Agnimandya & hormonal confusion is leading you towards poor digestion and it’s affecting your hormones

What is Agnimandya?

There are four types of Agni mentioned in Ayurveda –

• Samagni – it is the adequate amount of digestive fire which is required for the digestion of food and formation of body tissues. This helps in maintenance of normal body metabolism.
• Mandagni - it is the inadequate amount of digestive fire or can be related to the slow metabolism which leads to many disorders.
• Tikshnagni – in this the intensity of digestion is high which leads to the acidity, heartburn, etc.
• Vishamagni – in this sometimes the digestion is good while, sometimes it is poor.
• According to the functions of Agni and the sites:  
• Jatharagni which is located in the stomach
• Bhutagni are of 5 subtypes which are associated with the Panchmahabhuta and
• Dhatavagni are of 7 types which are associated with the seven dhatus.

What is Hormonal confusion?

Hormonal confusion is the common term used for hormonal imbalances. This states that either there is too little or too much of the hormonal secretions.

How Agnimandya is responsible for poor digestion?

If there is an imbalance in Agni of a person then, this can lead to the accumulation of Ama (toxins) in our body which can cause hormonal issues. These imbalances can be mainly seen in Mandagni and Vishamagni persons.

According to an article published in Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences, AMA can interfere with the production of thyroid gland hormones which can cause hypothyroidism

Ayurveda highlights the importance of a healthy digestive system which can improve the overall wellbeing of humans. Agnimandya can be improved by dietary changes and lifestyle modifications

How hormones can affect your digestion? 

According to many research articles it is stated that the human gut health gets affected by the female hormones and vice-versa. If the gut bacteria get imbalanced (called as dysbiosis) then, this process gets affected which causes dominance of estrogen.

If a person is suffering from leaky gut syndrome, then, the toxins and bacteria can enter the bloodstream which causes inflammation and this interrupts the normal hormone production. If a person is suffering from constipation, then it prevents proper elimination of estrogen which causes it to have high concentration in the blood stream.

Have you ever noticed that you experience diarrhea and bloating around the time of your period? This happens because of the hormonal imbalances going on in your body. At the time of luteal phase, the increase in progesterone level can slow down the process of digestion which causes bloating and constipation. This transition in the hormonal levels occurs especially during the pregnancy and menopause.

Which foods can assist in elimination of excessive estrogen from the body?

The fiber containing foods such as green leafy vegetables, whole grains and food containing phytoestrogens like soya products and flaxseeds can help in the elimination of excess estrogen from the body.

Regular exercise can improve in the conditions like insulin resistance and this helps in regulation of hormones. Adequate amount of sleep and sound sleep can also help in the hormonal imbalances.

References:

1. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/the-gut-hormone-connection-understanding-how-digestive-health-impacts-female-hormonal-balance/articleshow/121515643.cms
2. Agrawal AK, Yadav CR, Meena MS. Physiological aspects of Agni. Ayu. 2010 Jul;31(3):395-8. doi: 10.4103/0974-8520.77159. PMID: 22131747; PMCID: PMC3221079.