Agni

Agni (Sanskrit अग्नि, agni — "fire") is the fiery metabolic principle in Ayurveda (#19), responsible for all processes of transformation: digestion, assimilation of nutrients, cellular metabolism and tissue formation.

Not a metaphor, but a real force. Agni is not a metaphor: in the Ayurvedic paradigm, it is a real transformative force linking the material and energetic planes of the organism.

13 Types of Agni

• Jatharagni (जठराग्नि, jaṭharāgni) — the main digestive fire in the stomach and small intestine
• 5 Bhutagnis (भूताग्नि) — the elemental fires that transform food into the five elements of the body
• 7 Dhatvagnis (धात्वग्नि) — the tissue fires that form the seven dhatus (tissues)

Four States of Agni

• Sama Agni (सम) — balanced (health)
• Vishama Agni (विषम) — irregular (Vata imbalance)
• Tikshna Agni (तीक्ष्ण) — excessive (Pitta imbalance)
• Manda Agni (मन्द) — weakened (Kapha imbalance)

Ama — the Root Cause of Illness

From weak Agni — toxins. Weakening of Agni leads to the formation of Ama (आम) — undigested toxins, which Ayurveda considers the root cause of most diseases. Treatment in Ayurveda always begins with the restoration of Agni.