All disease begins in the gut.’ Ayurveda said it thousands of years ago, and it’s one of the foundational principles of Ayurveda. Ayurveda texts have laid lot of importance on Agni i.e. digestive power or transformation forces. Agni in Sankrit means fire and is used to describe all the metabolic functions in the body.
Role of Agni according to Ayurveda:
In every tissue and cell, Ayurveda believes that Agni (digestive fire) is present and it is necessary for maintaining the gut health, nutrition of the tissues and the maintenance of the auto-immune mechanism.
The Sanskrit word Agni is viewed as the very source of life, governing not only the digestion of food but also the digestion process of thoughts, emotions, and life experience. Ayurveda teaches that impaired gut health is at the root of every imbalance, and that tending this fire in the digestive system is the first step in restoring balance.
Agni is the force of intelligence within the body. While it directly impacts various functions, it can also be the root of body imbalances and diseases.
An unhealthy diet, poor lifestyle, and unresolved emotions may impair Agni and gut health which in turn, disrupts the functions of the body.
Impaired metabolism and associated Patho- physiologies seen in different diseases:
Ayurvedic case taking can’t be completed without brief history of all the characteristics of Agni. Here are some examples illustrating association between impaired metabolism and underlying pathologies of different diseases.
- Impaired gut metabolism which leads to chronic constipation is seen to be associated as root cause in many classical cases of Acne or eczema. Many skin diseases are linked with impaired metabolism or linked with impaired gut health.
- Typical cases of Rheumatoid arthritis are always seen to linked with chronic impairment in metabolism.
When we see retrospective, the impaired gut health is always seen to be linked with many diseases and removing these root causes and treating the gut impairment is always important while providing Ayurvedic treatment.
Knowing the digestive health is the key for Ayurvedic physician in each and every type of case for treatment, for removing root cause and for avoiding recurrence ultimately.
When your digestive fire (Agni) executes all the functions in body then you’re better able to maximize the foods and experiences you consume. You feel vital, energetic, clear- minded, and enthusiastic about life.
But when your digestion is weak, your body struggles to assimilate nutrients and eliminate impurities (ama). Signs of ama in the gut, or digestive tract, include bloating, indigestion, allergies, skin eruptions, and feelings of heaviness.
Impaired gut health and its effects:
All forms of imbalanced Agni create indigested residues (ama) that form toxins.
The predominant impaired dosha accumulated at different sites leads to different diseases.
Impaired kapha dosha due to impairment in gut health can leads to various kapha predominance diseases like in cold, cough, asthma and other lung diseases. Impaired pitta is responsible for causing pitta predominant diseases like amlapitta, stomach ulcers, migraine, nervous conditions etc. Vitiated vata along with impaired gut health leads to musculoskeletal problems, nervous conditions and degenerative conditions.
Toxins (ama) are always seen to be associated with various chronic conditions such as high cholesterol, blood disorders, fatigue syndromes, tumours, cysts, skin conditions, allergies and cancers.
So, it very important to maintain gut health for balancing the harmony between all the doshas and maintaining proper health.
Predominant dosha and Agni:
The characteristics of Agni are different according to predominant doshas within body or according to prakruti. People with a pre dominant Pitta dosha generally have a high digestive fire and good metabolism. They do not tend to gain weight even if they eat a lot. On the other hand, Kapha predominant people usually have a sluggish digestive fire. Their metabolism is slow and hence, they are more likely to gain weight. Lastly, the digestive fire of Vata people is quite variable and depends on their activity level and emotional state.
So according to Ayurveda every individual with unique prakruti composition will have Agni showing characteristics accordingly. Maintaining harmony of Agni is very important for achieving Quality of Life.lot. On the other hand, Kapha predominant people usually have a sluggish digestive fire. Their metabolism is slow and hence, they are more likely to gain weight. Lastly, the digestive fire of Vata people is quite variable and depends on their activity level and emotional state.
The brain-gut connection:
For decades, scientists have known that the nervous system is connected to the immune system and the endocrine system. But in recent years, they’ve discovered “the gut-brain axis”—a larger network that includes these three systems along with the gut and its bacteria.
Think of this network as a highway that allows information to travel back and forth between the gut and the brain. When you’re stressed, your brain sends signals that can cause digestive upset. Similarly, when your digestion or gut bacteria are out of balance, they can negatively impact your mood.
Have you ever had a “gut feeling” about something? It turns out there’s a second brain in your body—the enteric nervous system. Within the walls of your digestive system are millions of nerve cells that regulate your digestion, working in tandem with your brain and central nervous system. They can negatively impact your mood.
Research has shown that irritation in the gastrointestinal system—and its bacteria—can impact the central nervous system and trigger mood changes. Another great reason for keeping your gut health shipshape! And central nervous system. They can negatively impact your mood.
There are many manifestations of agni that affect the body and mind according to Ayurveda.
Balanced Agni throughout the system prevents the undue accumulation of the doshas of vata, pitta, kapha, as well as the buildup of ama (toxins).
Keys for maintaining good Gut health:
Follow a consistent daily routine:
Ayurveda places a great deal of emphasis on maintaining a daily routine and seasonal regime. This practice encourages overall well-being by supporting gut health. A routine creates a sense of regularity throughout the day, which bolsters natural hunger at regular intervals and maintains the balance.
Kindle Digestion Before Eating:
There are many simple ways to kindle agni so that the digestive fire can effectively process our foods and burn any previously accumulated toxins. Here are a few ideas: regular intervals and maintains the balance.
Meditate to Reduce Stress:
Stress can have a very detrimental impact on our overall health, and is particularly disruptive to the digestive process. Meditation is a beautiful subtle therapy that not only encourages stress reduction, but also supports the proper digestion of thoughts and emotions, encourages a healthier mental and emotional state, and helps us to develop more productive responses to stressful situations.
1. Eat when you are hungry. Follow regular meal times according to your prakruti and even if you are not hungry at particular time of meal then don’t force yourself for that meal. 2. Always keep 1/3 rd portion of stomach empty for proper digestion of food. Avoid overeating. 3. Take dinner as early as possible around sunset time for avoiding metabolic disturbances. 4. Do regular exercise in any form for maintaining proper metabolism and health.
5. Understand the difference between proper hunger and craving before eating at wrong time. 6. Try to have shad rasatmak food including all micro and macro nutrients in it. 7. Drinking water properly is very important for good metabolism. 8. Prepare a mixture of grated ginger, lime juice, and mineral salt. Eat a small pinch before your meals to awaken the digestive fire and activate helpful digestive enzymes.
Nadi Tarangin- Apt Ayurveda based tool for maintaining good gut health
Nadi Tarangin is unique diagnostic tool based on Ayurveda principles. One can analyse Nadi aptly with the help of Nadi Tarangini which has unique, patented, sensor-based technology. Nadi Tarangini can access gut health and also emotional well being by accessing metabolic quotient which reflects underlying metabolism related problems.
1. Nadi Tarangini can provide score based qualitative assessment of gut health which is very unique individual specific entity. 2. Early diagnosis and treatment in the form of preventive care can be able to reduce burden of lifestyle disorders. 3. Based on these parameters, Nadi Tarangini can provide personalized diet and lifestyle modifications which leads to health harmony. 4. Follow up after lifestyle modifications and proper treatment will give exact health status.
Nadi Tarangini is unique and key solution for all gut related problems which is based on quantitative as well as quantitative assessment of gut health.
Remember! Gut health is the key to overall health.
