Dyspepsia (Ajirna)

Overview

When digestive fire (jatharagni) is low, food is not properly transformed into nourishing essence. Instead, a mucus-like, partially processed mass (apakva āhāra) forms; only a small portion becomes nutrition while the rest turns to waste. This fosters āma (toxic by-product of incomplete digestion) and aggravates Vāta within the gastrointestinal tract, disturbing normal motility. As tissues (dhātu) are formed from this poor essence, Kapha and Pitta imbalances may arise, weakening tissue quality and immunity.

Signs of Proper Digestion

• No acid eructation (heartburn/belching).
• Sense of lightness and steady energy after meals.
• Comfortable bowel and bladder elimination.
• Timely return of hunger for the next meal.

Signs of Improper Digestion

• Lethargy; heaviness in body or stomach.
• Vertigo; bloating/distention; constipation or diarrhea.
• Reversed/irregular movement of Vāta (e.g., gas moving upward).

Common Causes of Ajirna

• Eating before the previous meal is digested; overeating; very heavy foods.
• Irregular meal times; very hot or very cold foods; excessively drying foods.
• Poor food combining; foods unsuited to season or constitution.
• Suppressing natural urges; drinking too much water with meals.
• Late nights, inadequate rest; mental stress (anxiety, fear, anger, sorrow).

These physical and mental factors collectively precipitate indigestion.

Symptoms

May include constipation or frequent stools, plus:

• Nausea, bloating, distension, excess yawning.
• Fever, headache, thirst, anorexia, vomiting.
• Back/lumbar stiffness and generalized body aches.

Pathogenesis

With improper lifestyle/diet and mental strain, jatharagni diminishes. Aggravated Kapha and Vāta dilute and dysregulate digestive secretions, preventing complete processing of food and generating āma.

Types of Ajirna

Amajirna

Excess Kapha accumulates in the stomach; pachaka pitta (digestive acids) is diluted, weakening digestive potency and leading to incomplete digestion.

Vidagdha Ajirna

Aggravated Pitta releases acids in excess; food becomes overly acidified and remains improperly digested.

Viṣṭabdha Ajirna

Dominant Vāta dries or irregularly releases digestive juices; only part of the food digests. Symptoms include pricking pain, bloating, borborygmi, and false urges to defecate.

Rasesha Ajirna

Even after most food is processed, some undigested matter persists in the nutritive essence (rasa), causing abdominal heaviness and delayed return of appetite.

Treatment Approach

Diet — General Guidance

Strict attention to diet is essential for recovery.

• Limit heavy starches, dense proteins, and fatty foods.
• Avoid meats, refined sugar, tea/coffee excess, condiments, pickles, and highly processed foods.
• Skip white-flour and white-sugar products; rich gravies, puddings, cakes, pastries, alcohol.
• Minimize soft drinks, candies, ice creams, and refined snacks.
• Prefer vegetarian options: rice with steamed vegetables (lightly spiced); khichari.
• Pomegranate, buttermilk, and radish soup can be beneficial.

Tips to Improve Digestion

• Eat to comfortable satiety; keep regular meal times; leave space in the stomach for movement.
• Choose fresh, natural foods; avoid canned/fast foods.
• Do not suppress natural urges (urine, stool, flatus, sneeze, belch, yawn, tears).
• Maintain ~4 hours between meals; finish dinner at least 2 hours before sleep and walk after.

Dietary Guidelines

• Eat in proper quantity and only when hungry.
• Favor compatible food combinations; avoid mixing extremes (very hot with very cold, raw with heavily cooked).
• Avoid combinations like milk+fish or milk+meat.
• Minimize distractions; eat in a pleasant environment at a steady pace.
• Prefer freshly prepared foods; if using leftovers, keep within a day.
• Some traditions advise avoiding microwave cooking; if using distilled water, remineralize appropriately.

Lifestyle Practices

• On waking, drink 2–3 glasses of water (traditionally stored overnight in copper; warm in winter).
• Practice regular meditation, yoga, and moderate exercise (about half of your capacity).
• Prioritize restorative sleep; keep a relaxed mind; avoid very hot/cold environments.
• Add gentle morning and evening walks.

Specific Measures

Short, appropriate fasting can help digest āma and rest the gut. When appetite returns, start with light foods: mung dal soup, boiled vegetables (squash, bitter gourd, amla, radish), and spices such as cumin, ginger, black pepper, cilantro, and fenugreek.

Supportive herbs: Hing (asafoetida), Chitrak, Vacha, Piper longum, Terminalia chebula, Emblica officinalis (amla), Adhatoda vasica, among others as guided by a practitioner.