Sama Mala: Metabolic Wastes With Toxins (Ama) Of Improper Digestion

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S

Introduction

Saama means associated or mixed with ama (immature juices formed after incomplete digestion of food in the stomach)
Malas – excreta or metabolic waste substances of the body 

Saama Malas means the excreta or wastes of the body mixed with ama.

Malas or excreta are three in number. They are produced in large quantity on daily basis and eliminated out of the body. Therefore they are called sthula malas i.e. excreta formed in large quantity. They are –

• Pureesha – stools or feces
• Mutra – urine
• Sweda – sweat

Apart from these we also have sukshma malas. They are formed in small quantity. They are also called as dhatu malas because they are formed during the end phase of formation of tissues from the nutritive juices.
Read related: Dhatu Mala: Tissue Waste Products: Ayurveda perspective

Saama Mala

Saama Malas – The excreta associated with ama
All three forms of major excreta should be eliminated regularly so that the body functions keep going smoothly and rhythmically. On the other hand if they are stagnated in the body or improperly excreted, they can cause many diseases in the body.

The association of ama makes it difficult for the excreta to get expelled from the system in an easy way. We can find many people finding it difficult to void stools or urine in proper way. Some may even regularly experience dissatisfaction or feel of incomplete evacuation of metabolic wastes even after spending quality time in the voiding rooms. Similarly many people would not sweat properly and would land up with serious skin and blood related diseases. All these things happen due to the improper or incomplete evacuation of excreta because the excreta associated with ama get adhered to the walls of the excretory passages and channels. Thus the feces may stick to the walls of colon and the urine may stay back for long time in the urinary bladder or urethra refusing to go out in totality.
Read related: Exhaled Toxins Are Not Considered As Mala (Waste product) Why?

Saama Pureesha

Saama Pureesha – feces mixed with ama
The feces associated with ama will be heavy in nature. Due to its heaviness the feces sinks in the water while the feces devoid of ama would float on the surface of water since it is light in nature. This feces mixed with ama will have foul smell and sticky in nature. It will neither be properly formed nor will it be excreted in a mass. In fact, the feces take lot of time to get excreted. This means to tell that the sama mala is eliminated with difficulty. It may also produce pain in the belly or anal region, distension, flatulence, belching, indigestion and other symptoms of indigestion and other forms of discomfort.

On the other hand, if the feces is loose or too hard, cold or contaminated with excessive kapha it becomes difficult to judge if the feces is associated with ama or not.
Read related: Understanding Digestion Process From An Ayurveda View

Saama Mutra

Sama Mutra – urine mixed with ama
When the urine is associated with ama, it gets contaminated. The urine gets dense and heavy, gets dirty and develops abnormal color and foul odor. The urine will not be voided easily and the person feels as if he has not voided the urine completely in spite of finishing the act of micturation.

Many urinary disorders of the types of ikshumeha, pishtameha, etc 20 types of prameha i.e. urinary disorders or diabetes, stones in the urine etc will be manifested along with difficulty in passing the urine.

Saama Sweda

Saama Sweda – sweat mixed with ama
When the sweat gets associated with ama it is eliminated with difficulty. This sweat blocks the sweat ducts and apparatus and also clogs the skin pores. The unwanted salts and water in the body is thus not eliminated properly.

They get deposited in the deeper layer of the skin and make the skin susceptible to various infections and damages. The blood supply and nerve conductivity to the cell are hampered and the skin’s perception of touch, temperature and pain is meddled with. As a result the immunity of the skin is lost. Its color, texture, luster and complexion fade with time. The skin becomes victim of many diseases.

As an effect of saama malas one may also suffer from the mala pradoshaja rogas i.e. diseases caused by contamination of excreta.

Saama Mala treatment

In the condition wherein the excreta are associated with ama, they will not be properly expelled from the body leading to stagnation of excreta in the system. This happens because the excreta get adhered to the walls of the excretory passages. In this condition if we administer the shodhana i.e. cleansing and evacuatory treatments or medicines, the excreta while forcibly getting expelled will cause serious damage to the organs and passages through which they pass. As a result the colon, urinary bladder and urethra and skin will be damaged.

Therefore cleansing strategies should not be adopted at the beginning of treatment. Initially the ama should be dissolved and destroyed using ama pachana medicines and foods i.e. the medicines and foods which separate the ama from the excreta. As a result the excreta get detached from their attachment to the walls of the organs and passages. Now it would be easy to expel these excreta by administering suitable cleansing treatments including virechana, i.e. therapeutic purgation or vasti i.e. herbal enemas. These treatments will help in expulsion of feces and urine properly and keep the body healthy and fit.

Meanwhile deepana medicines i.e. medicines which would kindle the digestive fire shall also be given. These medicines will strengthen the gut fire and enable it to digest the food properly and also will avoid the formation of ama.

Treatments over the skin to restore its health including abhyanga i.e. massage, dhara i.e. stream pouring of medicated liquids, milks, oils, decoctions etc over the skin, lepana i.e. anointment or application of medicinal pastes etc shall be done after the ama gets separated. This will help in proper elimination of sweat and also will restore the color and complexion of the skin.

Importance

Need of having the knowledge of Sama Malas
It is important for the physician to know about the difference between the saama excreta and the normal excreta. The normal excreta formed in proper proportions following proper digestion will be eliminated with ease, doesn’t produce any symptoms of discomfort and pass off easily. On the other hand, the saama malas will be troublesome.

When we attempt to throw out the saama malas, they may damage the system because they are not easily excreted. They produce damage to the organs and tissues. The physician should be administering the ama digesting medicines before expelling them out.
Read related: Symptoms Of Doshas Associated Ama – Treatment Principle

Nirama Mala symptoms

Symptoms of Nirama Mala i.e. excreta devoid of ama association
Symptoms of excreta devoid of ama will be the opposite of those associated with ama. Feces devoid of ama will float on water, will not have undigested food, mucus or blood associated with it, easily gets expelled in time, doesn’t take time to get expelled, doesn’t cause trouble, doesn’t emit foul smell and brings about lightness in the body.

The urine devoid of ama will not cause urinary disorders, infections and difficulty in passage of urine, the urine gets void easily and it will be devoid of foul smell and abnormal colors and consistency. The sweat devoid of ama will get eliminated properly and will not cause fever, skin diseases etc and will cause lightness of the body.
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