Function of Saliva: How Does Saliva Impact Digestion, and Can Ayurveda Help Improve Its Function? - #16349

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about digestion and how my body handles food. I recently read somewhere that saliva plays a huge role in digestion, but I wasn’t sure how exactly. I’ve always thought of saliva just as something that helps with swallowing, but now I’m realizing it might be more important than I initially thought. The more I look into it, the more questions I have, especially since I’ve been dealing with some digestive issues like bloating and indigestion after meals. From what I’ve learned, saliva helps break down food in the mouth, but I’m not sure if I’m producing enough of it. I sometimes notice that my mouth feels dry after eating, even though I drink plenty of water. I also wonder if my digestion might be slower or less effective because of this. Since Ayurveda focuses on digestion and balancing the body, I’m wondering if there are any Ayurvedic treatments or herbs that can help improve the function of saliva and enhance digestion overall. I’ve heard that Ayurveda has a lot to say about the digestive process, but how does it view the function of saliva? Is there a specific dosha imbalance that could affect the production of saliva? If so, what can I do to balance it out? I’ve read that dry mouth can be linked to an imbalance in the body’s moisture levels, and I’m curious if Ayurveda has any remedies that could help with this issue. Would drinking herbal teas or using oils help improve saliva production and digestion? Another thing I’ve been wondering about is how diet affects the function of saliva. Are there specific foods or spices that Ayurveda recommends for increasing saliva production or improving its quality? I’ve tried to avoid overly dry or spicy foods, but I’m not sure if I’m missing anything in my diet that could be supportive for my digestive health. Lastly, I’ve noticed that my digestion seems slower in the morning, and I wonder if that’s related to the role of saliva. Is it possible that my body isn’t producing enough saliva when I wake up, and could this be affecting my digestive system’s function throughout the day? Does Ayurveda have any recommendations for improving saliva flow in the morning or kick-starting digestion early in the day? Has anyone else experienced issues with saliva production or digestion and found Ayurvedic treatments that helped? What worked for you, and how long did it take to notice a difference?