva

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Food is carried to the stomach by Prāna Vāyu through the esophagus.
Once in the stomach the food is mixed with Kledaka Kapha which is another name for

Gastric Secretions

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Earth and Water elements are separated from food at which stage of digestion

Gross:Madhura

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Creation begins with ________ element and breaks down with what element ______

Space

Earth

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What causes lethargy after we eat

Kledaka Kapha is heavy
Production of earth and water element

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What taste are broken down and produced in the Amla Avasthāpaka

Alma & Lavana
Sour and Salty

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Where does digestion occur during the Amla Avasthāpaka Stage

Lower part of the stomach
Small Intestine

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What dosa/subdosa is produced during the Amla Avasthāpaka stage of digestion

Pitta
Pācaka Pitta

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What element is digested during Amla Avasthāpaka stage if digestion

Tejas/fire

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What is the duration of the Amla Avasthāpaka stage of digestion
What can prolong it

2-3 hours
Eating too many sour, salty, or pungent foods

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What are signs of imbalance for Amla Avasthāpaka Stage of Digestion

Hyperacidity
Ulcers
Infections

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Where does the Amla Avasthāpaka Stage begin

Small Intestine/Grahanī

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Bile and Pancreatic secretions are called

Pācaka Pitta

Pācaka Pitta separates what element from the Āhāra Rasa

Tejas

Where does the food go after the Amla Avasthāpaka Stage

Colon

What tastes are associated with the Katu Avasthāpaka

Pungent, Astringent, and Bitter Katu, Kasāya, Tikta

What’s the location of the Katu Avasthāpaka?

Large intestine

What dosa/subdosa is produced and broken down during the Katu Avasthāpaka stage of digestion

Vāta Samāna Vāyu

What’s the duration of Katu Avasthāpaka and what causes the digestion to be prolonged

1.5 - 2 hours Eating too many pungent, bitter, astringent or dry foods

What are signs of imbalance for the Katu Avasthāpaka stage of digestion

Distension, Gas, Constipation, and dryness in the body

After Katu Avasthāpaka digestion is completed at the gross level,. It is then separated into two parts

Sara - Nutrient Part Mala or Kitty (Waste)

Absorbed in the first part of the colon(ascending colon) and some parts of the transverse colon with the help of Samāna Vāyu

Sara

Liquid or solid part of food that remains after digestion

Mala

Liquid waste is absorbed in the ascending and transverse colon and carried through the blood to the kidneys. Kidneys kilter the blood to remove the liquid waste also called

Mūtra/Urine

Waste begins to solidify as the water is absorbed in the colon. Solid waste is called

Purisa

Purisa passes through the descending and sigmoid colon, rectum, and finally the anus before it is expelled from the body with the help of

Apāna Vāyu

After gross digestion the Āhāra rasa is absorbed by ________ and passed through to the ______ on the right side of the heart

Samāna Vāyu Liver

Āhāra rasa reaches the lungs and reenters the heart on the left side. The it is circulated to all the dhatus via

Vyāna Vāyu

Dhātu agnis digest _______ and create new ________

Sara Dhātus

At each level of digestion four products are made

Dhātu Upadhātu Dhātu Mala Asthāyī Dhātu which nourishes the next Dhātu in line

What are the three laws of subtle digestion

Kedāri Kulyā Nyāya: Irrigation Method Law Ksīra Dadhi Nyāya: Milk to Curd Law Khale Kapota Nyāya: Farm and Pigeon Law

The dhātus received nutrients in order of their production according to this law of nutrition Slower then other laws of subtle nutrition but is long lasting Each stage takes 5 days therefore it takes more than a month to complete this subtle digestion

Kedāri Kulyā Nyāya

Law of digestion that states that Śukra Dhātu is present in every drop of Rasa Dhātu but needs to be processed by all the dhātu agnis to be available for use

Ksīra Dadhi Nyāya Milk to Curd

This law states that when a dhātu is in need of nutrients the dhātus agnis come to the srotas and pick the parts of the Āhāra Rasa that is needed for its dhātu

Khale Kapota Nyāya Farm and Pigeon Law

What are the 8 qualities of food to consider when making choices about what to eat

Prakrti: prakrti of food. Kārana: Processing if food Samyoga: combining foods change their properties Rāśi: Quantity Deśa:Environment where the food came from Kāla: Food has different qualities depending on raw or ripened state Upayoga Samsthā: food and eating guidelines Upayoktā: Prakrti of person and eating habits of person

What are the food and eating guidelines according to Upayoga Samsthā

Do no eat while on the go Do not eat too fast or too slow Eat only when hungry Do not eat without washing hands, feet, and face Eat after reciting mantra

Substances that cause an increases in a dosa but does not expel it from the body Incompatible diet. Wrong processing, incorrect dose, incorrect time

Viruddhāhāra

Eating before the previous meal has been digested. Meals should be 4-5 hours apart from each other Eating too much causes undigested food and Āma

Adhyāśana

Mixing of healthy and unhealthy foods should be avoided

Samāśana

Not eating enough leads to diminution of strength, intelligence, and affects the functions of the sense organs

Amātrāśana

Fasting and not eating for a long time depletes dhātus, aggravates vāta Weakens immune system, indriyas become weak

Anaśana

Eating outside of the proper times should be avoided

Visamāśana

Eating the wrong foods

Viruddhāśana

Eating foods with the same qualities as a region of residence

Deśaviruddha

Eating food without considering the state of Agni

Agniviruddha

Eating opposite of the body’s constitution

Sātmyaviruddha

Eating food not considering the stage of the life cycle of the person

Avasthāviruddha

Eating uncooked, overcooked, or partially cooked food

Pākaviruddha

Eating food that has lost its good qualities

Sampaviruddha