Pachana
The biochemical transformation of complex food particles into simpler forms suitable for absorption and assimilation.
Pachana: The Process of Digestion
Pachana is the biochemical transformation of complex, larger food particles into a simpler form suitable for absorption and assimilation. The primary digestion occurs in the gastrointestinal tract through the coordinated action of the three doshic subtypes along with various agnis, including jathara agni, bhuta agni, and dhatu agni.
Digestion begins with bodhaka kapha in the mouth, then proceeds to jathara agni in the stomach, which is the functional integration of kledaka kapha, pachaka pitta, and prana vayu. In the duodenum, digestion is governed by ranjaka pitta, pachaka pitta, samana vayu, and kloma agni (pancreatic juices). Samana vayu predominates through to the ileocecal valve, after which apana vayu takes over in the cecum.
Food is ultimately split by dhatu agni into prasada (essential, forming mature sthayi dhatu) and kitta (non-essential, forming immature asthayi dhatu). Eventually food is transformed into energy in the tissues, which then yields into consciousness.
Source: Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles, Chapter Nine: Digestion and Nutrition
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