E-ISSN:2456-3110

Research Article

Sthoulya

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2025 Volume 10 Number 9 September
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

An Observational Study on Agni Bala in Patients of Medo Dhatu Vruddhi (Sthoulya) w.s.r. to Obesity

Rohit HE1, Rakesh HR2, Chacko N3*, Rugvedi P4
DOI:10.21760/jaims.10.9.3

1 Rohit HE, Associate Professor, Dept of Kriya Sharira, Ashwini Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Center, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India.

2 Rakesh HR, Associate Professor, Dept of Kayachikitsa, Ashwini Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Center, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India.

3* Nija Chacko, Assistant Professor, Dept of Kriya Sharira, Govt Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

4 Padmanabha Rugvedi, Professor, Dept of Kriya Sharira, Ashwini Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Center, Tumakuru, Karnataka, India.

Introduction: In Ayurveda, Agni is regarded as the foundation of health, being responsible for all metabolic activities in the body. Among the various forms of Agni, Jatharagni is considered primary, as it governs and supports the functions of Bhootagni and Dhatvagni. This study focuses on the role of Agni, specifically Jatharagni, in the context of Medo Dhatu Vriddhi (obesity). Sthoulya (obesity), an increasing global health concern, is linked to the impairment of Agni, resulting in excess accumulation of Medas (fat tissue) and associated complications like hypertension, diabetes, infertility, and mental disorders.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Ashwini Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Centre, Tumkur, involving 100 volunteers (BMI >25), aged 20–60 years. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate the type of Agni (Vishama, Teekshna, Manda, and Sama) and diagnose Medo Dhatu Vriddhi based on both Ayurvedic and modern parameters. The responses were statistically analyzed to explore correlations between Agni status and obesity.

Results: Results showed that 58% of participants exhibited Vishamagni, 30% Teekshnagni, 10% Mandagni, and only 2% had Samagni. A significant correlation was observed between Vishamagni and higher BMI levels, suggesting a key pathogenic role in Medo Dhatu Vriddhi. Lifestyle factors such as sedentary occupations and junk food consumption were prevalent, contributing to Agni imbalance.

Discussion: This study highlights the central role of Agni - especially Vishamagni - in the manifestation of Sthoulya. Correction of impaired Agni should be the first step in the Ayurvedic management of obesity. These findings reaffirm the classical Ayurvedic concept that the regulation of Agni is essential for maintaining metabolic balance and preventing lifestyle disorders.

Keywords: Agni, Jatharagni, Vishamagni, Medo Dhatu Vriddhi, Sthoulya, Obesity, Ayurveda, Metabolic Health

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Nija Chacko, Assistant Professor, Dept of Kriya Sharira, Govt Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Email: 		Rohit HE, Rakesh HR, Chacko N, Rugvedi P, An Observational Study on Agni Bala in Patients of Medo Dhatu Vruddhi (Sthoulya) w.s.r. to Obesity. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2025;10(9):11-15.
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https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/4650/

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-07-02 2025-07-25 2025-08-05 2025-08-15 2025-08-25
Conflict of Interest Funding Ethical Approval Plagiarism X-checker Note
None Nil Yes 10.36

© 2025 by Rohit HE, Rakesh HR, Chacko N, Rugvedi P and Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

J Ayu Int Med Sci 2025;10(9)11
Download PDFBack To ArticleIntroductionMaterials and MethodsResultsDiscussionConclusionReferences
Rohit HE et al. Observational Study on Agni Bala in Patients of Medo Dhatu Vruddhi

