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The Upasakadasangasutra states that it also spoils bile and phlegm. When the air is vitiated, the food eaten gets stuck in the stomach due to phlegm, becomes sluggish, lethargic, and immobile, causing excruciating pain like a sharp object piercing, intense, unbearable colic, vomiting and bowel movements are obstructed, preventing the vitiated food from coming out. In other words, the stomach gets clogged with phlegm-ridden food. It is called Alasa or Alasaka disease. ''1
In the same context, there is a discussion of Dandakalasa, which is the most severe form of Alasaka, it is written
"Extremely contaminated or vitiated doshas, bound by contaminated raw juice, block the body's channels, become transverse, paralyze the whole body like a stick, the body's expansion and contraction stops, it is called Dandakalasa. It is incurable, it quickly ends the patient."2
Madhavanidan also discusses Alasaka in the context of indigestion. It is written there
"In the disease where the abdomen or stomach remains bound, i.e., there is a feeling of tightness, there is a constant spasm, the pain is so severe that the person starts groaning, the wind does not move downwards but rushes upwards towards the stomach, the bowel movements and apanavayu completely stop, there is thirst, belching occurs, it is called Alasaka."3
It is clear from the symptoms described in Ashtanga Hriday and Madhavanidan that Alasaka is a very painful disease.
Visheshad durbalasyalpavade vegavidharinah. Piditam marutena annam shleishmanaruuddhamantara || Alasam kshobhit doshaih shalyatvenaiva samsthitam. Shulaadinkurute teevraaschchhadityasara varjitann || So'lasah
Due to weakness etc., the food eaten by the one who has a strong urge to hold back, is particularly affected by the wind inside the stomach and is blocked by phlegm, becomes sluggish, and is agitated by the doshas, it is very painful and remains in the form of a sharp object, it causes intense, unbearable colic, etc., except for diarrhea. This is the disease called Alasa. A weak person with depleted tissues cannot tolerate food, and due to weak digestive fire, food does not digest properly. Therefore, it is specifically mentioned that for those who have a strong urge to hold back, the obstructed wind moves in the wrong direction, and bile and phlegm also move in the wrong direction.
Ashtanga Hriday 7.10, 11 with commentary 2. ...Atyarth duṣṭāstu doṣā duṣṭā'mabadhḍakhāḥ. Yāntastir yaktanuṁ sarvāṁ daṇḍavatstam bhayanti cet ||
Ashtanga Hriday 8. 12 3. Kukhshirahannyate'tyarthṁ pratāmyet parikajati.
Niruddho marūtaścaiva ku kṣāvupari dhāvti || Vātava) Nirodhaśca yasya'tyarth bhavedapi. Tasyālasakamacaṣṭe tṛṣṇodgārāu ca yass tu ||
Madhavanidan, Indigestion Diagnosis 17, 18