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More than the intellect, what separates humans from machines is their natural urges that have to be met no matter what. But humans, being the civilized persons they are, often tend to not give in to these urges to keep up the societal manners that separate them from the animals. However, as much as polite and politically right this may seem, it is not healthy to suppress your natural urges. 

Ayurveda asks you to never suppress your natural urges. Attending to your natural urges appropriately will help you in preventing many diseases. There are 14 natural urges of the body that should not be suppressed. They are flatulence, defecation, urination, belching, sneezing, thirst, hunger, sleep, cough, breathing rapidly with exertion, yawning, tears, vomiting and ejaculation.

Research has proved that habitual suppression of these urges can trigger disease pathogenesis. 

Flatulence: Chronic suppression of flatulence or passing gas will force downward moving vata to build up in the intestines and eventually cause problems with urination, bowel function, reproduction, and lower extremity strength. 

Defecation: Suppressing this urge will result in the upward movement of toxins resulting in headaches, sinus concerns, abdominal discomfort, and belching which means there are problems in the stomach, heart, head, and sinuses.

Urination: Suppression of urination results in the same concerns as suppressing flatulence and defecation, as well as imbalances in the bladder, penis, vagina, groin, and kidneys.

Belching: Suppression of belching has been associated with poor tasting of foods, nerve issues, heart concerns, and lower intestinal gas.

Sneezing: Constant suppression of sneezing will cause headache, neck tension, dullness of the senses, and tiredness.

Thirst: Not quenching your thirst on a timely basis can cause dehydration, dryness, coldness, weight loss, fatigue, heart, and kidney concerns.

Hunger: Making a habit of avoiding food will lead to loss of appetite and taste, weight loss, and abdominal concerns. 

Sleep: Not giving your body adequate rest through sleep will result in insomnia, a condition where you are too tired to sleep. 

Cough: Regular suppression of cough has been linked to issues with taste, breathing, and even heart concerns.

Breathing rapidly with exertion: Increased blood pressure, ruptured artery, retinal damage and even strokes can result from suppressing rapid breaths during exertion. 

Yawning: Not yawning as a compulsion can lead to a chronic lack of oxygenation in the blood that goes to the brain which can imbalance vata and all aspects of the nervous system.

Tears: Holding back tears is equivalent to holding back emotions which can result in behavioral problems.

Vomiting: Vomiting may sometimes be necessary to get rid of undigested food. Suppressing vomiting can cause the undigested food to migrate into the lower intestines and lymph, causing health issues in these areas.

Ejaculation: Suppressing ejaculation can cause urinary tract imbalances in the prostate, urethra, and genitals.

So you see, if you are in the habit of holding back these urges, then you might be risking your overall well-being. According to Ayurveda, the first line of treatment for all diseases is to "avoid the cause".  Refraining from suppressing these natural urges is the first step toward it. 

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