An Ayurvedic Review of Agni and Its Impact on human health

Ayurveda has described an important factor of digestion and metabolism in our body as Agni. Ingested food is to be digested, absorbed and assimilated, which is unavoidable for the maintenance of life and is performed by agni in Ayurveda. The term agni is used in the sense of digestion of food and metabolic products. Agni converts food in the form of energy, which is responsible for all vital function of the body. About the importance of Agni, Acharya Charaka has mentioned that after stoppage of the function of Agni, the individual dies and when the agni of an individual in sama avastha, then person would be absolutely healthyand would lead a long, happy and enjoying healthy life. But, if the agni of a person is vitiated, the whole metabolism in his body would be disturbed and resulting in ill health and produces the diseases in body. Hence, Agni is said to be the base (mool) of life.