Agni-Centred Rasayana after Panchakarma: A Systems-Oriented Framework Linking Digestion, Microbiome Hypotheses and Wellness Outcomes

Abstract

Digestive steadiness is a central concern in Ayurveda wellness practice, yet modern discussions of Panchakarma and Rasayana often move directly to detoxification, immunity, or antioxidant claims. This paper develops an Agni centred framework for Rasayana after Panchakarma, using systems thinking to connect digestive experience, diet transition, selected Rasayana herbs, and emerging microbiome hypotheses. The article is a conceptual research paper supported by synthetic repeated-measure data and a review of Panchakarma, Rasayana, antioxidant, and methodological literature. It proposes that the most defensible wellness outcomes are digestive comfort, appetite regularity, stool satisfaction, energy, and adherence to graduated diet. A single figure illustrates the modeled relationship between diet-stage progression and composite digestive wellness. Tables specify variables, synthetic findings, and herb context mapping. The discussion emphasizes that microbiome language should be used as a hypothesis-generating bridge rather than as proof that Panchakarma changes microbial ecology. The framework supports future pilot studies that combine Ayurveda assessment with cautious biomarker exploration.

KEYWORDS: Agni; Rasayana; Panchakarma; microbiome hypothesis; digestive wellness; Ayurveda systems model