Abstract
Agni is used to describe the digestion of food and its metabolic products. The 4 main types of agni are described in Ayurveda:- Vishama Agni due to irregular digestion (erratic), Tikshna Agni due to hyper-metabolism (hot and sharp), Manda Agni due to hypo-metabolism (slow and heavy), and Sama Agni due to Balance state of body. If one the agni is disturbed diseases will occur. Digestive fire helps in the digestion of food and converts it into energy form. In this article, we are going to discuss agni in detail.
Introduction
As per Ayurveda if agni is in a balanced state then all the work is done properly in our body. Agni is represented as pitta in our body and pitta is of 5 types.
5 types of pitta:- Pachaka pitta which is located in Grahani (stomach or duodenum), Ranjaka pitta which is located in Yakrit ( liver), Pleeha (spleen), Bhrajaka pitta which is located in the Skin, Alochaka pitta which is located in Eyes, and Sadhaka pitta which is located in Hridya.
What is agni and its qualities?
- As acharya explained that अग्नि गतौः (अमरकोशः)
- The word agni is derived from Ang Dhatu and Gati Pratyaya which means – Widely Spreading.
- The qualities of agni are Hot, Light, Sharp, Dry, Penetrating, Pungent, Luminous, Transforming.
As Acharya Sushrat said that
सु.सू.१५।४८ Dosha, Dhatu, mala are sama awastha (balanced state) and indriya, aatma, mann all are working in properly manner then the person is considered as Swastha (healthy). The dosha plays a main role in agni as the dosha vitiates then agni will be disturbed and disease will occur. As Acharya explained 4 types of agni Vishama agni due to vitiated vata dosha, Tiksna agni due to vitiated pitta dosha, Manda agni due to vitiated kapha dosha, and sama agni due to the balance of all the three doshas.
As acharya charak told about in chikitsa sthan च.चि. १५।०४
Agni is present in our body as agni leaves the body then the shareer (body) is considered dead. On the other hand if agni is present in our body for sama awastha (balance state) the person lives longer or without any diseases.
Synonyms of Digestive Fire (च.चि. १५।०३)
The Synonyms of Digestive fire described by Acharya Charak are
Varna (Complexion), Ayu (Longevity), Balam (Strength), Upachaya (Body accumulation), Utsaaha (Enthusiasm), Ojas (Tissue essence), Prabha (Luster), Agnayah (Bio fires), Prana (Life)
Site of digestive fire in च.चि. १५
Grahani:- Grahani name is termed because it receives food. It is situated between Amashya and Pakwashaya.
As Ayurveda pitta has been described in the form of agni (digestive fire) its normal functions are:-
- Raag- ( Ranjak pitta) – Rasa ranjan
- Pakti- ( Pachak pitta )- Ahar paachan
- Tejo – (Alochak pitta)- Darshan
- Medho – (Sadhak pitta)- Budhi, Medh
- Ushma – (Bhrajak pitta)- Skin complexion
Types of Agni (13
1. जठराग्नि
- ( digestive enzymes in stomach and intestine )- Main Agni
It includes:- Vishama Agni, Tiksna Agni, Manda Agni, Sama Agni
2. भूताग्नि
- ( elemental digestive fire ) – 5
It includes :- Parthiv Agni, Apyagni, Tejasagni,Vayuvagni,Akashagni
3. धात्वग्नि
- (tissue level digestive fire) -7
It includes
- Rasagni present in Rasa Dhatu
- Raktagni present in Rakta Dhatu
- Mamsagni present in Mamsa Dhatu
- Medagni present in Meda Dhatu
- Asthyagni present in Asthi Dhatu
- Majjagni present in Majja Dhatu
- Shukragni present in Shukra Dhatu
Causes of Imbalance Digestive Fire
In ( च.चि.१५।४२-४३) Acharya explained the different causes of imbalance digestive fire-
- Vishama asana – improperly timed take food
- Atyambu pana- drinking water excessively
- Sandharana- suppression of natural urges
- Swapna Viparyaya- sleeping during the day, keeping awake at night
- Disturbed lifestyle of a person
- Stressed lifestyle
- Virudh ahar (consumption of unwholesome diet)
- Virudh vihar ( improper activities)
- Eating food so fast
- Eating food so slow
- Eating food while doing some activities
- Irregular consumption of food
- Consumption of snigdha (oily) food
- Food consumption opposite to person Prakriti
- Consumption of food in unhygienic conditions leads to infection
Sign and symptoms
- Trushna- Excess thirst
- Alasya- laziness
- Bala kshaya – diminution of strength
- Vidaha- burning sensation
- Chirat anna paka – delay in digestion of food
- Kaya Gauravam – heaviness of the body
- Arochaka – Anorexia
- Vairasya – distaste in mouth
- Praseka- excessive salivation
- Tamaka shwasa- asthma
- Parvaruk- pain in small joints
- Chardi – vomiting
- Jwara- fever
- Udgara- Belching
Samprapti Ghatak
- Hetu- Agnidusti
- Adisthan – Mahasrotas especially Grahani
- Dosha- Tridosha
- Dusya- Anna and Rasa
- Srotas – Annavah
- Udbhavasthana – Amashaya
Consequences for imbalance of digestive fire
When the agni is disturbed it causes a different type of diseases in the body and mainly starts with anorexia and indigestion. Increase or decrease in an agni both are very harmful to our body. Disturbed agni disturbs the cellular tissue and causes morbidity of cellular tissue leading to tissue death and storage of toxins in our body. As toxins are deposits in the body they lead to serious illness. Due to agni dusthi, many health-related problems can occur but Amalpitta, Ajirna, and Grahani dosha commonly occur. As imbalance agni creates Ama (toxins) in our body dosha accumulates at different sites of the body. for example – Kapha in the Stomach, Pitta in the Abdomen, and Vata in the Colon.
As digestive fire is low it can cause
- Due to Vishama Agni:- There is gas in the stomach, Muscle spasms in the body, Dry skin, Shrinking gums, Constipation, Dry skin, Collapsing joints, Cramps in the body, and Sleeplessness.
- Due to Tikshna Agni:– Irritation in the throat, Nausea, Excessive thirst.
- Due to Manda Agni:- Asthma, Diabetes, Cough, Obesity.
Health issues due to low digestive fire
- In Ayurveda, low digestive fire co-relates to the manda agni. As kapha dosha vitiates, the Manda Agni will occur. Due to kapha dosha, there is a slow metabolism and a habit of gaining weight without eating too much. kapha dosha is mainly formed by earth and water elements. So the patient feels slow digestion, Frequent colds and coughs, sluggish bowel, and a feeling of heaviness. By taking oily food, indigestible foods, heavy food, sweet products, cheese, cold drinks, and cold food kapha dosha vitates and causes manda agni.
- As kapha dosha accumulates in the stomach, kapha can manifest several diseases like Mucus, Cough, Asthma, Diabetes, and Obesity.
- As per अ.ह.नि.१२।०१, Acharya said that Manda Agni always causes for roga.
Conclusion
Agni is a vital entity in the human body. As agni is not only responsible for the digestion of food but also responsible for the metabolism of the body. Agni transforms the food into energy and performs normal physiological functions of the body. The disturbed agni leads to agni dushti and causes pathological ailments like Ajirana (indigestion), Alasak (meteorism), Aamvisha, Aamdosa, Visuchika (gastroenteritis), etc. With the help of Ayurveda remedies and Good Nutritional Aahar and Vihar, we can manage diseases related to Agni Dusthi.