Building Blocks Pt 3: Metabolic Waste

Many of us experience the shift from winter to spring with a certain expectation - Here comes the allergies and the inevitable cold or flu!  The return of warm weather can leave us feeling sluggish, stagnant and generally out-of-balance; possibly complicated by incomplete or slow digestion.  When we are supposed to be turning the corner to feeling our finest, we are contending with inconvenient symptoms that seem to take forever to shake.  With the changing of seasons, preventative modalities prepare the internal shifts in ecology and help the body and mind kick into the right gear.

During the spring, the accumulated kapha is liquified by the heat of the sun and as such disturbs the power of digestion and causes many diseases.

[The kapha accumulates in the seasons preceding the spring; it gets liquified during the spring as the body is exposed to increased heat of the sun.  Thus, the kapha so liquified, affects power of digestion as well as metabolism.]

CS vol.1,VI [22-26]

Understanding why and what causes metabolic waste is simple on one hand, but may become complicated, especially if symptoms are ignored over time.  Windows of time within the year are crucial in helping the body prepare for seasonal change.  And if you live in the midwestern area of the continent - the “continental climate” with its ups and downs like a roller coaster - there is a tendency of shifting weather patterns throwing our systems into chaos in the back-and-forth of spring if we are battling pre-existing conditions.  Recognizing the signs of current or manifesting ama (toxins or metabolic waste) in the body is a foundational place to start.

Fire is primordial and essential.  Digestive fire in traditional medicine (Agni) is an important sacred fire in Vedic philosophy.  It is related to metabolism; proper digestion and assimilation - starting in mahasrotas (the digestive tract) and expanding to cellular levels.  Simply stated, if digestive fire is weakened, and undigested substances accumulate in the body that turn into an overload of slimy and sticky congestion (traditional medicine looks into the quality of things) this congestion turns toxic in the system.  Short-term this may manifest as allergies and colds/flus, but if ignored long-term (or with the use of band aid approaches), metabolic issues arise in different channels within the body.

And yet another layer of metabolic process is in the mind. The subtle fires within the mind which enhance clarity, discernment, focus, and cognition, are equally important in balanced health.  Not only can indigestion disrupt the digestive tract, it has effects in the mind where the great qualities in Ayurveda (maha gunas) are the same qualities that also relate to the food we ingest.  If the gut acts as the second brain, these qualities in our digestive tract are as relevant as they are in our minds.  They are known as Sattva, Rajas, Tamas and much can be said about them and how they affect our wellbeing.  Simply, we are what we eat (and consume).

In understanding the foundational principles of Ayurveda for preventative healthcare and minimizing effects of accumulated toxins in bodily channels, in conjunction working with a qualified practitioner you will learn:

~ Initial signs and symptoms of metabolic waste (ama) through an Ayurvedic lens

~ What dietary and environmental factors effect the balance of our our systemic health

~ How to incorporate dietary and lifestyle changes to support gentle cleansing

~ What foods, practices and habits to avoid for healthy immunity

~ How the calendar of the year and hours of the day can be best utilized for optimal wellness

Wishing you health in seasons of change and vitality inherent to your unique constitution. As we are manifestations of higher order, may we better align with divine purpose through the care of the vehicle gifted to us at birth.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.