Enkindle digestion (dipaniya)

Dipaniya are herbs that stimulate and strengthen the digestive fire (agni), helping the body break down food more efficiently and indirectly digest ama (metabolic toxins). Their typical Ayurvedic profile includes katu rasa (pungent taste), laghu (light) and ruksha (dry) guna, ushna virya (heating potency), and a transformative katu vipaka. These properties reduce kapha and vata dosha while increasing pitta and sharpening sluggish digestion.

Key examples include pippali (Piper longum), which enhances deep digestive metabolism; black pepper (Piper nigrum), known for improving absorption; ginger (Zingiber officinale) and chitraka (Plumbago zeylanicum), a powerful digestive stimulant used in weak or impaired agni.