BASIC PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDA

Agni - Digestive Fire (Enzymes)

Most diseases are caused due to poor digestion. Agni (enzyme) is found in the alimentary canal and digests food. Samagni is produced by the normal digestion of the three doshas. Digestive activity (healthy, deficient or excessive) is governed by the doshas becoming aggravated. The three doshas produce three agnis (vishamagni, tikshnagni and mandagni respectively). 

Excess Vayu in the body produces weak, irregular digestion and causes gas. Excess Pitta creates a situation like an overheated furnace. Food bums up rapidly and persons experience burning sensations, thirst, acidity, indigestion, etc. In some cases, the agni / fire even bums up nutrients, causing malnutrition. When excess Kapha is present in the digestive tract, the digestive fire is low, making it difficult to digest food. As a result, a person feels dull, poor, inadequate and lethargic; the stomach is heavy or the person may experience constipation. Vayu disorders produce hard stools due to the dryness caused by gas. Pitta stools are soft or liquid due to excess heat. Kapha stools are moderate. A healthy stool is moderate and easily eliminated once or twice a day.

Thirteen agnis reside in the body and are responsible for digestion.
Jatharagni: Works at the gastrointestinal level, governing basic digestion and the 12 other agnis.

5 Bhutagnis: Metabolize the five elements that are present in the body's tissues. They are a form of heat, always present in the tissues that are responsible for proper function and development of the tissues.

7 Dhatagnis: Metabolize in the seven tissues (dhatus). This is a biochemical process beyond the digestion of food. It includes the anabolic and catabolic activities of the body.

| Introduction | Pancha Maha Bhootas | Tridoshas | Trigunas | Agni | Dhatus | Malas | Prakriti |