Ridding Your Body of Harmful Toxins

Three Types of Toxins

Man Removing Fat Suit
Toxins in Body. Barry Downard / Getty Images

Our bodies were not meant to be toxic dumps. Yet, improper digestion, high levels of stress, and pollutants such as chemicals in the air we breathe, the water we drink or wash with, and the foods we eat, continuously create toxins in the body. If not flushed out on a regular basis, Ayurveda contends that this toxic buildup can eventually manifest as disorders. And as we grow older, the body's inbuilt mechanisms for eliminating impurities tend to be less efficient, thus stressing the need for periodic internal cleansing therapy.

Three Kinds of Toxins

  1. Ama -  Mild Toxin - The most common type is ama, which is the sticky waste-product of digestion that builds up in the digestive tract when your digestion is either weak or overloaded with the wrong foods.

    Amavisha and garavisha types of toxins are best handled by an ayurvedic physician, but there are a number of things you can do on an ongoing basis to prevent AMA from building up in your body.

    Signs That You May Have an AMA Build-Up


    Diarrhea, constipation, joint pain, sadness, dullness, lowered immunity, frequent bouts of colds and flu are all health problems that can be caused by AMA.


    How AMA is Created

     Diet and Lifestyle Factors AMA is the waste product of incomplete digestion, so any dietary or lifestyle habits that disrupt digestion can cause AMA

    If you eat foods that are too heavy to digests, such as fried foods, hard cheeses, meats, leftovers, junk foods, processed foods, and rich desserts, these can overload your digestion and cause AMA to form. Cold foods and drinks -- such as ice cream, ice-cold water, and foods straight from the refrigerator -- also are hard to digest, since cold temperatures put out the digestive fire.


    Someone with a strong digestion (associated with Pitta dosha) will be able to eat larger quantities and richer foods without forming AMA A person with an irregular digestion (associated with Vata body type) will find that their appetite and digestive ability fluctuates -- sometimes it's strong and sometimes weak.



    An irregular daily routine can also disrupt your digestion and cause AMA. Mental, emotional and physical stress is another cause of incomplete digestion and AMA. If you've ever tried eating when you're upset and felt the stomach pains afterward, you know why this is so.

    In general, any time you go against your own nature or fall out of harmony with natural law, your digestion will reflect that and create AMA.

    Disclaimer: This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice.

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    Your Citation
    Mishra, Rama Kant. "Ridding Your Body of Harmful Toxins." ThoughtCo, Apr. 20, 2017, thoughtco.com/rid-your-body-of-toxins-1729095. Mishra, Rama Kant. (2017, April 20). Ridding Your Body of Harmful Toxins. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/rid-your-body-of-toxins-1729095 Mishra, Rama Kant. "Ridding Your Body of Harmful Toxins." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/rid-your-body-of-toxins-1729095 (accessed April 24, 2018).