Ayurveda

Agni, Dhatus and tastes

Everglades University
Agni

• Bright fire that governs digestion, metabolism, nutrient assimilation

and absorption
• Your fire is the key to your health
• When healthy, you can easily digest both food and emotions
• When too much or too little, you suffer from digestive, health or emotional
issues
• Hot, sharp, light, mobile, dry and subtle
• Most similar to the Pitta Dosha
Agni

• Once food is digested, it turns into your physical body

• A health Agni can take a piece of raw material, food, and turn it
into your liver, kidneys, skin and blood
• An unhealthy Agni will not be able to nourish your body at the
level that it needs, resulting in disease
Agni

• Your second brain

• Helps you digest emotions
• 95% of serotonin is found in your bowels – gut is literally your second brain
• Health gut is a healthy mind
• When your digestion is working well, you experience confidence, joy,
patience, logic, mental clarity and enthusiasm
• When digestion is imbalanced, you might suffer from anxiety, depression,
impatience, indecisiveness, confusion, withdrawal or disease
Agni

• 4 types:
• Sama Agni: Balanced
• Vishama Agni: Vata, Irregular
• Tikshna Agni: Pitta, Sharp
• Manda Agni: Kapha, Dull
Agni Type Related Dosha Physical Symptoms Mental Symptoms

Sama Agni All Strong digestion, stable appetite, Energized after meals, clear
healthy immune system and loving mind

Vishama Agni Vata Irregular appetite, gas, constipation, Anxiety, insecurity, fear,
dry body insomnia

Tikshna Agni Pitta Large appetite, loose stools, Anger, impatience

hyperacidity

Manda Agni Kapha Poor digestion, gains weight easily, Sleepy, tired, weakness
loss of appetite
Dhatus

• Body tissue groups where disease manifests

• Described in terms of qualities and related to doshas
• Mental aspect to each dosha as well as a physical aspect
• State of Dhatu health is deeply related to diet.
Dhatus

• 7 in your body:
• Plasma
• Blood/ Red blood cells
• Muscles
• Fat
• Bones
• Bone Marrow/ Nervous system
• Reproductive system
Dhatus

• Rasa (Plasma)
• Provides body with nutrition
• Cold, heavy, moist, soft, stable, smooth, cloudy, gross, dull and flowing
(Kapha)
• Carries nutrients, hormones and proteins to part of your body that need
them
• Plasma also help remove waste from your body that your cells deposit into
it
• Health is related to digestive fire
Dhatus

• Rakta (Blood)
• In charge of circulating oxygen throughout body and provides you with life
• Fire of the body
• Hot, light, dry, hard, unstable, rough, flowing, clear, subtle and sharp (Pitta)
• Energizes and heats up the body
• Keeps the liver and spleen functioning so they can flush out toxins
Dhatus

• Mamsa (Muscles)
• Provides strength and stability
• Includes, ligaments, strength, vitality and courage
• Hot, heavy, dry, hard, unstable, rough, dense, cloudy, gross and sharp (Pitta
and Kapha)
• Provides a vessel in which you can live on this earth
• Comprised of earth and fire energies, giving it both substance and action
Dhatus

• Medas (Fat)
• Provides insulation and lubrication
• How your body stores energy
• Necessary to protect your joints, balance your hormones and keep you
happy
• Gives you soft, smooth skin
• Cool, heavy, moist, hard, stable and dense (Kapha)
Dhatus

• Asthi (Bones)
• Holds your body together and protect your organs
• Densest Dhatu (80% earth, 15% air and 5% water)
• Cold, dense, hard, stable and rough (Kapha with a bit of vata)
• Ability to stand up for yourself and be firm in your beliefs
Dhatus
• Majja (Nervous System and bone marrow)
• Fills your bones and houses your nervous system
• Related to our sense of fulfillment, ability to communicate
• Red bone marrow: Found in spongy bones and produces red blood cells - Pitta
• Yellow bone marrow: Found in medullary canal of long bones and stays in the
canal to support the bone
• Unresolved emotions can become stuck in bone marrow
• All of your senses stem from your nervous system
• Tears are a by-product of Majja
• Can evaluate by looking at your eyes
Dhatus

• Shukra (Reproductive Tissue)

• Allows you to make and have babies
• Shukra (male reproductive tissues) –cool and active energy (Kapha but
moved with vata)
• Artava (Female reproductive tissues) – Hot and passive (Pitta)
Dhatu Related Balanced Increased Imbalance Decreased Imbalance
Body Part

Rasa Plasma Good health, hormonal Congestion, colds, swelling, Constipation,

Balance, good energy, heaviness, acne, lethargy dehydration, dizziness,
mental clarity, physical (kapha) lkoss of menstruation,
beauty fatigue, anxiety (vata)

Rakta Red Blood Stable body temp, strong Excess sweating, increased Bloating, gas,
Cells blood circulation, body temp, heavy periods, malabsorption, scanty
motivation, endurance, fever (kapha) periods (vata)
passion

