Keeping the 'Digestive Fire' burning
#35455 - 01/06/04 05:23 AM
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Claire
Reged: 01/27/03
Posts: 65
Loc: Paris, France
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I know there seems to be a little reluctance to consider alternative therapies to IBS, but I just wanted to share something with you which I have personally found very helpful, and I hope some of you will too.
In the most ancient of medicines, ayurveda (from India), there is a huge emphasis on the importance of digestion to physical and mental health. One of the most important concepts is called 'agni' or the 'digestive fire'. The key is to keep the fire burning - not too much (this causes inflammation), not too little (this causes constipation and sluggish digestion) but enough for things to be running smoothly.
The use of the elements, is used in ayurveda where each food is classified as a 'space' (mainly bitter foods and herbs), air (leafy vegetables - insoluble fibre), fire (hot foods,spices, chilies, sour foods) water (high water content veg and fruit, oily foods, salty foods) and earth (rice and most grains, root vegetables, sweet foods). The key is to keep the fire burning by maintaining a balance of all these elements- not adding too much water which would put it out, or air or stoking up too much with fiery foods. The earthy element - the soluble fibres in our IBS world, in this analogy are probably most important (the wood or fuel itself) and air(insoluble fibre) and water (fats) have to be managed carefully in moderation and ADDED to the fuel without putting it totally out.
As for the fire element, these are your herbs and spices - to us the fennel, peppermint, ginger which help to control the fire -if it gets out of hand, peppermint 'cools it down' if it needs increasing ginger (if it needs a real boost) or fennel ( a bit more subtle) will help.
I have found the idea of a 'fire' inside me really helpful. When I'm having a bad day, I think to myself how I can eat the right things to rekindle or make it burn better so that food is digested properly. The key is of course (as we all know) MODERATION and no extremes. Eating loads of white bread (the wood or fuel) will do absolutely no good if the fire is out or weak. Better to eat lightly and drink lots of spicy teas (and other spices are used a lot - cardamom, cloves, nutmeg among others..)in order to build up the fire gradually.
Well, that's enough from me I think. I hope it wasn't too 'up in the clouds' for you all. It is very smply put and there is loads more to it but this simple analogy has helped me link the theory to my IBS and is helping me to use a different way to look at the whole condition.For me, it is refreshing not just to focus on particular foods and symptoms and to put a broader and differnt perspective on things.
Oh, just one more thing, although no one element is more important than another, I thing the earth element is SO important to us sensitive IBS sufferers. It represents roots (root veg) and grounding (all grains start their lives in the earth) and sweetness and comfort. That's why eating soluble fibre 'spiritually' or psychologically speaking is so important to us.
Right enough!
Byeee
Claire
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I LOVE that analogy! I know that when I'm feeling an attack sometimes I just say 'forget it, i'm already suffering, i'm going to eat whatever i want'. Now, I'm going to remind myself of what you said. I look at losing weight the same way, by keeping your metabolism burning all the time (small meals rather than dumping in three large meals) you burn your food and keep your metabolism at a steady rate.
Good luck to you! I'm in the middle of an attack right now, so I'm brewing up some tea.
Be well!
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~jules
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I wonder if the root (earth) foods tie into the chakras of yoga, like the root chakra, which affects the lower intestines. This is such an interesting area of natural medicine. If you have more info, please post it.
- Heather
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Heather is the Administrator of the IBS Message Boards. She is the author of Eating for IBS and The First Year: IBS, and the CEO of Heather's Tummy Care. Join her IBS Newsletter. Meet Heather on Facebook!
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Claire,
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is so well put, and understandable. Thanks for posting in a clear, concise way. It makes sense to me and I hope you can keep us updated on the "balance of fires" in our digestive tract. I don't think there are many of us here that are opposed to alternative therapies to IBS. After all, Heather's approach, up until recently, and still in some circles, could be considered an alternative way of handling IBS.
I've read and enjoyed many of your past posts.........
Kandee
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Claire, this is beautifully explained. I have read a bit about this myself and it's quite fascinating.
The basic principle is balance of the elements. This balance between fire, air, earth and water can be influenced in all aspects of your life - from the clothes that you wear, to the decor you choose for your home, the occupation and activities you do and so on. Eg, too much 'air' activity - desk job in front of a computer, travel a lot, reading, needs to be balanced with some earth/fire activity - more strenuous physical exercise and water - say, a hot bath to relax at the end of the evening, yoga, or a gentle physical activity such as drawing/painting.
Most of us are probably born with an inclination to lean one way or another. I (and my IBS) have probably always been lacking in fire and have been a little too airy. You can address this in lots of ways - not just with your diet. This is very much in tune with Heather's advice, not only for eating, but for excercise, heat therapy, hypnotherapy etc.
Super-dooper!!
Shellsbells
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Shellsbells,
Firstly, I don't think I thnked you for your lovely reply to my Naturopath experience..it helped a great deal.
You sound to be keyed up in Ayurveda. You're right about the 'air principle'. In food terms, air foods are things like broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens - in other words insoluble fibre. And what does the air principle and these foods add to that digestive fire? Wind, bloating, cramping and then the psychlogical feelings of anxiety, irritability, fear.
In Ayurveda, the principle of air is developed even further. There are said to be five principle movements of air in the body which move in different directions and in terms of digestion, the two most important are the centrifugal movement situated in the solar plexus (samana) and the downward moving air situated in the colon and lower part of the body (apana). These airs must be kept moving in the right direction or else constipation, diarrhea, bloating etc occurs. And how to keep them balanced? In terms of food, samana is kept moving through guess what? Stimulative herbs like fennel and fresh ginger, cinnamon and dill. And apana? Similarly with herbs and spices, though alittle more pungent ones (in small doses) such as black pepper, dried ginger, and a fantastic spice called asafoetida or hing. This indian herb is related to garlic and smells very strong. I use it whenever I have gas and I can tell you it works every time. You need the tiniest bit with a pinch of dried ginger and it works a treat (especially followed by some fennel tea). Otherwise, correct, abdominal breathing is absolutely essential for the correct movement of these airs in the body.
Ayurveda is so rich in it's description of the human body in terms of the elements and as I said before, I think it really helps to think of our digestive system in terms of a burning flame which must be kept alive. Yoga and ayurveda go hand in hand and if you use them both, I promise you, they can work wonders.
I'm not saying that ayurveda has cured me, but it has turned my IBS from being a condition where I had profuse diarrhea and occasional constipation, bloating, cramping to having a firm(ish) stool every morning (at the same time - 6am!). I am calmer than I was and though I have a long way to go in other ways (in terms of getting over anorexic thinking about food and exerting too much control over my life) I am so grateful for having discovered such a very logical way of thinking about my body and mind. I still use 'traditional' remedies from time to time (digestive enzymes and friendly bacteria) but when a full blown attack occurs, I feel reassured by the ayurvedic theory of digestion and the human body in general.
Take care,
Claire
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Hi CLAIRE; WHAT an interesting and UNIQUE way of looking at the whole thing.
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