Agni is the energy available within us to transform what we consume into something usable. So agni, in essence, is a transformative force. It’s what allows us to digest food and life. It’s present within all beings and all cells, and throughout the universe.
From Ayurveda, we understand the condition of agni is responsible for vitality and well-being. When agni is consistently impaired the disease process begins. This is important to understand and reflect upon
Agni is a powerful force, not only because it has the ability to influence all aspects of life, but when it is functioning well your mind, body and spirit thrive. This is why our Agni Therapy online program focuses on healing agni holistically and naturally.
Agni is made up of the fire element, which has the capacity to heat, combust, digest, assimilate and transmute. It’s energy. It has the qualities of warmth, subtlety, sharpness, mobility, lightness, dryness and the ability to penetrate. It shares many of the same qualities of vata and pitta dosha.
Agni is also the source of our pure intelligence, the bright and dynamic aspect of us and the universe. Put another way, agni is the energy within us that identifies something or someone outside of us, processes it, and determines what to do with it to take appropriate action. The result is transformation or distillation of food and life experiences.
Perhaps even more interesting is that you can engage with, experience, and alter agni, moment to moment. It's just as much a part of you as your breath. Hence, why in Ayurveda we consider what you consume and how you consume it, from food to relationships to beliefs, to be important.
There are 40 main types of agni
When you begin to understand the nature of agni as an energy force which digests, assimilates, and transmutes, you may notice its presence everywhere.
It's found in the stomach and the small intestines, where it's responsible for digesting the food we eat. But it’s also present throughout the body. There are 40 types of agni which govern a wide range of functions outside of the stomach. You have agni in your liver and in your pancreas, processing hormones, fats, salts, and sugars. Agni is also present in each tissue, from lymph to reproductive tissue.
You have agni in all your senses and in every cell. Think about that. Agni is responsible for what you consume through your five senses. It takes in experiences so you can understand and give meaning to them. Without agni, you wouldn’t be able to process life. It gives life its fragrance and acts as a bridge between body, mind and consciousness.
The functions of agni
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Governs digestion, absorption and assimilation of food as well as sensory experiences.
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Transmutes food into nutrition and knowledge into wisdom.
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Gives a sense of understanding, knowledge, and nourishment.
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Maintains proper circulation and body temperature.
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Maintains color and complexion, radiance and luster.
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Supports body tissue nutrition.
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Maintains immunity through production of healthy prana, tejas and ojas.
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Supports healthy metabolic activity in the cells.
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Provides with the ability for mental clarity and focus.
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Provides the energy for courage, enthusiasm and vitality.
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Allows joy and playfulness.
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Maintains contentment and a sense of wholeness.
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Ignites discernment and wisdom.
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Supports patience and longevity.
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Gives strength, stability and endurance.
The signs of impaired agni
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, your agni is impaired:
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Symptoms of IBS, cramping, bloating, diarrhea and loose stools, constipation or straining, reflux and flatulence.
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Anxiety or depression without circumstance.
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Low energy, foggy brain and fatigue relieved by eating.
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Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne.
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Stubborn belly fat despite extensive dieting.
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Female hormone imbalances from PMS, PMDD, PCOS, Fibroids to endometriosis, to hormone related acne.
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Auto-immune conditions.
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Carbohydrate cravings, low or high blood sugar and diabetes.
Agni, our digestive capacity, holds the key to resolving these symptoms naturally. When we support agni's balance through the practices of Ayurveda and Yoga, the body reveals its innate ability to heal. Our Ayurvedic Health Counselor training (600-hour) provides in-depth preparation for working 1:1 with clients, guiding them to reverse these symptoms and diseases through understanding the root cause and implementing sustainable practices. Through this training, you experience the transformation in your own health, gaining direct understanding of these principles to guide others.
The 4 different states of agni
Impaired agni can mean that agni is weak, too strong, or it’s inconsistent. Just like a fire it can either smolder or rage, depending upon the food, the lifestyle and environmental condition. Is it efficient, turning fuel into usable energy, or excessively mobile and agitated, leading to indigestion, gas, pain, or constipation? Is it overburdened, weak, or sluggish resulting in congestion, dullness, heaviness, or ama (metabolic toxins)? Understanding the nature of your body and mind is a key component when addressing agni.
In Agni Therapy, we address these different states and how you can heal them. And as you may have gathered, in doing this, your entire life transforms. When you understand agni is everywhere and its states, the holistic view can truely take place. This is why Ayurveda differs from conventional "holistic" education often still addressing one part of the body or the mind without recognizing the interconnected nature of it all.
How to build agni
Remember, agni is your capacity to digest. It’s not solely connected to what you eat. When you begin to honor agni, take care of it and heal it, everything shifts.
So, paying attention to how you nourish yourself and supporting agni are foundational building blocks to well-being. This is also why a dinacharya (following the rhythm of the day) is so important. Your daily rituals, including the meals you eat, directly impact the condition of your agni.
If you’ve been experiencing digestive issues for a while, you may be thinking, how can I increase agni in the stomach? It’s not so much increasing as it is balancing and optimizing agni’s strength and functionality. Fire creates change. It tones, cooks, or bakes what you consume. Sometimes it's stopping or removing that which is getting in the way so the body’s innate wisdom can happen naturally.
However if the fire is too much, the result in the body and mind can be burning urine or bowel movements, ulcers, blisters, dry mouth, frustration and anger. The opposite is true when agni is weak. Food will sit, become stagnant or compress and eventually create blockages which build ama or toxins. This is when you may experience constipation, stiffness in the body, allergies, chronic fatigue, dullness in the body and mind and weight gain.
Therefore when you enhance the ability of agni to operate properly, the body and mind, as a whole respond.