The mechanisms behind the disease process are obscure to most, even to the majority of medical
practitioners. Very little is known about the true origins of chronic diseases prevalent today. You may be
aware of the risks that can contribute to an illness from which you are suffering, but how diseases
manifest—from cause to effect (symptom)—remains elusive unless you begin to see the body and mind
from a more holistic viewpoint. Understanding how the digestive system works, and in what ways it can
lead to illness in the body and mind, can be of tremendous help on our journey of healing. [Whenever I
refer to disease or illness I actually mean “toxicity crisis,” which is the body’s natural healing response to
an unnatural situation.] To provide you with a clearer and more comprehensive picture of the disease
process, I have included some of the basic insights of Ayurvedic Medicine, which is the most ancient and
complete system of natural health care. Once you know how to “create” illness, you will also know how
to reverse it. Such is the purpose of this chapter.
Agni—The “General” Of Digestion
Whenever food enters your mouth and touches the taste buds located on the surface of your tongue,
your salivary glands begin secreting saliva. Saliva is needed to lubricate the food and to predigest cooked
starches. At the same time, your pancreas and small intestine receive instructions to prepare for the release
of the appropriate kinds and amounts of digestive enzymes and minerals necessary to help break down the
food into the smallest nutrient components.
The first and most common cause of digestive trouble is swallowing food too quickly. This eating
habit indicates anxiety, impatience and nervousness. Eating too quickly reduces saliva production in the
mouth cavity, which is a major cause of tooth decay. One of the functions of saliva is to keep the mouth
and teeth protected against harmful substances and irritating microbes.
There are other reasons why masticating food properly is so essential for our wellbeing. According to
fascinating research conducted at the Gifu University in Japan, chewing actually improves memory by
reducing the release of stress hormones. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated that the
hippocampus, which helps control blood levels of stress hormones, is stimulated by the act of chewing.
As a result, the simple act of chewing properly lowers both stress and stress hormones. So chewing your
food well can actually reduce anxiety levels.
The Japanese researchers also found that when teeth were missing or in a state of disrepair, people
tended to chew less. Subsequently, this led to increased stress hormone levels. The conclusion from this
study is that good dental health and the ability to chew properly appear to be important factors in
preserving our memory as we age and in protecting ourselves against the harmful effects of stress.
After passing through the esophagus, the food enters the stomach. If the food contains carbohydrates
(complex sugars and starches as found in vegetables and grains), the salivary enzymes continue to digest
these foods for about an hour before the stomach begins to secrete its gastric juices. If the food is
swallowed too quickly, these foods remain mostly undigested and begin to ferment.
Gastric juice is composed of hydrochloric acid, enzymes, mineral salts, mucus and water. The action
of the acid kills many of the harmful microbes and parasites that are naturally present in fresh produce,
meat, fish, dairy products and other foods. The hydrochloric acid also breaks down some of the harmful
substances that may accompany the food, such as certain food additives or chemicals. Special enzymes
begin to act upon proteins that may be present in the food. Once saturated with enough acid, the food is
forced in small jets into the duodenum.
The duodenum is a hollow jointed tube connecting the stomach to the jejunum, which is the central of
the three divisions of the small intestine. It represents the first and shortest part of the small intestine, and
it is where most chemical digestion takes place. It is called the cap because on an x-ray it looks a bit like a