Good Agni (Digestion) for Good Health - Ayurveda

Good Agni (Digestion) for Good Health – Ayurveda

In various stages of the digestive process, the role of Agni in the body, according to Ayurveda principles, is to maintain proper digestion

The Digestive Process

Proper digestion nourishes the mind and body and is essential to enjoying good health. A number of factors influence our digestion including the quality of the food we eat as the primary factor, but also our lifestyle because it affects our digestion, for example, if we are going through a stressful time.

What is Agni?

Agni is a type of digestive fire that aids the efficient extraction of nutrients and processes foods we eat. We need balanced Agni, or digestive fire within our body to achieve this.

There are 13 primary types of Agni or digestive fires.

The First Agni
Agni in the Stomach – Jathar Agni

The Agni found in the stomach is called Jathar Agni and that governs our transient metabolism known as Prapak metabolism.

Jathar Agni works on the nutrient material in the stomach and small intestine to ensure food is thoroughly digested and assimilated. Jathar Agni sets the stage for the whole digestive system in the body so it is important for this Agni to work very well.

Once the food is homogenized in the stomach and assimilated in the small intestine, nutrients known as Ahar Rasa (Rasa meaning taste) enter the bloodstream with the help of the liver.

The next 5 Bhuta Agnis
Liver Agni or Bhuta Agni

Liver metabolism is governed by Bhuta Agni. There are five Bhuta Agnis that correspond to the Panchamahabhutas which are made up of the 5 elements – space, air, fire, water and earth.

Bhuta Agni ensures the right amount of the Panchamahabhutas to nourish the tissues or Dhatus, as such, the food we eat is made up of these 5 elements. For example, if we eat foods that have too much air and space qualities in them, we may find it difficult to keep weight on. On the other hand if we eat foods composed too much of water and earth elements we start to accumulate these elements in our tissues and as a consequence gain weight.

As a result of maintaining balanced Bhuta Agni in the first stage of metabolism – Prapak, sufficient nutrients are sent to the Dhatus.

When Ahar Rasa enters the Dhatus, the second stage of metabolism known as Vipak, metabolism takes over. Vipak or post-digestive effect occurs in the Dhatus or tissue systems. There are 7 Dhatus and each Dhatu needs to process nutrients necessary for it’s own growth, that is governed by their individual Dhatu Agni.

The Final 7 Dhatu Agis
Body Tissues or Dhatu Agnis

There are 7 Dhatu Agnis, one for each of the Dhatus. These Dhatus are the seven tissues of the body. Their power and proper functioning are responsible for healthy tissues. Nutrient materials/ food enter the Dhatus and feed each Dhatu in sequential fashion.

For example in each Dhatu or tissue the first Rasa Dhatu extracts its required nutrients and then passes it to Rakta the second Dhatu. Rakta will repeat the process which continues through the seven Dhatus. When the Dhatus Agni is balanced the result produces Ojas. The 7 Dhatu Agnis are:

Rasa – plasma
Rakta – blood
Mamsa- muscle
Medas – fat
Asthi – bone
Majja – marrow/nerve
Shuka – reproductive tissues

Ojas, a refined substance or essence, according to Ayurveda, maintains our vitality and governs our immune system. It is the final end product of the digestive process and is critical in maintaining our health.

Importance of Each Digestive Stage

Due to the sequential nature of the digestive process it is important to remain centred and calm during meal times. This is because it aids the digestive process. Taking time to focus on the food, taking in the smells, the taste of the food, chewing well, having enough fluids with the meal to allow the food to be homogenised and assimilated.

According to Ayurveda a balanced meal should be made up of equal parts of food, water and space to allow proper digestion. Meals of fresh organic produce, whenever possible selecting foods that are appropriate for the season and balancing for individual Doshas. A balanced meal of adequate amounts of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, especially all six tastes with each meal. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent. For example:

Mung dhal and rice provide sweet, bitter and astringent tastes
A variety of vegetables and spices provide sour, salty and pungent tastes
Many vegetables are sources of bitter and astringent tastes
Salads are a good way to get more of these tastes into your diet

The quality of the foods we eat have a profound effect on the digestive process and eating the proper foods is essential to have good digestion.

Herbal Supplements to Aid Digestion

Not everyone has good digestion but digestion can be improved through the use of herbal supplements. For example, fresh ginger tea is easy to make and good for improving and maintaining healthy Jathar Agni. Many herbs are designed for use before and during meals to help improve Prapak metabolism. Ayurveda recommends bitter foods and specific herbs to improve the liver metabolism or Bhuta Agnis. This ensures Dhatus receive the best nutrient material possible into the blood stream.

Generally if we send quality Ahar Rasa, or nutrition to the Dhatus, the tissues maintain their health and vitality. In instances where the Dhatu Agni is specifically challenged Ayurveda will use various herbal formulas to help improve the Agni of whichever Dhatu is deficient.

Although the Ayurveda prospective on digestion is rather complex the methods for ensuring it functions well are simple and effective.

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