Food as both cause and remedy for Ajirna (indigestion): From dietary literature of South India

ABSTRACT Ayurveda is one of the ancient medical systems in the world, advocating the way of life to prevent various diseases. According to Ayurveda , the disturbance of Agni (digestive fire) is the cause of the manifestation of all diseases. The leading cause of Mandagni (diminution of digestive fire) is variations in the quality and quantity of food or incompatible foods ( Virudha Ahara ), which lead to indigestion, known as Ajirna in Ayurveda . Unmonitored indigestion is the root cause of many diseases. Awareness and avoidance of the root etiological factor are the initial actions in the management of Ajirna . In Ayurvedic literature, certain books like Ajirnamanjari, Vastuguna Dipika, Vishprativishamulu, and Visha Prativisha Manjari describe different foods that cause Ajirna and their remedies in the form of other foods. This concept of food as both the cause and remedy of indigestion is well-practised in Southern India, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. As per Ayurveda , excess intake of any beneficial food may also cause harm. Certain foods, by nature, may not be suitable for certain groups of people or may cause allergies or untoward effects, even in preferable quantities. We bring out this unique concept-oriented food both as a cause and remedy. To identify the exact botanical names/ English names of the diets materia medica, floras of Andhra Pradesh, online portals like FRLHT, etc., were studied and consulted with linguistic experts and botanists. Altogether, 349 diets as the cause of indigestion and their remedies were reported in this article from five books. This information helps avoid further complications or poisonous effects of excessive diet intake. Based on the content of these texts, comparative phyto-pharmacological, in silico , in vitro , and in vivo studies may reveal many more scientific truths.