Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Deepana = Agni Deepana = activating or kindling the digestive fire and hence the digestive activity

Pachana = Ama Pachana = digesting or cooking or processing the ama formed due to sluggish digestion in the gut

Related Reading – Ama

Deepana and Pachana are the most essential parts of and most praised parts of the Ayurveda Treatment protocol for all diseases. Most of the time they form integral components and ‘start up’ treatments while planning and executing the treatment for many diseases.

But should they be done as a rule? 

Are Deepana and Pachana treatments mandatory in Ayurveda Treatment protocols?

A quote in the context of the Udara Roga chapter of Madhava Nidana says that ‘all the diseases have their origin from a weak digestive fire i.e. mandagni, mainly those which occur in the abdomen’.

So, as per this statement, almost all diseases which we suffer from in our lifetime be it physical or mental or psychosomatic manifest from the core of ‘weakened agni’. There are some diseases / afflictions in which mandagni or ama is not associated right from the beginning, but it may occur in due course of time.

The term Amaya is a synonym for Vyadhi i.e. disease. Amaya means ‘that which is caused by ama’. Ama is formed due to weak agni. So, agnimandya and ama are interconnected. Disease itself has a synonym for Amaya. Here, we can see the importance of agni and ama in the causation of a disease. Not only that, the progression and prognosis of a disease is also dependent on the status of agni and ama.

From this perspective deepana and pachana become mandatory parts of treatment of any disease, especially so in the earlier stages or acute manifestations of the disease.

So, should the Ayurveda physician start the treatment by prescribing a deepana or pachana medicine?

For these questions I would say, ‘conditions apply’.

Check for the status of agni and conduct a thorough examination to confirm that the agni is weak.

Check for the signs of presence of ama at any level and its location. Is it at the level of amashaya or pakvashaya? Is it associated with doshas? Is it associated with dhatus or malas? We have signs and symptoms explained for each of these conditions in the Ayurveda texts. Just apply them.

If there is weak agni or signs of presence of ama, you may start your treatment with deepana or pachana.

Choices –

–        Many times Langhana – especially therapeutic fasting will kindle agni and digest ama, but should be monitored. It shall not be done in vata predominant conditions and conditions caused by kama – desire, shoka – grief and bhaya – fear. In mild conditions of diseases it shall be preferred.

–        You can combine Langhana and Pachana in moderate disease conditions which are neither weak nor very strong.

–        Strong diseases and severe dosha aggravation would require Doshavasechana – expulsion of morbid doshas by shodhana therapies.

The physician should be wise enough to choose his instrument of treatment.

Sometimes, medicines given for agni deepana would also affect ama pachana also. The converse is also true.

Many times a medicine prescribed for a disease i.e. ‘vyadhi pratyanika aushadha’ will itself do the job of deepana and pachana even if the physician has not prescribed it in that direction or with that intention, mainly the medicines in Kashayam – decoction, Churna – powder or Vati – tablet forms. So, all purposes will be met with in default i.e. deepana, pachana and vyadhi prashamana.

Chronic disease conditions will not require deepana pachana most of the time but still the physician should see the status of agni and ama if any.

The doshas after having passed the initial stage of their manifestation will not have ama. But the status of agni needs to be evaluated.

Conclusive Remarks –

Deepana and Pachana are essential in the protocol of Ayurveda treatments but conditions apply. The status of agni and ama need to be evaluated thoroughly in every disease, in every disease. Treatment for any disease should not be done overlooking the status of agni and ama.

Deepana and Pachana are also ‘start-up’ therapies or mandatory pre-procedures (purvakarmas) for conducting Shodhana therapies, which cannot be done when the agni is weak or in presence of ama.