In Maharishi Ayurveda, the intestine is considered the central organ of the body. Intestinal health is a prerequisite for the health of all other organs and the entire body. The tasks of the intestine include breaking down and splitting food, transferring nutrients and vital substances into the body and excreting non-digestible and usable substances from the body. Only a healthy intestine can fulfil these highly complex tasks. And only then can all body organs and tissues be supplied with the vital substances they need. But what about intestinal health? There is probably no one who does not have a "tweak" in the gastrointestinal tract from time to time. Indispositions and serious illnesses of the intestines affect practically everyone.

Modern life doesn't exactly make things easier for our intestines. An overabundance of food, chemical additives that the body has never had to get to know in its entire evolution, stress and a hectic lifestyle, irregular eating times and food from foreign climates put an enormous strain on intestinal health. It is therefore no wonder that the intestine can no longer do its job satisfactorily under such stress.

The healthy gut

Patients who have completed a cleansing cure tell us what a healthy intestine feels like. "I feel light and exhilarated, I don't feel tired after eating, I feel invigorated and energetic after every meal. I have no flatulence, no bloating and absolutely regular bowel movements. The excrements are well formed and do not stain the anus or the toilet. During the day I am agile and in a good mood, at night I sleep deeply and restfully. I wake up without an alarm clock and am immediately ready for action. At the usual meals I am really hungry. When I eat, I feel my satiety point and can easily stop eating at the first satiety because I am really satisfied. When I think about my gut, I feel a sense of well-being that spreads throughout my body."

The sick gut

"Every illness begins in the intestine" Hippocrates

There is probably hardly a patient in our practice who comes to an initial consultation without complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. These complaints can be very different and are often not primarily and clearly assigned to the intestine. Essentially, one can distinguish between functional disorders and organic diseases. Functional disorders occur very frequently. They are mostly dependent on everyday influences through stress, nutrition and climatic conditions. The complaints are often very changeable and can be alleviated by simple treatments. These include stool irregularities, flatulence, abdominal pain, tiredness after eating, etc. If these changes persist for years, organic diseases can develop from them. These are then diseases such as stomach ulcers, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases or gallstones.

Healing for the intestine

Maharishi AyurVeda assumes that only a healthy intestine can keep the rest of the body healthy. Therefore, improving intestinal health is part of every Ayurvedic treatment. Depending on the severity of the disorder, therapy for the intestines can consist of dietary recommendations, spices, medicinal plants, minerals and probiotics, external applications such as massages and compresses, and cleansing therapies. The intestine is constantly challenged and exposed to enormous stress. Therefore, it makes sense to take measures to keep the intestines healthy even when there are no obvious complaints.

Individual dietary recommendations

Tips on healthy nutrition fill entire libraries. The Maharishi AyurVeda also contributes to this. Nevertheless, there is a difference to most nutritional teachings: Not all dietary recommendations apply equally to every person. The digestive power, constitution and seasons shape individual dietary recommendations. A delicate Vata person needs different food than a strong Kapha type or a hot Pitta person. Purity of food is of utmost importance. Therefore, you should make sure to cover most of your diet with food from organic farming. But this alone is not enough. Food should be chosen in relation to individual tolerance.

Seasonal recommendations and foods tailored to the dosha type can be found in good Ayurveda books. Book recommendation: Ayurveda Grundlagen und Anwendungen, Schachinger/Schrott, Trias Verlag. If such recommendations are followed temporarily, a greater sense of well-being will set in. Over time, this should and will lead to intuitively choosing the right food in the right quantity.

Generally valid dietary recommendations

Like every organ of the body, the gastrointestinal tract needs periods of rest. The law of rest and activity is one of the basic laws of creation. At the end of each meal there should be satisfaction. With this satisfaction, it is easy to take a break from eating for several hours. This break should last until a clear and strong feeling of hunger arises again. This takes between 4 and 6 hours during the day, and at least 12 hours overnight. During these breaks, only non-nutritive liquids such as water or unsweetened tea should be consumed. This is the only way to ensure that the digestive fire Agni can completely digest all the food and convert it into valuable body substances. If this absolutely necessary break is interrupted by snacks, the digestive process cannot proceed regularly. The Ayurvedic texts explain that this creates "ama" - undigested residues of the diet. Ama is considered THE breeding ground for diseases. Anything that has more nutritional value than water or tea is considered a snack.

Summary

The intestine is a central organ of our body whose normal function is essential for good health. Modern lifestyle almost inevitably leads to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. This subsequently leads to disorders and diseases in the rest of the body. All Ayurvedic therapies to improve health start with improving gut health. To be continued... (spices, medicinal plants, minerals and probiotics, external applications and cleansing therapies).