The 13 Natural Urges which must Never be Restrained according to Ayurveda

The body’s natural urges help the body stay in balance by assimilating and eliminating whatever is necessary.

There are thirteen natural urges which should never be restrained, as they could cause adverse health implications according to Ayurveda. Holding on to these urges can cause harmful effects to your health and wellbeing. These urges are commonly overlooked and ignored, mainly out of courtesy, sometimes out of shame. But suppressing the natural urges aggravates the 3 humors (doshas) causing an accumulation of toxins within the body.

The 13 urges:

The urge to urinate (Mutra Vega):

Restraining the urge to urinate may only cause some mild discomfort at first. And we have all had to do it at some time. But withholding this urge can make us vulnerable to threatening disorders such as urinary infections, abdominal pain, genital pain and kidney stones. It may cause pain in the bladder and urinary tract, create difficulty in passing urine and cause headaches.

Holding the urge to urinate eventually leads to an aggravation of the wind (vata) element, causing vata-related ailments. 

 

The urge to defecate (Purish Vega):

Restraining the urge to move the bowels, can cause abdominal pain, headaches, difficulty in passing stool, flatulence, bloating and constipation, pain in the calf muscles, colds, and the formation of excessive wind.

It will aggravate the wind (vata) element; specifically the downward moving energy stream called Apana vayu, which is in charge of all the process related to elimination. Since the colon is known as the seat of the wind element, restraining the urge to defecate in the long-run will cause the wind element to change direction, which which can result in many serious disorders.

 

The urge to release gas (Vata Vega):

Releasing gas is an urge most people will restrain, especially around others. And while this is a most courteous practice, it comes with its own afflictions.

It is commonly believed that passing gas is a sign of an unhealthy condition, however according to ayurveda, it is normal to pass gas up to fourteen times a day. It is only a cause of concern if the the passing of gas causes excessive flatulence, or if it is accompanied by a foul smell.

Restraining ourselves from passing gas can cause urinary retention, abdominal pain, bloating, fatigue, inadequate excretion, chronic indigestion and multiple wind-related disorders.

 

The urge to vomit (Chardi Vega):

Nobody likes to vomit and most of us will try to restrain it by whatever means possible. We do this by deliberately holding it in by clenching our digestive organ or by taking anti-vomiting medication.

But vomiting is a defense mechanism. Ayurveda states it usually happens when bile (pitta) and mucus (kapha) are aggravated, and should never be restrained. When it is suppressed it can cause itches and rashes, loss of appetite, loss of motivation, anemia, colds and flus, nausea and multiple serious skin disorders.

Constant use of antacids and related medicines can almost permanently suppress the urge to vomit and cause severe disorders, as one of our strongest defense mechanisms becomes neutralized.

 

The urge to sneeze (Kshavathu Vega):

Many of us try to stop ourselves from sneezing, especially in certain environments like at work. But disrupting the urge to sneeze, can aggravate the energy stream that governs the nervous system and the movement of the limbs, known as Udana Vayu. This ultimately leads to ailments related to the head such as vertigo, and painful neck spasms.

According to some ayurvedic literature – under the most severe conditions – it can even lead to facial paralysis.

 

The urge to belch (Udagar Vega):

Burping in public, especially during meals is generally considered rude. On account of this, many of us will belch as silently as possible, placing a hand in front of the mouth. But there are many others who completely suppress the urge to burp. This immediately aggravates the upward stream of energy known as Udana Vayu, which regulates speech, communication and expression.

Gradually, it will cause the wind element to change direction, causing other ailments such as excessive flatulence, coughing, hiccups, loss of appetite and tremors. In the long run, it can cause disorders related to the lungs and the heart.

 

The urge to yawn (Jrumbha Vega):

Yawning is another urge that is often held back, as many people relate it with being bored. And nobody wants others to think they’re boring.

But much like restraining the urge to burp, suppressing our yawns aggravate Udana Vayu.

 

The urge to eat when hungry (Kshudha Vega):

Due to our hectic lifestyle and the importance we place on the physical appearance, we often fail to eat when hungry. Under certain conditions, like fasting, it can be of great benefit. But we should learn to become aware of the difference between the hunger which arises with healthy fasting (and provides rest to the digestive organs) and excessive hunger resulting from restraint.

Over time, not eating when we are hungry causes symptoms such as emaciation, faintness and fatigue, loss of appetite, depression and lowered mental efficiency. It directly aggravates the wind (vata) and fire (pitta) elements and the entire digestive system.

 

The urge to drink when thirsty (Trushna Vega):

We often forget to drink when thirsty. In fact, many of us confuse thirst with hunger. It is very important for our overall wellbeing, that we become mindful of the quantity of water we drink in a day.

Restraining the intake of water when thirsty causes dehydration, decreased brain function and an immediate decline in mental and physical performance. Early symptoms of dehydration are loss of hearing, faintness, fatigue and vertigo. It causes aggravation of the wind (vata) and fire (pitta) elements, causing increased dryness within the body. Acute dehydration can lead to blood thickening and other more serious cardiovascular ailments.

 

The urge to cry when sad (Ashru Vega):

Stopping ourselves from crying is a common practice – especially amongst men. Many of us were wrongly taught that controlling our emotions is a sign of strength and masculinity.

Tears are a natural bodily response to extremely intense emotions such as extreme happiness or sorrow. Holding our tears back, confines our emotional energy and results in a build-up within the subconscious mind. And this emotional suppression leads to various psychosomatic disorders. Common ailments include torticollis, eye ailments, chronic headaches, chronic sinusitis, vertigo and loss of appetite. Holding back the urge to cry, aggravates the wind (vata) and fire (pitta) elements in the body.

 

The urge to sleep when sleepy (Nidra Vega):

Stopping ourselves from sleeping when we need it, is probably the most commonly restrained urge out of the thirteen. Sometimes we stay up for work, other times for social interactions. Sometimes we cant help it, such when theres a new born baby in the home. But not sleeping when we need it, has adverse effects on our wellbeing.

It causes repeated symptoms, which include, yawning, lethargy, bodily aches, loss of attention, chronic headaches and migraines, disturbed mental activity, ailments of the eyes, digestive disorders and insomnia. It is no secret that getting adequate sleep is one the pillars of health and wellbeing.

Insufficient sleep aggravates the wind (vata) and earth (kapha) elements. At first it will aggravate only the wind element, which will then start overproducing mucus as a defense mechanism, which will ultimately lead to aggravation of the earth element.

 

The urge to pant after exertion (Shramashwas Vega):

Panting is an important reflex, particularly when we need to catch our breath.

Stopping ourselves from panting after any intense activity can cause faintness, fatigue, vertigo and various circulatory ailments. It may cause decreased awareness, due to a deficient delivery of oxygenated blood to the brain.

It also aggravates the wind element and Udana vayu. The heart and lungs are directly related – hence being named cardiovascular system. Panting is necessary to oxyginate the body, and to lower the heart rate. If it is suppressed, it can lead to severe heart related disorders.

 

The urge to ejaculate when highly aroused (Shukra Vega):

Although suppressing this urge is at times part of higher yogic practices, it is something that must be learnt from an expert, as there are many dangers that can arise from doing this.

Suppression of ejaculation causes genital pains, bodily aches, mental stress and urinary disorders. In the long run, it can lead to impotence, various hormonal and psychosomatic disorders and diseases of the genital tract.