What Your Digestive Fire is Telling You! Subtypes of Agni Explained

According to Ayurvedic medicine, in order to remain in balance and harmony, healthy agni is key. If you are unfamiliar with the term, agni, it is the Sanskrit word for fire. Being the fire element, agni is associated with pitta dosha and has the qualities of heat, lightness, dryness, sharpness and subtleness. The primary function of agni in the body is digestion, absorption and assimilation, also known as metabolism. The functions of agni do not just help to metabolize food, agni also enables digestion and transformation of all sensory information from the outside world. For example, agni assists the eyes in converting light from the visible world into nerve impulses that the brain can then transform into an image; therefore, enabling the sense of vision. There are 40 main types of agni in the body that influence appetite, body temperature, weight, skin complexion, eye luster and intelligence. Psychologically, agni is responsible for attention, appreciation, recognition, ambition and competitiveness.

The most well-known and discussed type of agni is contained within the stomach and is called jatharagni. Called agni for short, jatharagni is considered the central fire in the digestive system. When jatharagni is functioning optimally, Ayurveda explains that one has sama agni. The Sanskrit word, sama, means balanced; thus, the term ‘sama agni’ literally translates to ‘balanced fire’. Sama agni is present when an individual has a steady appetite, symptom-free digestion, is an appropriate weight for their body type and has little to no signs of ama (toxicity) in the body. In the mind, sama agni feels like a sense of calm, clarity and awareness. 

Since the 3 doshas (vata, pitta and kapha) are dynamic rather than stagnant, they have the potential to have an adverse effect on the health of jatharagni. Below we share with you the 3 imbalanced states of jatharagni and explain which dosha (vata, pitta or kapha) has become disturbed in the body and/or mind. We hope that this understanding will give you more insight into the current state of your own digestion.

• Irregular appetite (sometimes hungry, sometimes not) 

• Abdominal distention and/or bloating

• Non smelly gas

• Weight loss

• Indigestion

• Constipation and/or alternating constipation & diarrhea

• Gurgling in the intestines

• Anxiety

• Insecurity

• Fear 

• Worry

• Overwhelm

In order to heal and balance vishama agni, it is recommended in Ayurveda to follow a vata pacifying protocol that includes:

• Vata pacifying foods like root vegetables and healthy fats. Check out our Vata Balancing Foods List!

• Vata pacifying digestive spices like ginger, cumin and cinnamon which you can find in our Vata Spice Blend.

• Incorporating a vata digestive churna 30 minutes before each meal. Learn about digestive churnas.

• Sip on a moisturizing, grounding and nourishing tea like our Hydrate Blend Tea.

• Focus on having meals at regular times on a daily basis.

• Eat while seated.

• Eat with awareness, free from electronic devices, and without distractions. 

• Slowly chew your food. 

• Take 3 breaths at the beginning and end of each meal. 

Associated with aggravated or imbalanced pitta dosha, tikshna agni translates to ‘sharp fire’. When agni is sharp, jatharagni is too hot, too high and too strong. Furthermore, hypermetabolism is experienced. This is due to the fiery nature contained within pitta.

• Insatiable appetite

• Hyperacidity

• Burning Indigestion and/or Heartburn

• Loose Stools and/or Diarrhea

• Anger

• Being overly critical

• Jealousy

• Irritability 

In order to heal and balance tikshna agni, it is recommended in Ayurveda to follow a pitta pacifying protocol that includes:

• Pitta pacifying foods that are cooling, sweet and heavy. Check out our Pitta Balancing Foods List!

• Pitta pacifying digestive spices like coriander, fennel and cumin which you can findin our Pitta Spice Blend.

• Incorporating a pitta digestive churna 30 minutes before each meal. Learn about digestive churnas.

• Sip on a soothing tea like our Cool & Calm Blend Tea.

• Say grace before meals.

• Have the largest meal at mid-day.

• Eat with awareness, free from electronic devices and without distractions. 

• Eat in a calm environment. 

• Take time to rest after meals.

Associated with aggravated or imbalanced kapha dosha, manda agni translates to ‘dull fire’. When agni is dull, jatharagni is low and slow due to the heavy, dense, cool and moist qualities of kapha. In other words, when one is experiencing manda agni, there is simply not enough heat to properly digest, absorb and assimilate foods and nutrients; hence, a person experiences hypometabolism.

• Heaviness in the stomach 

• Excessive mucus accumulation

• Nausea

• Weight gain

• Constipation due to little peristaltic action

• Mucus in the stools

• Lethargy

• Attachment

• Possessiveness

• Melancholy 

In order to heal and balance manda agni, it is recommended in Ayurveda to follow a kapha pacifying protocol that includes:

• Kapha pacifying foods that are hot, light and dry. Check out our Kapha Balancing Foods List!

• Kapha pacifying digestive spices like pippali, ginger and cinnamon, which you can find in our Kapha Spice Blend.

• Incorporating a kapha digestive churna 30 minutes before each meal. Learn about digestive churnas.

• Sip on a spicy and light tea like our Rooibos Chai Blend Tea.

• Have the largest meal at mid-day.

• Skip snacking if possible.

• Allow 3-4 hours between meals. 

• Slowly chew your food.

• Eat until 75% full.

As Thanksgiving swiftly approaches, our desire is that you can reflect on the various states of agni and consider how you can incorporate the above-suggested Ayurvedic practices into your daily routine to support your unique needs. After all, as Ayurveda explains, one is only as healthy as one’s agni; thus, let this understanding serve as a jumping-off point to restore the health and harmony of agni within your body and mind.