A Concept of Agni in vatarakta with special reference to gout

Abstract

WHO defines Health as “A state of complete physical, mental & social well-being and merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. Health of an individual solely depends on his diet and lifestyle.  But with the march of time, in the rapid modernization most of dietary habits, social structure, lifestyle & environment have been changing. Agni is a crucial component of digestion and metabolism in our bodies, according to Ayurveda. Strength, health, longevity, vital breath, and the amount of food that should be ingested are all attributed to agni. In Ayurveda, Agni is responsible for the digestion, absorption, and assimilation of ingested food, which is necessary for life maintenance. Vatarakta is a disorder where the Vata dosha (principle of movement) and Rakta dhatu (blood tissue) are primarily vitiated. The impairment of Agni contributes to this pathology, the weak Jatharagni also affects the Dhatvagni (tissue-level metabolic fires). When Agni is impaired, food and metabolic products are not properly digested and metabolized. This leads to the formation and accumulation of undigested, toxic by-products called Ama. This means the tissues, especially Rasa (plasma) and Rakta (blood), do not receive proper nourishment, leading to the accumulation of improperly processed Dhatus (tissues) and toxins at a cellular level, causing inflammation and pain characteristic of Vatarakta. Sedentary lifestyle along with mental stress, consumption of nonveg and highly protein diet, excessive alcohol intake are some of the causing factors which origins acute exacerbation of Vatarakta.