Medical Perspective on Ama as per Ayurveda and Modern Consideration: A Review

Abstract

The Ayurveda mainly focuses to maintaining health status by preventing and treating diseases. The prevention and treatment of diseases only possible when physician aware about biochemical events and pathogenesis of disease. The knowledge about causative factors of disease helps to prevent disease prevalence and Ama is one such pathological factor that causes many diseases like; Grahani Roga, allergy and Amavata, etc. The ancient philosopher of Ayurveda described concept of Ama as biological entity responsible for many pathological events inside the body. Ama is considered as toxins produced due to the improper functioning of Agni therefore Ama can be considered as unripe or un-metabolized food material. Ama vitiates Doshas and disturbs Dhatu-samya, after combining with Dosha and mala Ama initiate pathogenesis of diseases. Present article summarizes Ayurveda and modern perspective related to Ama and its role in disease pathogenesis. Keywords: Ayurveda, Ama, Toxins, Amavata, Auto-immune.