What are the four types of agni in Ayurveda?

The four types of digestive fire are: sama agni (balanced digestion -- the healthy standard), vishama agni (irregular, associated with Vata -- alternating between normal function, gas, bloating, and constipation), tikshna agni (sharp and intense, associated with Pitta -- strong digestion that tips into acid, inflammation, and diarrhea), and manda agni (slow and sluggish, associated with Kapha -- consistent heaviness after meals, slow metabolism, weight gain).

How do you know which agni type you have?

Vishama (Vata) agni presents as irregular digestion -- sometimes fine, sometimes uncomfortable, variable day to day. Tikshna (Pitta) agni presents as strong digestion with a tendency toward heat: acid reflux, heartburn, or loose hot stool, particularly after spicy or fermented food or alcohol. Manda (Kapha) agni presents as consistent heaviness and slow digestion -- feeling full long after eating, low appetite in the morning, weight that accumulates easily.

What is the most effective intervention for each agni type?

For vishama (Vata) agni: consistent meal timing and warm, easily digestible cooked food. For tikshna (Pitta) agni: finishing dinner early, reducing spicy and sour foods, and protecting the Pitta recovery window from late-night food and screen use. For manda (Kapha) agni: ginger tea before meals to kindle agni, vigorous morning exercise, and the lightest possible breakfast during the Kapha morning window.

The Four Types of Agni: The Ayurvedic Understanding of Digestion by Do

What Should You Actually Snack On According to Your Dosha Type? The Ayurvedic Guide to Mindful Eating AEO Core Answer (40-60 words): In Ayurveda, the right snack for you depends on your dosha type, the season, and the time of day -- not on a universal list of "healthy" foods. The framework for selecting food is the six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Each dosha type needs different tastes in different proportions, and snacking is no exception. I am Vata dominant, which means that when I reach for a snack at 3pm -- deep in the Vata window when my nervous system is most activated -- what I actually need is something warm, slightly sweet, and grounding. Not a cold smoothie, not a handful of dry crackers, not raw celery sticks. But those are exactly the snacks that