SAVE SYMPTOM
The body doesn't make foul odors. Odorous stool implies food is rotting and fermenting in the gut. Poop starts to rot when it sits too long in the gut (constipation). When you cannot absorb the nutrients from your food (malabsorption, Vata), the...
Gas is a sign of toxicity in your body. When you eat food and it doesn't digest well, it ferments in you gut. As the food rots it starts to smell. When food is poorly digested, toxins enter your bloodstream. This heavily taxes your liver and kidneys-...
The body doesn't make foul odors. As blood sugar levels rise, saliva becomes sweet, feeding bacteria in the mouth. Thus, sweet foods cause bad breath. These bacteria produce waste products that have a foul odor. Bacteria will also feed on a thick...
Sour sweat is a sign of a Pitta Kapha condition with ama (damp-heat in Chinese medicine). Circulation may be blocked or stagnant. This condition typically occurs alongside red-puffy skin and well developed muscles.
The body doesn't make foul odors. Sweet foods cause a foul taste on the tongue. As blood sugar levels rise, saliva becomes sweet, feeding bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria produce waste products that have a foul odor. Bacteria will also feed on a...
A thick coating on the tongue is a sign of ama - toxins accumulating in the body. It may be a sign of thick blood and aggravated Kapha, or aggravated Vata with constipation. The coating is formed by action of bacteria on the tongue. The presence...
A normal tongue has a very thin white coating in the back, which is a sign that the tongue is adequately nourished. If the tongue coating appears gray in color, it is a sign that ama (toxins) is present. The grayish color specifically indicates toxins...
Coating in the tongue cracks indicates acutely aggravated doshas in the blood, or a wind condition in Chinese medicine. This is an important warning sign to start caring for your body.
Sleep in the eye is a sign of sweet, thick, rich Kapha blood. When the blood plasma is thick and rich, it tends to coagulate in the eyes.
Strong body odor is a sign of toxicity. The toxicity may come from infection, a proliferation of normal gut bacteria, and other metabolic disorder. When at high levels, toxins in the blood are released through the skin and breath, giving an odor....
General malaise is a general feeling that you are unwell. You may feel like you are coming down with a cold or a fever. In the absence of an infection, general malaise is usually a sign of toxic buildup. You simply might not feel like yourself anymore....
Ayurveda classifies pain into several types - inflammatory, tension related, and ama related (toxins), although the underlying cause of pain could be virtually any injury, disease or sickness. General aches & pains are often a sign of ama or toxic...
Puffy skin implies lymphatic stagnation, inflammation, and edema, overall a Kapha condition in Ayurveda and dampness in Chinese medicine. Possible causes include poor circulation, an allergen, and toxins. Kapha lymph is naturally thick & gooey. This...
Skin may become lusterless and dull when Circulation to the skin is poor Toxins (ama) in circulation are released through the skin Poor Circulation Poor circulation causes the skin to appear lifeless. Lusterless...
Gray teeth indicates Vata type toxic buildup. The most common cause of Vata ama is constipation, gas and bloating.
A gray sclera indicates Vata type ama, which can come from constipation, gas, or bloating.
Swollen lymph nodes are a sign of infection. In Ayurveda, tissues are most vulnerable to infection when the blood is too sweet and thick (an excess condition), and when there is toxic buildup. Traditional remedies include a light and mildly spicey diet...
A dilated pupil is often a sign of toxicity or drug use. When pupils are dilated, blood vessels may be dilated as well.
Urine becomes smelly when it ferments due to bacteria in the bladder, or after eating certain foods such as asparagus. Fermentation in the bladder happens due to an infection, inflammation, or because the urine is sitting in the bladder for too...
Blurry vision may happens when the iris is dilated due to blood toxicity, or when the muscles that regulate the lens are weakened due to strain, starting a computer screen, etc.
Swollen joints may be a sign of toxicity, an auto-immune disorder, or arthritic degeneration in the joint.
Olive skin appears healthy and glowing. Sallow skin, on the other hand, looks slightly yellow or brown as it has lost its natural complexion. It appears dull and lifeless, particularly on the face. Olive skin is usually genetic, and tends to be...
Fungi grow easily in warm, damp areas of your body like the groin, armpits, vagina, and colon. They also tend to lodge in areas with poor circulation, including the toes and joints. Often a fungal infection in the foot is a sign of a deeper fungal...
Acne is considered a hot, oily pitta condition in Ayurveda. When oils build up in the skin and clog your pores the small pustules known as pimples appear. Acne represents a small local infection of the skin. Acne due to...
Cystic acne may form in a person with a watery kapha constitution has a clogged pore, their body may form a cysts around the irritant.
A whitehead may also be painful. All painful whiteheads are due to a localized infection. Whiteheads can result from excessively sweet Kapha blood, or blood that is too high in sugar or fat content mixing with fiery Pitta toxins. The fiery toxins...
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.
On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalanced biocharacteristics. By eating an optimal diet that balances your biocharacteristics, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Founder of Joyful Belly Ayurveda, John Immel, answers the question ‘What is Ayurveda?’
