HOW DO YOU DO?

There is a constant among western European languages that is rarely found in other modern languages elsewhere in the world. In Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish the formula to greet another person is very much the same, and basically could be paraphrased as “How’s it going?”. Not “Are you in good health?”, nor “May the peace of God be with you”, nor “I salute the great spirit within you”, but the remarkably basic concern for the other’s intestinal transit. And why not?

The most obvious proof of good health, or the contrary, is to be found in the state of your faeces.

As you have correctly surmised this paper is not about the finer points of comparative linguistics, but about the most important of all human concerns, namely our health.

In many ways nowadays we have become very distanced from the body’s natural functions, and as a result, have lost a remarkable toolset that we knew how to operate not so long ago.

This situation is specific to western culture in general but regrettably spreading worldwide. While it would not be considered either impolite or out of line to talk about one’s bowel movement with a medical practitioner, you would not be invited to dinner again if you started a conversation about that and the finer details in the average western home.

All this to raise awareness concerning one of the most pertinent indicators of individual health.

At the other end of the spectrum, so to speak, there is no end to the recommendations of what you should eat, the benefits and advantages, despite the fact that there is NEVER any true proof, as there would be from knowledge of your individual metabolism, as backup to support such. So, it is as if we have reached a point in the modern world where the only thing that counts in life is what you put into the entrance of the oesophagus. No doubt that is where the money is.

The most important takeaway from this essay would be that a healthy faeces floats on water.

Once again, this is only to be found in the western world where we use toilets with a bowl containing water. That allows a rather singular perspective that is not available to those who use other systems of waste removal.

Both Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda have a great deal to say about the digestive capacity of the individual as a function of aspect of the faeces, and it might be useful to take a brief look at what they have to say.

TCM

Analysis of faeces in TCM does not play as important a role as it does in Ayurveda, and the emphasis is more on constipation and diarrhea – the symptoms of poor vitality – and its remedy.

As if the detail, whilst indicative and useful in forming a diagnosis, takes second place to the cure. So, rather than go into that detail which is far-reaching, it seems more relevant to see what Ayurveda has to add.

Ayurveda

The Indians speak of a triple concept of dosha-dhatu-mala to explain bodily functions. Here we are concerned by the latter, the mala, the metabolic end products, further subdivided into bodily and metabolic waste. These body wastes are again classified into three – urine, stool and sweat. The metabolic wastes have seven categories but that is not our concern here.

Stool and urine are derived from nutrition, after digestion the remaining undigested components solidify and must be eliminated at the risk of upsetting the metabolic process, leading to poorly formed tissue and disease.

The actual examination primarily takes account of:

-       Colour: black, grey-red, white, red

-       Froth: indicative of wind

-       Consistency: dense, solid, watery, loose, dry

-       Quantity/frequency: less or more – more – difficulty

-       Odour: foul, raw meat, dead body, putrefaction, without odour

-       Touch: cold, hot, unctuous, rough

-       Pain: burning, painful, straining, tenesmus.

In the presence of ama, a condition specific to the imbalance of the fire principle and cause for some considerable concern for the person’s health, it is noteworthy that the Ayurvedic doctor would place the stool in a container of water to see if it floats or sinks. There is a problem if it sinks.

Conclusion

For those of us who use a water-flushing toilet, you have instant notification, so why not pay heed?

Of course, the bottom line – as a manner of speaking – lies in the intake of food, its quality and digestion. There can hardly be any doubt that a modern human in affluent society, eats more than he/she is capable of successfully digesting, and pays dearly for that. But if ever you were in doubt, you now have a sure way of knowing if that is the case.