Introduction

Ayurveda defines health as state of equilibrium in Dosha, Agni, Dhatu, and Mala with their proper functions. Among these Agni plays the vital role in maintenance of health. Agni occupies entire body as various bio-transformations which is carried out in living body at all places and are named and classified as per their different functions i.e. Jatharagni, 5 Bhootagni, 7 Dhatuvagni.[1] Among these classifications Jataragni has given more importance because the rest of the types are fully dependent on Jataragni and also this article has limitations hence the focus is limited to Jataragni only. Agni maintains the body temperature, health and keeps the person active.[2] It also develops courage. Agni keeps a person alive and is therefore considered as a sign of life. So, Agni in normalcy leads to disease free long life and its vitiation leads to serious disorders and finally takes the life. Jataragni has been categorized in four different states viz., Vishamagni, Teekshnagni, Mandagni and Samagni.[3] Among the four Samagni refers to equilibrium of health and the other three types of Agni can lead to imbalance.[10] Sthoulya is a disorder where impaired Agni plays a role in causation of Sthoulya,[4] the abnormal and excess accumulation of Medo Dhatu.[5,6] Sthoulya is one which disturbs physical, mental, as well as social health of an individual. Obesity is one of the burning problems globally as it will hamper the different systems in the body. An obese person is always prone to land up in complications like hypertension, coronary heart disease, dyslipedemia, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, infertility, impotency as well as psychological disorders like stress, anxiety, depression, etc. Agni plays vital role in maintenance of health as well as manifestation of diseases. which highlights its importance and influences over the body. According to the Ayurvedic literature when Medas undergoing Vriddhi produce all the premonitory symptoms of Prameha, obesity and its complications and other symptoms of increase of Kapha, Raktha and Mamsa. Vata especially inside the alimentary tract, causes increase of digestive activity and because of this there will be increase of hunger and thirst which in turn burn away the body just as fire and wind burn up a tree which has a big cavity inside it.[7] Evaluating the status of Agni and its maintenance is essential in the management of Medo Dhatu.[8]

Materials and Methods

Source of Data

Data collected from patients of both outpatient and inpatient departments of Ashwini Ayurvedic Medical College and Research Centre, Tumkur.

Methods of Collection of Data

Role of Agni in Medodhatuvridhi (Sthaulya)

The data was collected and computed from the responses obtained from the questionnaire

Plan of study

Hundred Volunteers who were having BMI above 25 were asked to respond to the questionnaire which is in three parts. The first part of questionnaire was for diagnosing Obesity and BMI with the modern parameters. The second part of the questionnaire was for diagnosing Medodathu Vridhi (Sthaulya) as per reference and text in Ayurvedic literature. The third part of questionnaire was for assessing the role of Agni in those volunteers.

Methodology

Totally 20 Questions were included in which

  • 1st - 5th question support for Vishamagni,
  • 6th - 10th question for Teekshnagni,
  • 11th - 15th question for Mandagni,
  • 16th - 20th question for Samagni

Each question has 5 options i.e., Strongly agree, Agree, Uncertain, Disagree, strongly disagree. Totally positive responses for their respective Agni were calculated by adding option (a) i.e., strongly agree and option (b) i.e., Agree.

Inclusion criteria

  • BMI level above 25[9]
  • Age group between 20 to 60
  • Sex - Both male and female

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant and lactating women
  • Age groupbelow20 andabove60
  • Any individual with co-morbid condition along with obesity
  • Individuals who are taking medications

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Rohit HE et al. Observational Study on Agni Bala in Patients of Medo Dhatu Vruddhi

Assessment Parameters

Subjective parameters

Questionnaire to assess Agni and Medo Dathu Vriddhi (Refer Annexure 1)

Objective parameters

Calculation of BMI (Weight in kg/height in meter square)

Waist Hip ratio


Observations on some important Demographic Data

SNDataSub categoryPercentage %
1.GenderMale35
Female65
2.Age group20-2916
30-3948
40-4913
50-5914
60-699
3.occupationStudent8
Homemaker12
Business38
Engineers16
Others26
4.Junk food consumptionYes90
No10
5.Agni BalaSama Agni2
Manda Agni10
Vishama Agni58
Teekshnaagni30

Results

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Rohit HE et al. Observational Study on Agni Bala in Patients of Medo Dhatu Vruddhi

Discussion

Agni is the prime phenomena to be considered while assessing health status, administering medication and rejuvenation. Agni, when is influenced by different Doshas has four different states viz. Vishama, Teekshna, Manda, and Sama. The first three said to be the imbalanced condition influenced by Vata, Pitta, and Kapha respectively. The last one Sama is said to be balanced state which is one of the conditions in healthy individual and also essential for maintenance of health of an individual. Agni is having strong relation with Medodhatu Vridhi. The present sedentary life style can be a reason for Medodhatu Vridhi. Accumulation of Medas resulting in Vata Vridhi at Koshta leads to Athi Sandukshana of Jataragni. This Teeksha Agni makes a person feel hungrier otherwise leading to Dathu Paka with the same Teekshna Agni, but if food is taken it will nourish the Medo Dathu. This results in Medodhatu Vridhi.

