MANDAGNI IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR ALL

DISEASES ACCORDING TO AYURVEDIC &

ALLOPATHIC VIEWS
KAYACIKITSA (MEDICINE) III
CHKA – 51144
ASSIGNMENT

LEVEL V SEMESTER I
MAYURAN SAKTHIVEL
GWAI – 2014 – 021
 MANDAGNI IS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR ALL THE DISEASES

Introduction

समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातमु लक्रियः

प्रसन्नात्मेन्दियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते (Su.su 15 /48)

According to Ayurveda the healthy (swastha) is one whose bodily structure & function in
terms of dosha, dhātu, mala & agni in a state of samya (equilibrium) & who is well being in
the sense, mental & spiritual states.

The human body is made up of panchamahabhuta, always undergoes ‘wear and tear’
phenomenon because of essential activities i.e. chaya (Anabolism) & Apachaya (Catabolism).
Their balance keeps dhatu in the equilibrium state and keeps diseases away. An inherent
factor exists for this constant process, termed as Agni which is responsible for biochemical
transformation in the body. It is the prime and ultimate factor for the maintenance of life.

Importance of agni

Ayurveda has described thirteen types of agnis, i.e. Jatarāgni (digestive fire – the gastro
intestinal secretion, enzymes, hormone, etc), five bhūtāgnis (Prithvi, Jala, Teja, Vāyu &
Ākāsha have its own agni) and seven types of Dhātvāgnis refer to tissue metabolism in
modern parlance (Rasa, rakta, māmsa, meda, asthi, majja & shukra dhātus have its own agni).

Among the 13 types of agni, jatarāgni is the master of all agnis because it governs all other
agnis. It is located in āmāshaya and responsible for digestion of ingested food which is
followed by absorption of sārabhāga (essence) into the circulation and elimination of
kittabhāga (waste product). Unless the sārabhāga produced by jatarāgni is qualitative, it will
not be suitable for further process of bhūtāgni and dhātvāgni pāka. So the jatarāgni is
important for proper functioning of other agnis.

Agni in its normalcy provides āyu, varna, bala, swastha, utsāah, upacaya, prabha, oja, teja,
agneya and prāna. After stoppage of the function of the agni, the individual dies and when,
the agni of an individual is normal then that person lives free from diseases, happy and
healthy life.
Role of agni in the Āmōtpatti

ऊमणो अल्पबलत्वेन धातमु ाध्यं अपाचितम्

दष्टु म् आमाशयगतं रसमामं प्रचक्षत् (A.h.sū 13/25)

In the process of digestion main role of Jatarāgni but other dependent Agni i.e. dhāvāgni &
bhūtāgni act on it and the food is then turned into absorbable material. Agni & pitta has close
relation, so when the drava guna of pitta is increased, it reduces the ushna & tīkshna guna.
Whenever there is vitiation of kapha dosha with increased manda guna, it also reduces the
agni hence Agnimāndya (ajeerna) develops. Due to the diminished agni the first dhātu; called
rasa, doesn't form properly so it remain in the āmāshaya for a long time and undergoes
fermentation, this resulting in formation of āma.

Role of āma in Rōgōtpatti

The term Ama ordinarily means unripe, uncooked, undigested substances which is toxic
substances of gastro enteric origin. This āma later on becomes pathogenic due to interaction
with local doshas called āmadosha which becomes more toxic that attains the qualities of
visha (poison) on further stasis namely āmavisha.

Āma rasa of the sūkshma āma is a subtle form of āma which enters the systematic circulation
and accumulate in the place where it gets obstructed and become the site of origin of
diseases. When the āma forms a complex with dosha, dhātu and mala, it is called sāma which
can cause diseases called sāma roga.

Table 1: Lakshana of sāma doshās

Sāma doshas Vāta dosha Pitta dosha Kapha dosha
 - Durgandha - Yakshma
- Vibandha
Lakshanas arising - Dāha - Peenasa
- Agni sāda
from āma associated - Trushna - Prameha
- Tandra
with doshas - Mukharoga - Aruchi
- Antarkūjana
- Amlapitta - Trit upaghātakrit
- Shotha
- Toda

The place in which āma is present and gives rise to pain, that place itself be considered
especially as origin of diseases caused by the doshas, and that should be determined by the
presence of own symptoms of āma in the place.

General symptoms of āma

1. Srotorodha
2. Balabhramsa
3. Gourava
4. Anil mudhata
5. Ālasya
6. Apāka
7. Nishțīvana
8. Malasanga
9. Aruchi
10. Klama

The āmavisha spreads through out the srotās and cause to produce “Khavaigunya"
(obstruction of the channels) in any srotas. Khavaigunya of srotas where the diseses can be
occurred due to its weakness. This make the seat for sthāna sansraya of vitiated doshas and
they get conjucated at this place i.e. Dosha-dushya samūrchchana takes place which resulting
in arrival of premonitory symptoms. If the treatment is not give in this 4 th stage of shat-
kriyākāla, this gives rise to the 5th stage of shat-kriyākāla called vyakta i.e. disease condition.

According to Ayurveda the diseases like amavata (rheumatoid arthritis), sandhigāta vāta
(osteoarthritis), katigāt-vata (low back pain), tamaksava (asthma) are considered to be mainly
caused by Āma.
According to Allopathic perspective

In modern parlance, āma may be referred to be free radicals as the āma is produced due to
hypo-function of agni which is responsible for all activities of chemical changes in human
body and produced as intermediate/ incomplete metabolic state of digestion. Similarly free
radicals are said to be produced in the body in abundance when equilibrium between its
generation and body's primary defense is disturbed and certain enzymes produce free radicals
as intermediary substances which are supposed to go into further metabolism.

According to Sushruta, the disease is produced in six steps i.e. sanchaya, prokopa, prasāra,
sthānasamsraya, vyakti and bheda. Similar is the case with free radicals. At certain site due to
impairment in action of free radical scavengers, increased production of free radical takes
place. In small amount it doesn't cause any harmful effects but if treatment isn't given, this
exceeds the threshold and start to produce minimal symptoms. Then free radicals look for a
site which is weak and can easily take part in electron exchange with them through the
circulation. Now symptoms of diseases become clear.

Pathogenesis process

Impaired action of free radicals scavengers

Increased production of free radicals

Circulation of free radicals

 Weak cell membranes

Production of Diseases

Free radicals are unstable chemical formed can cause degenerative changes, cancer,
myocardial infarction like diseases and damage proteins, lipids, vitamins etc. They have
tendency to block the micro channels of different system of the body. It will defect the
metabolic pathway of end product and increase the normal value of blood urea, uric acid,
sugar etc.

All hormonal and enzymatic deficiencies like hypothyroidism, diabetes and obesity may also
considered to be occurred due to hypo-functioning of digestive power. Allergic disorders like
urticaria, hay-fever, allergic rhinitis also have hypo-functioning of digestive power.

CONCLUSION

The hypo-functioning of Agni produces āma which comprises a group of toxic substance and
not capable of nourishing body but vitiated to the doshas and cause disease. So in short
Mandagni is the root cause for all diseases in Ayurvedic and Modern perspective.
References

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