ama: and what a tongue scraper's got to do with it
what is ama?
We know that balanced Agni means balanced digestion. But what if Agni and digestion aren't balanced? What's the result? Ama. Ama is the residue of undigested food. It's not a pleasant business; sticky, whiteish/yellow, smelly. In short, it's toxicity in the body, and as such, ama is a major cause of dis-ease in the body. Ama coats the shrotas (the body's physical and energetic channels) and the body attempts to clear this toxicity out via any means possible. The easiest means usually involves an opening in the body.
wondering if you have a lot of ama?
The check is pretty easy. First thing in the morning, upon waking, make your way to the bathroom mirror. Stick out your tongue, what do you see? Whiteish-yellow coating, sticky, smelly? Yup, ama. Wait too long after waking to clear that ama, and it makes its way back into the body. You can help your body clear that ama out though. Besides righting your digestion, you can clear the ama that has already accumulated. Enter the tongue scraper.
This magical piece of stainless steel or copper will scrape the ama off the tongue and, with it, stimulate the gastric fire and digestive enzymes. While some think that brushing their tongue will accomplish the same thing as scraping, Ayurveda actually understands that brushing the tongue works the ama back into the body, adding to the toxicity in the body instead of lessening it. Gently scrape from the back of the tongue to the front, until you have scraped the entire tongue, about 7-14 strokes.
With some attention to your tongue you'll receive important feedback from your body. How did what you ate or drank yesterday, or the time of day you ate effect your digestion and accumulation of ama? You'll see days where your tongue looks clean and clear, you'll see days where the ama seems endless. Use this feedback to inform your choices and as you see your ama decrease, see your vitality increase.
Tongue scraping is a staple of Ayurvedic self-care. The tongue is one of the organs we look to to ‘see’ inside the body. Daily scraping removes the coating on the tongue which is a by-product of incomplete digestion. While brushing the tongue pushes this coating deeper into the tissue, scraping the tongue with the bacteria-resistant properties of copper clears this build-up.
Scraping the tongue also stimulates the digestive organs, preparing the body for successful digestion.
Available in copper and stainless steel.
A remineralizing, low-abrasive, whole mouth cleanser.
This Āyurvedic tooth powder is a wonderful way to clean the teeth. It also pulls toxins from the tissues of the mouth, tones gum tissues, and supports remineralization.
Calcium Carbonate supports remineralization. Cinnamon’s sweet and astringent tastes freshen the mouth. Triphala tones the gum tissue, preventing bleeding, and pulls ama from the mouth. Licorice’s demulcent qualities support healthy mucous membranes. Neem is a famous Āyurvedic oral care herb, and in fact neem twigs were traditionally used to brush the teeth. Clove brings antiseptic and anti-fungal properties while freshening the mouth. Himalayan salt delivers low-abrasion minerals.
Use with our Bamboo Toothbrush.
1oz
Biodegradable and BPA-free, with soft bristles. We recommend using with our Āyurvedic Tooth Powder.
Box of 2
A hydrating oil pulling blend of sesame and olive oils infused with Āyurvedic herbs.
Holding oil in the mouth and gently “swishing” or “pulling” it back and forth through the teeth is a a traditional Āyurvedic practice that is an excellent way to support overall oral health and hygiene.
Āyur-oral Swoosh supports healthy teeth and gums, removes plaque, and whitens teeth. The herbal oil is flavored with a refreshing blend of peppermint and essential oils that leave your mouth feeling sparkling clean. Incorporate oil pulling into your daily routine after tongue scraping and teeth brushing to experience a fresher and healthier mouth.
8oz
