Causes:
Overeating, heavy food, cold food, excessive sleep, sleeping in the day and hormonal imbalances. Ayurveda believes that excess body weight is due to a weak digestive fire or the ‘agni’.

Remedies:
The main thrust is to improve the digestive fire with the use of appropriate herbs combined with the correct lifestyle.
Fasting is considered beneficial but care must be taken to avoid fruit juices during the fast. Vegetable juices and herbal teas should instead be taken.

Mild laxatives like Triphala (3-5 gm at bed time) or Aloe gel can be used.
1 gm. of Guggul with ginger and honey taken three times a day is good.
½ gm of Shilajeet with ginger and honey can also be taken three times a day.
Trikatu powder which is made with black pepper, long pepper and dry ginger is also very good for improving the digestive fire.
Hot spices like cayenne, black pepper, ginger and garlic should be used in cooking.