#262 Agni, Ama and Autoimmunity: The Fire That Protects or Destroys You | With Dr Vignesh Devraj and Dr Vaidya M Prasad

In this episode, we dive deep into one of Ayurveda’s most fundamental yet misunderstood concepts of Agni. Often translated simply as “digestive fire,” Agni is far more than digestion. It is the body’s intelligence to transform food into energy, nutrients into tissues, experiences into learning, and stress into resilience. When this ability weakens, stagnation begins. And stagnation, Ayurveda says, is the starting point of disease.Episode Highlights:Why Agni is considered the essence of lifeHow digestion, immunity, and clarity are all expressions of AgniThe difference between Ama (toxins), Ojas (resilience), and Kapha How does lifestyle shape Agni far more than medicinesWhy are autoimmune diseases not randomSrotas: The intelligent functional pathwaysTimestamps: 00:00 – 05:30: What Truly Governs Health?05:30 – 11:00: What Is Agni Beyond “Digestive Fire”?11:00 – 16:30: Levels of Agni in the Body: From Digestion to Tissue Formation16:30 – 21:30: How to Assess Your Agni?21:30 – 26:30: Agni Beyond the Gut: Mind, Vision, Skin & Metabolism26:30 – 35:30: Strengthening Agni the Right Way35:30 – 41:00: Ancient Bodies in a World of Excess41:00 – 46:30: Mental Stress & Agni Breakdown46:30 – 52:00: Pratyaparadha: When Intellect Turns Against Health52:00 – 57:30: Agni, Ojas & Manas: The Triangle That Runs the Body57:30 – 1:00:00: Autoimmunity Through an Ayurvedic Lens1:00:00 – 1:05:30: Srotas: Rethinking Disease Pathways1:05:30 – 1:11:00: Structural vs Functional Srotas1:11:00 – 1:16:30: How the Body Decides What You Become1:16:30 – 1:21:30: Agni, Dhatu Agni & Why the First Conversion Matters Most1:21:30 – 1:27:00: Can Biomarkers Measure Agni? 1:27:00 – 1:29:30:Treating the Person, Not the ReportAbout Dr Vaidya M PrasadDr. Prasad M, a postgraduate in Ayurveda, has been practicing Ayurveda since 1996. He is working as the Principal and Medical Superintendent of Ashtamgam Ayurveda Chikitsalayam & Vidyapeedham, Vavanoor, Palakkad District, Kerala. He has been doing research-oriented work on the care of autistic children since 2002, which has highlighted him as a pioneer in the ayurvedic system to work with autistic children.About Dr Vignesh Devraj Dr Vignesh Devraj is a fourth-generation Ayurvedic physician and the founder of Sitaram Retreat, Kerala, a space for authentic healing. He is a committed practitioner and researcher of Panchakarma.If you are interested in doing a one-on-one Ayurvedic consultation with Dr Vignesh Devraj please find the details in this link: https://calendly.com/drvignesh/30-minute-session-with-dr-vignesh-devraj-md-ay-istIf you are economically challenged, please use the form provided to request a free Ayurvedic consultation here. (or copy paste this in your browser: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd29nHcrC1RssR-6WAqWCWQWKKJo7nGcEm8ITEl2-ErcnfVEg/viewform )BALANCING THE MIGHTY VATA - ONLINE COURSE NOW AVAILABLE Vata is responsible for Prana - the life energy, the nervous system - the master panel of our body, and our emotions. In Ayurveda, it is mentioned that controlling Vata is the most difficult part of healing and recovery. Watch my practical inputs that can be integrated into our life at https://vigneshdevraj.com/balancing-the-mighty-vata/ For further information about Dr Vignesh Devraj, kindly visit www.vigneshdevraj.com and www.sitaramretreat.com Instagram - @sitarambeachretreat | @vigneshdevrajTwitter - @VigneshDevrajWe truly hope you are enjoying our content. Leave your review and subscribe to the podcast, so you’ll never miss out on any new episodes. Thanks for your support.Disclaimer: - We strongly do not recommend using the content of these episodes as medical advice for any medical conditions.