What is the Ayurvedic term for toxins in the body?

Ama is the Ayurvedic term used to describe toxins or the by-products of improper digestion in the body. In Ayurveda, it is believed that ama is formed when the digestion is weak or unbalanced, preventing proper assimilation of food. This undigested or improperly digested food creates toxic substances that can accumulate in the body, leading to various health issues.

Ama is considered to be the root cause of many diseases, and its presence can disrupt the balance of doshas, which are the three fundamental bodily energies according to Ayurvedic philosophy. Understanding ama is crucial for practitioners, as detoxification and the elimination of ama are key components of Ayurvedic treatment protocols. This concept emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong agni, or digestive fire, to prevent the formation of ama and promote overall health and well-being.

Other terms such as agni, prakruti, and srotas refer to different concepts within Ayurveda. Agni represents the digestive fire or metabolic processes, prakruti refers to an individual's unique constitution or nature, and srotas denotes the channels in the body through which physical and subtle substances flow. Each of these plays a significant role in maintaining health but does not specifically refer to toxins as ama does.