Digestive Fire - the Foundation of Health
“Don’t eat so fast, you want to digest your food, don’t you?” or “honey, you have to wait at least 20 minutes before you go swimming so you can digest your food and not get a cramp!” … Motherly instructions I heard the early years of my youth. These and similar requests, all based around digestion, stuck in my head over the years. These notions have evolved from annoying childhood restraints to an after thought to something deeply revered and respected, because at the end of the day, proper digestion is life. It is our furnace of existence.
AGNI in Sanskrit translates to fire. Ayurveda considers AGNI (digestive fire) to be the quintessential action responsible your state of health, as everything starts in the gut. AGNI, however, is not limited to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), although it is central most chemical process (referred to as Jatharagni) that governs the basic digestion of the 12 other AGNIs.
12 Others? Yes. Let’s pause for a minute and just think about fire. Think of the qualities of fire: sharp, hot, penetrating, light, TRANSFORMATIVE. Digestive fire exists in the GIT as well as the tissues and organs of the body, to transform what we take into our bodies. Think of AGNI as the the enzymes and endocrine factors that govern digestion and metabolic function.
Groovy, so what does this all mean? The root cause of so many illnesses and disease start with digestive imbalances and improper functioning. Not to mention annoyances like gas, bloating and let us not forget about mental sluggishness and skin irritations (we will get to that later). Basically, normal and strong digestion is paramount to the longevity of your engine. Being mindful of imbalances and knowing what to do when it is not, is an empowering way to stay connected to and help your body. AGNI - digestive fire is not an after thought. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Healthy AGNI looks like:
Good and steady energy
Clear eyes
Bright skin
Clean tongue (no coating)
Good Appetite
Balanced metabolism
Healthy weight
Can easily digest food
Regular elimination/ bowel movements
Stable health
Normal blood pressure
Sleep well
Healthy immune system
Positive demeanor
Clear and alert mind and intelligence
Generally enjoy of life
Longevity
Disturbed AGNI looks like:
Low energy and weakness
Low or hyper-active appetite
Improper Lymph flow
Indigestion: gas, bloating, constipation, nausea, hyperacidity, loose stools
Blocked sinuses
Heavy mind, emotional imbalances, depression, fatigue, anxiety, anger, fear, mental fogginess
The DOSHAS and digestion
Understanding dosha qualities & your personal mix of the three can be a very beneficial tool when assessing an imbalance/problem area. Many times it just takes simple adjustments to come back into balance. The key to health management is to understands preliminary signs of impairment before they get out of hand. One good way to do that is start paying attention to how you feel after you eat, when and what you are eating and elimination - how easy or hard it is, frequency, etc. In this particular case of AGNI, here is a breakdown of how each dosha relates.
VATA - The universal elements of space and air govern vata as well as the qualities of dry, light, cold, rough and mobile (agitated movement). Many times with a vata imbalance in the gut, people suffer from gas and bloating. Elimination can be constipation, having uncomfortable, dry stools and then switch to diarrhea, at varying times of the day. At times elimination can skip days. In other words, there is elimination but no rhyme or reason. This is refereed to as VISHAMAGNI or Irregular Agni.
PITTA - The universal elements of fire and water govern pitta as well as the qualities of hot, light, penetrating or sharp, spreading, unctuous and sour. A pitta imbalance in the gut can look like acid reflux or ulcers having excessive burning sensation and so much discomfort. Elimination can be very frequent and loose. Just because a person may be eliminating multiple times in a day is not a good sign because movement is to fast for nutrients to be assimilated in the system. THis is referred to as TIKSHAGNI or Overactive Agni.
KAPHA - The universal elements of earth and water govern kapha as well as the qualities of slow, heavy, unctuous, cool, soft and stable. A kapha imbalance in the gut can lead to indigestion, slow or suppressed metabolism, excess salivation, nausea, give the feeling of heaviness, low energy, and a poor appetite. Elimination can be days in between producing stools that are heavy, oily, pale, or sticky, and can lead to mucoid diarrhea and pre-diabetes. THis is referred to as MANDAGNI or Slow Agni.
There are many actionable steps to correct and reset digestion. Much of that starts with following dosha balancing diets, eating seasonally, eating fresh and eating in a regular routine. More to be talked about on that so stay tuned.
CHECK IT OUT:
#2 DIGESTIVE FIRE WITH ROOT TO RISE AYURVEDA
I recently had the opportunity to join nutrition coach and pilates expert, Elaine Starr, (founder of Starr Pilates and Sun/Shadow studios) on her pod cast to talk about the Ayurvedic approach to digestion.
