CONCEPT OF AGNI IN AYURVEDA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THYROID DISORDERS

Agni, the fundamental metabolic principle described in Ayurveda, governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, and cellular transformation through its thirteen functional types. Balanced agni sustains vitality, immunity, and systemic harmony, whereas its impairment leads to metabolic dysfunction and disease. In the contemporary era, metabolic disorders—particularly thyroid diseases—have emerged as major global health concerns due to rapid lifestyle transitions, dietary irregularities, and chronic psychological stress. From a biomedical perspective, thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism arise primarily from hormonal imbalance and autoimmune mechanisms affecting the thyroid gland, a key regulator of basal metabolic rate, thermogenesis, growth, and nutrient utilization. This review explores thyroid disorders through both biomedical and Ayurvedic frameworks, highlighting agni as a central integrative concept linking digestive, metabolic, and systemic processes. It emphasizes that correction of agni through deepana, pachana, srotoshodhana, and dosha-specific therapies forms the cornerstone of Ayurvedic management. Integrating classical Ayurvedic insights with modern endocrinology may provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to understanding, preventing, and managing thyroid dysfunction.