As per Ayurveda,” Agni ” plays a crucial role in metabolising and digestion in humans. The food we eat must be properly digested and absorbed for the smooth functioning of our bodies, and Agni is in charge of doing so. The purpose of ” Agni ” is to aid in the digestion of food and other metabolic processes. Agni converts food into energy, which is crucial in maintaining our body’s key operations. Appropriately, in Ayurveda, Deha – agni is contemplated as the birthplace of life, skin, health, strength, lustre, oja, and teja.
The significance of Agni is explained by Acharya Charak that when Agni is stopped working in a person, he/she dies. However, if Agni is fully functional, then that individual is healthy to the fullest and will live a joyful and healthy life but if vitiated in an individual, then his entire metabolism is not functioning at its optimum, which results in poor health and illness. Hence, Agni is regarded as life’s foundation.
Types:
Agni comes in a variety of forms due to its involvement in each and every dhatu paramanu (cell) in the body. However, the number of Agni is counted differently in several traditional Ayurvedic works of literature, as indicated below.
Agni has been classified into 13 categories as per its functionality and site of action. These are:
• Jatharagni—this type is found in the stomach and the duodenum.
• Bhutagni – This Agni is composed of five basic elements.
• Dhatwagni—Seven Agni, one for each dhatu, are described.
•The four categories in which it performs digestion in humans are Vishamagni, Tikshanagni, Mandagni, and Samagni.
Jatharagni is located in grahani (duodenum) since chewed food is kept inside of Amasaya (abdomen) for quite some time to help in the process of digestion. It is responsible for the longevity of life and Ojas (the essence of dhatus).The grahani derives its vigour from Agni, and it derives its robustness from the grahani. These two are interlinked; vitiation in one leads to abnormality in the other and vice versa, resulting in the manifestation of diseases.
Digestion process
•Agni refers to all active components involved in digesting and absorption in Ayurveda. As you may be aware, our body’s functional particles (doshas) are stratified into three categories: vata, pitta, and kapha.
• Despite the fact that pitta is abundant in Agni, it requires vata to maintain its vigour and kapha to protect the body from its activities. There are several forms of Agni. The one present in the abdomen is accountable for digesting food. Another sort of Agni affects tissues, while a third group (Agni of Elements) affects the psyche. Tissue agni is crucial in optimising tissue nutrition and production. It is critical for maintaining the euphoria of the blood, reproductive tissues, bones, muscles, and other tissues.
Ayurvedic Medicine for Digestion
Sleep disturbances, an erratic diet, toxified food, and environmental factors. All of these have played a significant role in the dyspepsia problem. Ayurveda emphasises changing one’s lifestyle and eating patterns to treat dyspepsia.
Ayurvedic medicine aids digestion by encouraging a healthy microbiome, reducing inflammation in the abdomen, and stimulating proper nutrient breakdown and absorption to make sure that your body absorbs all the micronutrients from the food you are eating. Deepan (improving appetite) and pachana are implicated in digestion.
Panchana: It aids digestion on a cellular and gastrointestinal level.
Hingvashtaka churna is a pachana procedure that uses digestive enzymes to process undigested food.
Lavan Bhaskar Churna, an ancient remedy for chronic indigestion, constipation, flatulence, and gastritis.It is a well-known Ayurvedic over-the-counter drug. It’s used to help with digestion and food absorption. It’s made by combining therapeutic herb powder with edible sea salts.
Trikatu churna is beneficial to digestion. It boosts metabolism and helps people lose weight. For someone suffering from poor digestion, bloating, gaseous distension, and nutrient absorption
Shunthi Churna is utilised to boost the body’s metabolism. It helps a lot with all digestive problems, especially haemorrhoids and appetite loss. It aids digestion while also balancing Vata.
Gandhak Vati is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine used to treat a variety of digestive issues and has digestive qualities and is beneficial for people.
Chitrakadi Vati promotes better metabolism and appetite. It improves digestion while also reducing gas and congestion. It is better for someone who has a vata-kapha vikar.
Agnitundi Vati (Ras) is a traditional medicine having a stimulant effect on the digestive system. The usual gastric issues associated with this medication are indigestion, low or complete loss of appetite, pain in the abdomen, and a flavourless sensation of food.