Abstract

AMA - A FATAL COMPONENT IN AYURVEDA

Abhijeet B. Kumbhar*, Prashant U. Sasane and Nisha S. Gupta

Abstract

In „Rigveda‟ the first Rik starts with “Agni meele purohitam.” meaning agni is purohita, the conductor of rituals to protect the „pura‟ or this body. In the pathogenesis of any disease ama is the inevitable factor and it is a consequence of the deranged agni. According to chakrapani, the first stage of any disease is called ama. Grossly, the substance which is unable to attain its finality termed as ama. Formation of this ama may be at the jatharagni level i.e. macro level or at the bhootagni or dhatvagni level i.e. micro level. Ama which is produced at the jatharagni level leads to the formation of the diseases like alasaka, visuchika etc. Where as if it is produced at the bhootagni or dhatvagni level triggers the morbidity of the srotas there by produces diseases of the respective srotas. Out of 4 variety of srotodoshti, srotosang is the commonest factor in the manifestation of saamarogas. Saamaavastha and saamavyadhi both are different entity. Saamavastha has its own specific or distinguishable clinical features which are either present in saamavyadhi or sometime it diminishes without formation of saamavyadhi. Therefore, it is essential to see the presence or absence of Ama in a patient before starting the treatment, since the line of treatment is totally different in case of Saamavastha (presence of ama) and Niraamavastha (Absence of ama.). On whole, ama is a fatal and inevitable component of the pathogenesis of most of the diseases.

Keywords: ama, agni, srotas, saamavastha, saamvyadhi.