PREVENTIVE, PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL, AND THERAPEUTIC PERSPECTIVES OF AGNIMANDHYA IN INTEGRATIVE HEALTHCARE: AN AYURVEDIC AND CONTEMPORARY REVIEW

Abstract

Background: Agni is the Ayurvedic principle governing digestion, metabolism, transformation, and physiological homeostasis. Its impairment, termed Agnimandhya, is considered a major contributor to Ama formation and disease development. Objective: To review the preventive, pathophysiological, and therapeutic perspectives of Agnimandhya through classical Ayurvedic concepts and contemporary biomedical understanding. Methods: Classical sources, including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya, were reviewed alongside indexed and peer-reviewed contemporary literature. Evidence concerning etiological factors, Samprapti, manifestations, prevention, and management was synthesized and compared with concepts of digestive dysfunction, metabolic impairment, gut dysbiosis, and chronic inflammation. Results: Agnimandhya represents a multidimensional disturbance of digestive and metabolic regulation associated with inappropriate diet, sedentary behaviour, psychological stress, disturbed sleep, and seasonal maladaptation. Ayurvedic measures including Deepana, Pachana, Langhana, Shodhana, Pathya Ahara, Dinacharya, Ritucharya, and Yoga aim to restore digestive function and reduce Ama. Contemporary research supports relationships among digestive dysfunction, altered gut microbiota, inflammation, and lifestyle disorders, although Ayurvedic constructs should not be treated as direct biomedical equivalents. Conclusion: Maintaining balanced Agni offers a preventive and integrative framework for digestive and lifestyle-related disorders. Standardized assessment tools, mechanistic studies, and well-designed clinical trials are required to evaluate specific Ayurvedic interventions and proposed cross-system correlations.