Mamsa Muscles Strong muscularity, Stiff and tight muscles, Weak joints, low muscle
ligaments, courage, vitality, inflexible joints, heaviness mass, tendency toward
self-confidence (kapha) injury, hypermobility
(vata)
Dhatu Related Balanced Increased Imbalance Decreased Imbalance
Body Part

Medas Fat Healthy body weight, Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, Underweight, dry skin, cracking
physical beauty, strong underactive thyroid, excess thirst, joints, cold body temp, loss of
joints profuse sweating, breathlessness energy, infertility, arthritis,
(Kapha) osteoporosis, overactive thyroid,
enlarged spleen (vata)

Asthi Bone Strong bone structure, Bone fusion, bony spurs, Spontaneous fractures, arthritis,
teeth, nails and hair, calcifications, hunchback, extra osteoporosis, brittle nails, hair
confident and teeth, excess hair growth (Kapha) loss, shortened height, scoliosis
assertive (Vata)

Majja Bone High energy, strong Heaviness, lethargy, sluggishness Anxiety, osteoporosis, anemia,
Marrow communication skills, (Kapha) multiple sclerosis, ADD/ADHD,
(nervous great senses, mentally poor communication, epilepsy,
system) sounds Parkinson’s (Vata)

Shukra Reproductiv Well functioning Sex addiction, premature Lack of sex drive, pain during
e Tissues reproductive system, ejaculation, excess semen flow, intercourse, impotence, loss of
healthy sperm and multiple cystic ovaries (pitta) menstruation (vata)
egg health, creative
instinct
Tastes

• Rasa – Taste
• In Ayurveda, digestion begins the moment that you put food in
your mouth
• Taste receptors signal your body what enzymes are needed to
break down your food
Tastes

• Madhura (Sweet)
• High in Kapha
• Build you Dhatus but too much will results in fat
• Necessary for energy, organ production, endurance and sustenance
• Children are naturally attracted to because they are in a Kapha phase and
are growing
• Increases Kapha, decreases Vata and Pitta
• Sweet fruits, starchy vegetables, grains, wheat products, some dairy
products, sweeteners
Tastes

• Amla (Sour)
• Increase earth and fire
• Best choice for vatas
• Increases stomach acid, improves digestion, reduce flatulence
• Nourishes organs, blood and other bodily tissues
• Lemons, limes, grapefruit, apple cider vinegar, some dairy
• Increases Pitta, Kapha
• Decreases Vata
Tastes

• Lavana (Salty)
• Water and Fire energy
• Heat-inducing, oily and heavy
• Energizing, promotes digestion, absorption, nutrient assimilation and
elimination
• Mineral rich, builds muscle strength
• Increases Pitta/Kapha, Decreases Vata
• Salt, seaweed, tamari, soy sauce, miso, celery
Tastes

• Katu (Pungent)
• Heating, sharp, drying and light
• Contains fire and air
• Stimulate digestive fire
• Increases Vata/Pitta, Decreases Kapha
• Onions, garlic, chives, radishes, mustard, black pepper, chili powder,
cayenne, ginger
Tastes

• Tikta (Bitter)
• Comprised of air and ether
• Detoxifying, anti-inflammatory and cleansing
• Very beneficial for digestion
• Antibiotic, anti-parasitic and antiseptic
• Increase Vata, Decrease Pitta and Kapha
• Leafy greens, Brussel sprouts, Zucchini, eggplant, bitter herbs, turmeric,
coffee and cacao
Tastes

• Kashaya (Astringent)
• Leaves a dry taste on your tongue
• Cooling, drying and heavy
• Comprised of air and earth
• Help bind the stool, anti-inflammatory and heal ulcers and blood clots
• Help with water retention, swelling and to tighten tissues
• Raw vegetables, legumes, pomegranates, tumeric
• Increases Vata, Decreases Pitta and Kapha
6 Stages of Digestion

1. Madhura Avashtha Paka (Sweet stage)

2. Amla Avastha Paka (Sour stage)
3. Lavana Avastha Paka (Salty stage)
4. Katu Avastha Paka (Pungent stage)
5. Tikta Avastha Paka (Bitter stage)
6. Kashaya Avastha Paka (Astringent stage)
Stage of Taste Sanskrit Elements Dosha Function
digestion name

First Sweet Madhura Water and Earth Kapha Simple sugars absorbed

Second Sour Amla Fire and Earth Kapha and Stomach Acid Secreted
Pitta

Third Salty Lavana Water and Fire Pitta Food enters the top of small
intestine; digestive enzymes
released
Fourth Pungent Katu Air and Fire Pitta and Food enters jejunum and
Vata continues to be digested

Fifth Bitter Tikta Air and Ether Vata Food enters ileum; nutrients are
absorbed

Sixth Astringent Kashaya Air and Earth Vata and Food enters the cecum and is
Kapha formed into stool; appetite
returns
References

• Ayurveda; By Saraha Rose Ketabi; published by Alpha, 2017