Samana Vata – Vital Digestive Energy

by Julie Wardwell July 27, 2023

Samana vata governs our agni or digestive strength and assimilation of nutrients for cellular metabolism. Samana vata is located in the lower stomach and small intestine and plays a major role in igniting our agni. From the moment we take in food it is responsible for secreting the digestive enzymes that breakdown food and separating the nutrients from the waste materials. Foods that are light and easy to digest along with herbs like ginger, black pepper, cumin, ajwain and hingvastak help the power of Samana Vata.

Samana Vata Healthy Balanced State

When Samana Vata is in a balanced state, we experience regular medium to strong appetite as well a feeling of satisfaction with no digestive symptoms after eating. Samana vata works by sending a signal to Prana vata that promotes the feeling of hunger. When we first start to eat, Samana vata sends another signal that stimulates digestive enzymes to break down and absorb the nutrients into the small intestine. The entire process of extracting nutrients from food and nourishing our cells is governed by Samana vata. 

Symptoms of Samana Vata Imbalance

When Samana vata is aggravated and out of balance the person will have low or no appetite, with post digestive gas, bloating and possible pain. When vata is aggravated, digestion will be irregular, meaning sometimes it’s working and other times it’s poor. Poor quality digestion leads to problems with absorption and nutrient deficiencies. Over time if Samana vata is not corrected, malabsorption will cause other digestive disorders. Ayurveda recommends a vata pacifying diet and lifestyle, along with herbs that improve digestion.

Herbal Products that Balance Samana Vata 

Avipathi Churnam is an Ayurvedic formula that supports agni or digestive power and helps to correct indigestion, sour belching, flatulence, constipation, and burning micturition. The dosage is one half to one teaspoon twice daily before or after food with water, or as prescribed by a qualified Ayurveda practitioner. The name Avipathi is a Sanskrit word that means that which is not harmful.

Ingredients:

• Sunthi - Zingiber officinale
• Pippali - Piper longum
• Maricha - Piper nigrum
• Ela - Elettaria cardamomum
• Tvak - Cinnamomum verum
• Patra - Cinnamomum tamala
• Ambhoda - Cyperus rotundus
• Krimighna - Embelia ribes
• Amalaka - Phyllanthus emblica
• Trivrit - Operculina turpethum
• Sita - Saccharum officinarum

Hinguvachadi Churnam is an Ayurvedic formula widely used to support digestive disorders of vata, kapha and ama (undigested form of food). Hinguvachadi balances vata by helping to correct vata’s normal downward movement and balances kapha by increasing appetite, agni and helps process the undigested ama. It is useful for clearing the digestive channel and increasing motility. Other digestive herbal actions include antacid and antispasmodic that helps support colicky abdominal pain.

Ingredients:

• Hingu - Ferula assa-foetida
• Vacha - Acorus calamus
• Vijaya - Terminalia chebula
• Pasugandha - Cleome viscosa
• Dadima - Punica granatum
• Dipyaka - Trachysperumum ammi
• Dhanyaka - Coriandru sativum
• Patha - Cyclea peltata
• Pushkaramula - Inula racemosa
• Sathi - Hedychium spicatum
• Hapusha - Sphaeranthus indicus
• Agni - Plumbago zeylanica
• Yavakshara - Carbonate of Potash
• Sauvarchala - Black salt
• Saindhava - Rock salt
• Vida - Sea salt
• Sunthi - Zingiber officinale
• Pippali - Piper longum
• Maricha - Piper nigrum
• Ajaji - Cuminum cyminum
• Chavya - Piper mullusea
• Tintrinika - Tamarindus indica
• Vetasamla - Garcinia pedunculata

Other Similar Products

These products can be helpful as well but their use depends on the condition and requirement of the affected person and the advice of an Ayurvedic practitioner:

• Ashta Churnam
• Dadimashtaka Churnam
• Abhaya Arishtam
• Kumarya Asavam
• Musta Arishtam
• Hingwadi Gulika
• Sukhabhedi Gulika
• Indukantam Kwatham

AYURVEDIC CONSULTATION

Kottakkal is committed to offering the highest quality Ayurvedic Healthcare. We offer two ways to have an Ayurvedic consultation. 1. Free 15-minute Consultation with our Ayurvedic practitioner, Julie Wardwell for when you need a product recommendation for a basic health problem. 2. In-depth Consultation with our Ayurvedic doctor, Vaidya Vishwanath Guddadar for when your condition is chronic with multiple symptoms.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kottakkal Ayurveda products and information are not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. If you have serious, acute, or chronic health problems, please consult a trained health professional. If you are seeking the advice of a trained Ayurvedic professional, call (800) 215-9934 or email us at contact@kottakkal.shop. We will provide you with information to consult with Ayurvedic professionals. Always check with your doctor before taking herbs when pregnant or nursing.

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