Effects of Over Eating
Due to eating excess quantity of food, Vata and other Doshas suddenly get increased together and associating with the undigested and vitiated food (Ama) , produce diseases.
It causes Alasaka disease by blocking the movement of food inside the alimentary tract and Visuchika (Gastro- Enteritis) by expelling out the undigested food in both downward and upward directions (diarrhoea and vomiting) simultaneously. This is seen in persons who are not self controlled and who can not control their craze for eating.
Alasaka – indigestion + constipation
Food neither comes out in the upper route by vomiting nor from the downward route by purgation. Nor does it undergo digestion in the stomach. It stays in the stomach lazily (=Alasya). Such a disease condition is called as Alasaka.
Visuchika — Gastro Enteritis
Due to sudden and profound aggravation Vata, along with other Doshas, the person experiences pain in entire body, as though being pricked by needles, hence this disease is called Visuchika. (Suchi means Needle).
Influence of different Doshas in Alasaka and Visuchika –
In Alasaka and Visuchika,
If Vata is aggravated, it causes
Shoola – adominal pain; Bhrama – Delusion; Anaha – bloating, fullness; Kampa – tremors; Stambha – stiffness etc symptoms.
If Pitta is aggravated, it causes
Jvara – fever; Atisara – diarrhoea, dysentery; Antardaha – internal burning sensation; Trut – excessive thirst; Pralaya – panic, unconsciousness
If Kapha is aggravated, it causes
Chardi – vomiting; Angaguruta – heaviness of the body; Vak Sangha – difficulty to speak; Shteevana – excessive salivation, expectoration and spitting.
Manifestation of Alasaka symptoms
Alasaka occurs especially in those who are weak, who have low digestion strength and who suppress urges of the body, habitually. In them, Vata gets increased, gets associated with Kapha to obstruct the movement of undigested food in the digestive tract. It causes the food to stay inside the stomach, as a foreign body. It leads to abdominal colic and such other symptoms, but without vomiting and diarrhea.
Dandalasaka
Highly vitiated Doshas, move into vitiated and obstructed channels by accumulation of undigested food. Thus Doshas get obstructed in the GI tract, and begin to move in other unnatural channels. Thus Doshas spread throughout the body and make it stiff like a log of wood. This disease is called Dandakalasaka, which should be rejected for treatment as it is quick in causing death.
Treatment of Alasaka
Ama – undigested food stagnating inside the Gastro intestinal tract should be removed quickly after deciding the conditions of easy management.
The person is made to drink warm water mixed with powder of Ugra (Vacha – Acorus calamus), Patu (Saindhava – Black Salt) and Phala (Madanaphala); This will cause vomiting;
This therapy is followed up with Swedana (sudation therapy)
Next, Phalavarti (rectal suppositories) prepared from fruits which help downward movement of feaces and flatus should be administered,
The parts of the body which are rigid should be well fomented and then wrapped with cloth.
Treatment of Vishucika
In advanced stage of Visucika, branding by fire over the heel, is recommended. The patient should be made to fast on that day and taken care of as the one who has undergone purgation therapy (Virechana). All the post Virechana procedure and treatment should be given to the patient.