Jathar agni is the basic concept to understand the digestion process in Ayurveda .In our day-today experience, to cook the rice we need a very important aspect & that is fire which helps to covert rice grains into cooked rice .In the same manner , it is also essential that whatever food we take into the body through the mouth be converted into different body components. This function of conversion is performed by fire (digestive enzymes) at different levels & these are called “Jathar Agni” in Ayurveda.
Digestive fire is what as per Ayurveda ?
As per Ayurveda , Agni is nothing but one of the form of Pitta dosha in our body . The heat component exists in the body in the form of Pitta can be correlate with various enzymes. Abnormal activities of these enzymes leads to disease. A person with good digestive fire can digest even heavy food also . After digestion of food , it get converted into constituents of the body
Jathar Agni Types
- Vishamagni – This is an variable state of Jathar Agni . It results due to improper diet or lifestyle which increases vata dosha which vitiate the digestive enzymes . A person with this state of Agni has variable digestive power. Sometimes digestion is good and at other times person suffer from abdomen distension, constipation, heaviness in abdomen ,colicky pain etc. due to indigestion.Such person is prone to develop vataj disorders.
- Tikshnagni – This is Higher or Sharp state of Agni.It results due to diet and activities increasing pitta dosha which vitiate the digestive enzymes. People having this state of digestive power ,they digest their food very quickly and digest even large quantity of food. These individualsare prone to pittaj disorders like hyperacidity, diarrhoea etc.
- Mandagni – This is lower state of Agni. It results due to diet and lifestyle increasing kapha dosha which vitiate the digestive enzymes.Persons with low digestive power take a long time to digesteven small quantity of food.They commonly suffer from heaviness,nausea,drooling of saliva etc. These individuals are prone to kaphaj disorders.
- Samagni – Person with balanced digestive power digest food easily and not suffer with any digestive disorder. Can tolerate hunger and even excessive food intake.
Relation of Disease with Digestive fire
As per Ayurveda , most of the diseases is a result of imbalance ( low , high or abnormal ) digestive enzymes. Weak digestive power lower the Immunity of body and act as predisposing factor to all the diseases So it is important to keep Jathar agni in balanced state and stay away from so many health problems.
Conclusion
Jathar agni if remain in Sama avastha( Normal state) , the food get digested properly and all the body tissues form properly & get sufficient nourishment which keeps our body functions intact.Otherwise , due to indigestion or improper digestion , ama formation is there which is responsible for many health issues.
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