A CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF AGNI AND ITS CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Abstract

There are various forms of consumable food like eatable, beverages, masticable and linctus food, when it is consumed in suitable quantity with free from contamination, undergo metabolic transformation by the effect of jatharagni, bhutagni and dhatvagni. Initially jatharagni stimulates bhutagni as all consumed foods are panchbhoutika. It has to undergo transformation by the respective bhutagnis, it becomes easy for tissue metabolism by dhatvagni. Then processed metabolic product circulates inside the srotas (channels) continuously by the help of vatadosha. Jatharagni is the chief among all types of agnis because bhutagni and dhatvagni depend on it. Aggravation of jatharagni becomes cause of aggravation of bhutagni and dhatvagni. So one has to protect jatharagni by consuming suitable wholesome dietetic and behavior. Its contradictory one, who consumes unwholesome diet due to greed, succumbs to disease caused by the vitiation of grahni (small intestine). Agni dushti is one of the causative factors for the many diseases. Therefore understanding of agni is major concept for understanding of disease process to prescribed principle management.