Discussion on Observation and Results

Gender: In this study maximum number of subjects were of female gender. i.e., 65%. People of this gender have hormonal differences i.e., estrogen promotes fat storage, especially around hips and thighs and hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause affect metabolism and appetite. weight gained during pregnancy may not be fully lost postpartum and multiple pregnancies increase the risk of long-term obesity which was the case in our study where most of the females were multigravida and of fertile age, women are more likely to experience emotional eating related to stress, depression or anxiety.

Age: In this study maximum number of subjects were of middle age i.e., 30-39 yrs. people of this age group have low BMR, due to which fewer calories are burned at rest who has sedentary lifestyle, making weight gain easier if diet is not adjusted. in this age group there will be loss of muscle mass due to age related alteration in BMR.

Occupation: In this study maximum number of people were businessmen, long were sitting in meeting and lack of physical activity, skipping meals, frequent dining out, fast food due to busy schedule and financial pressure resulting in Vishamagni Dusti, their BMR gets altered leading to Medo Dhatu Vaishamya.

Junk Food: In this study maximum number of subjects were fond off and consuming junk food which contains excess calories, sugar, low fiber and saturated fats which leads to Agni Vaishyama i.e., Vishamagni, resulting in Medo Dathu Dushti causing obesity.

Discussion on Results

Discussion on Agni: Questionnaires on Agni were distributed among 100 volunteers who were having Medodhatu Vriddhi and feedback was tabulated. As per the options given i.e., Strongly agree, Agree, Uncertain, Disagree, strongly disagree, the results were obtained. Among 100 Volunteers most of them responded strongly agree, agree for 1-5 questions and so they were diagnosed with Vishamagni i.e., 65%. Among the rest of volunteers, 19% were diagnosed with Teekshnagni, 11% with Mandagni, and 5% with Samagni. The result shows that, there is a strong relation between Agni and Medhodhatu Vridhi and in treatment of Sthoulya Agni should be given prime importance rather than other factors.

Discussion on BMI: Volunteers who were having Vishamagni, the BMI level between 25-30 were 8 i.e., 12.32%, the BMI level between 31-35 were 30 i.e., 46.15%, the BMI level between 36-40 were 27 i.e., 41.53%. Volunteers who were having Teekshnagni, the BMI level between 25-30 were 15 i.e., 78.94%, the BMI level between 31-35 were 4 i.e.21.05%, Volunteers who were having Mandagni, the BMI level between 25-30 were 8 i.e., 72.72%, the BMI level between 31-35 were 3 i.e.27.27%. Volunteers who were having Samagni, the BMI level between 25-30 were 5 i.e., 100%.

The persons having Vishamagni were having higher values of BMI when compared to others. Hence, we can infer that there is a strong relation between Agni (Vishamagni) and Medho Dhatu Vridhi.

Discussion on data analysis: Data analysis by using correlation coefficient R and spearman correlation the result obtained is statistically significant with the alternate hypothesis i.e., there is a strong correlation between Agni (Vishamagni) and Medho Dhatu Vridhi.

Conclusion

Healthy body as well as the disease is nothing but the outcome of Agni. Out of all the factors for maintenance of positive health,


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Rohit HE et al. Observational Study on Agni Bala in Patients of Medo Dhatu Vruddhi

Agni is Ayu since it regulates and maintains normal health and development of human body. So, one cannot sustain life without Agni. In case of Sthoulya also in Nidana Samprapti, Agni plays a vital role concluding Vishama form of Agni Dusti is observed significantly in the current study. In the treatment of Sthoulya, before the management of Medho Dhatu Vridhi, Vaikrutha Agni should be corrected and brought back to Prakruthaavastha. Vishamagni which is the main factor which cause difficulty in bringing the BMI down, should be put for the further study in controlling obesity.

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