CORRELATION OF FOOD DIGESTION PROCESS: AYURVED AND MODERN VIEW, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AGNI
Abstract
Ayurved is the most ancient system of medicine in the world. It is the science of life. The first and foremost principle of Ayurved is the Protection of health of a healthy person. Acharya Sushrut has described the status of healthy person i.e.Swastha as --A person whose Dosha ,Agni,Dhatu,and Mala kriya are in Samya sthiti i.e.prakritavastha,having prasanna atma indriya and mana is called Swastha. To maintain this state uttam Ahar dravya and its proper Pachan is important.
The defination of health given by World Health Organization is " A state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease ". This reveals that the definition of health given by Ayurveda and W.H.O. are nearly the same. To maintain this state quality food and its proper digestion is important.
Acharya Charak stated in chikitsa sthan adhyaya 15 that –An important element of body that is the poshak of Deha, Dhatu,Oja,Bala and Varna is called as “AGNI ”. This Agni digests the food we take and nourishes the whole body. If its work get hampered it leads to formation of Apakva ahara i.e. indigested food leads to many diseases, so it is important to know the digestion of food and concept of Agni. This article describes the digestion of food in accordance with Ayurved and Modern view as well. For that purpose Ayurved samhita and Modern textbooks are referred.
In Ayurveda the digestive process starts from mouth and ends in guda i.e. Annavaha strotas. For this Bodhak Kapha, kledak kapha, Pachak Pitta, Saman Vayu, Apan Vayu, Pran vayu plays an important role. For the digestion absorption and nourishement upto cell level Jathragni, Panch bhutagni converts the ahariya dravya into pakva ahara rasa and then saar kitta vibhajan. The Saar bhag is then again absorbed by Saptadhatwagni and nourishes the particular dhatu.
In Modern Science, Digestive process is explained as Mechanical digestion includes maceration of food, peristalsis, opening of sphincters and peristaltic movements at different organs. The Chemical digestion includes the digestion and absorption of food by gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, intestinal juice.
The concept of Agni can be correlated in ayurved and modern view as- Jathragni resembles with the gastric juice especially the Hydrochloric acid. Panchbhutagni resembles pancreatic and bile salts. Saptadhatwagni resembles intestinal juices.
In Ayurveda the process of digestion is controlled by Pran vayu which stays in shir. In the same way modern science stated that digestion is controlled by neuronal and hormonal system.
The above said correlations are mentioned in tabular form for easy understanding.
Keywords:
Agni, Swastha, Dosha, Dhatu, Pachan, Digestion
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