What is Ama?

The normal process that should take place in the body is as follows; all the food we eat should be fully digested. Half of it is absorbed into the body as nutrients and the rest of it expelled out of the body as waste products.

Sometimes, due to external negative influences (stress, strain, adverse weather, inappropriate food or lifestyle choices) not all the food we eat is fully digested. Perhaps just one third of the food is fully digested and absorbed as nutrients and another third fully digested and expelled as waste products, but this leaves one third remaining in the body in a semi-digested condition. This third cannot be identified by the body as either nutrients or waste, therefore it is neither absorbed nor expelled. This semi-digested, non-metabolised food circulates in the body as toxins. Ayurveda calls these toxins Ama. It is a Sanskrit word which literally translates as ‘undigested’ or ‘uncooked”. The first stage of disease formation in the body is also sometimes called Ama.

Ama acts as a barrier between medication given for a symptom and the final destination where the medication needs to act. In the beginning some of this medication may trickle through and show some immediate relief, but long term it will not penetrate this barrier of Ama and, therefore, there will be no long term relief. This explains why many people have chronic conditions that western medication is not helping.

Presence of Ama in the body:

Ama has been described as a toxic, heavy, sticky, foul smelling substance in the body. Ama can also be formed by bacterial invasion. Bacteria emit toxic substances into the system which can be compared to Ama. The following are some indications of Ama in the body:

• Eczema

• Psoriasis

• Cysts

• Swellings

• Painful or swollen joints

• Hypercholesterolemia

• Blocked arteries

• Mucus conditions

• Kidney/gall stones

• Gout, Uric acid deposition

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Acne/skin conditions

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• MS

• CFS

• IBS

Signs & Symptoms of Ama in the body:

• Heaviness

• Lethargy

• Irregular appetite

• Generalised body & joint pains, noticed especially the day after eating certain foods like meat,

  cheese, desserts & fried foods

• Skin is dull & lustre-less with blemishes, acne etc

• Bloated stomach, gases, flatulence

• Metallic taste in mouth

• White coating on the tongue

• Foul smelling breath & sweat

• Constipation, foul smelling stools which may be sticky, heavy & sink

• Lack of mental clarity & energy

• A sense of heaviness in the abdomen, legs or body as a whole

• Weary & unenthusiastic

• Blocked feeling anywhere in the body, including constipation, sinus congestion & difficulty in

  breathing

• One wakes up tired even after a good nights’ sleep

  Symptoms of Ama free physiology

  Once Ama has been treated & eliminated, the following should be noticed:

• Feel fresh & rested upon waking

• Skin regains a healthy glow

• Tongue is pink & clear

• Body feels light

• Aches & pains disappear

• No bloated feeling or heaviness

• Energetic feeling

• Enthusiastic & mind is clear

A beautiful home cleanse, inspired by Ayurvedic wisdom. This cleanse gently rids the body of ‘toxins’ caused by various external and internal factors with the use of simple fare, gentle herbs and a few Ayurvedic jams, spices & rituals.

This cleanse will begin on the Monday following April’s New Moon, 12th April, and run for 7 days. I always recommend gently ‘cleaning up’ your diet a few days before and slowly ‘easing out’ of the cleanse at the end so in total it is lovely to allow yourself 14-21 days.

This cleanse is gentle enough to do at any time, but the juncture of the seasons is optimal.

The cleanse will be run via an online Facebook community. This means you have access not just to me but also to others who are cleansing. Everything you need will be available to you via our private Facebook Community Group and I will allow you access as soon as you sign up so you can get prepared with your food and herb shopping. We will kick off with a live 30 minute Q+A session on the Sunday before we start (this will be recorded and available to you if you can’t make the live class) - 11am on the 11th April.

Expect to learn new ways of living and moving. This is not a traditional detox where you might experience hunger or deprivation - no calorie counting or excessive juicing! You will be nourished from the inside out and hopefully take the practices and rituals we will incorporate and make them part of your ongoing daily life practices.

Sign up HERE. £35pp

Read what other clients have to say about it:

“ Just wanted to put out a HUGE recommendation for Mairead from The Sacred Space for guiding me through an Ayurvedic Autumn Cleanse. It has been the most beautiful, nourishing ‘cleanse’ I have ever done - to the point where I am wondering if I have been doing it right because it has been so enjoyable! Full of beautiful, easy to digest, real food recipes, herbs to support, plenty of self care and lots of herbal teas! I feel so much better after getting into a bit of a post summer slump, full of energy, no bloating and getting that glow back and a few llbs have dropped off in the process!” AF October 2019

“ No headaches after day 1. No constipation after upping my Triphala on your advice. No hunger pangs or cravings. No caffeine, alcohol or refined sugar and I stuck to the prescribed meals and loved them - in fact I could eat that way all the time, so easy! Felt great, energetic, no palpitations, rested in the mornings and lost 3kg, what’s not to love? Oh and my annoying cough cleared up”. HS September 2019

You can take my short quiz to help determine if you have Ama and please remember to check with your GP if you are on any medications or have any doubts about whether you can take the herbs. *Not suitable when pregnant or trying to conceive.