SPECIFIC LOCATION:  Digested and non-digested portion - Duodenal path 
Three digestive heats: 
LUNG - fire accomplishing 
BADKHEN - decomposing 
TIPA - Colour regulating 

THREE TYPES OF DIGESTIVE HEAT: 
Digestive Fire Tipa - duodenal, upper part of intestine 
NUTRIMENTS - Liver, Blood 

Dr. Quser paper  THE CONCEPT OF DIG.  HEAT IN TIBETAN MEDICINE 

We derive our body energies from nutrients.  Digestion of food begins in the mouth with the help of the tongue, teeth, saliva, etc. and is completed when our body excretes the body's refuse through the various parts of the body. All the food particles have to pass from dig. tract and then have to be absorbed through the intestinal lining.  The stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal ftract is like a crop field.  As we take maximum care of the crop field in order to get a good harvest, we must take max. care of the gastrointestinal tract in order to preserve max. sth of the dig. heat. Dig. heat is responsible for all the functions like digestion, absorption, assimilation, elimination etc.  Regular bowel movement is due to proper strength of digestive heat.  Digestive heat separates nutrient and waste, and conveys the wastes from the are of digestion and bars undigested food from entering the pathway of digested food.  Howevewr,  dig. heat is not only confiend to the dig;. tract.  ALL THE SYSTEMS of the body will FLOURISH if the dig. heat functions at proper intensity and if it is well nourished. Constant change of our body atoms and cells depend princiapply upon the strength of the dig. heat.DIG. HEAT PLAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE BODY'S NATURAL HEALING PROCESSES. 
Digestive heat regulates the heat of the body constituents and excretions, and ensures good health, provides body's strength, glowing complexion and prolongs lifespan.  Dig. heat is also a body heat in its broader sense.  When the dig. heat is functioning at its optimal level besides the other body systems, then it regenerates a VITAL LIFE ENERGY.  One will feel extremely fresh and light, with good appetite, strong physical strength, proper digestion and elimination with emotional well being and happiness, if this vital energy is strong. STRESS AND STRAIN, DEPRESSION, FRUSTRATION, ANXIETY AND FEAR AND ALL OTHER NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ALSO AFFECT THE STRENGTH OF DIG.HEAT AND DIMINISHES THE STRENGTH OF VITAL ENERGY. 

Therefore dig. heat is the main powerhouse of the human body. 

THREE ENERGIES OF THE DIG.HEAT. 
There are 3 energies responsible for regulating dig.heat of the human body. 
They are decomposing Badkhen, digestive Tipa and fire-like Lung. 
These 3 are principally responsible for digestion of food particles and ensuring smooth absorption and assimilation of nutrients. They operate mainly in the dig. tract and each of them operates predominantly in different parts of the digestive tract.
In general, decomposing Badkhen helps in breaking down the food particles into a semi-liquid fluid. 
Digestive Tipa is the main heat among these three, because of the Hot nature of Tipa. 
Fire-like Lung assists digestion, absorption and metabolic activity of boidly constituents (separates nutrients and waste). 
Too strong or too weak dig. heat brings disharmony to the body. Very strong dig. heat regenerates the cells faster than normal, and weak dig. heat regenerates them slower than normal rate. 

DIG.HEAT AND THE THREE POST-DIGESTIVE TASTES 
All  the food items are transformed into the three main types of energies of our body. 
Three energies are Lung, Tipa and Badkhen. During the process of digestion, they are identified as three post-digestive tastes.  They are SWEET, SOUR and BITTER tastes. These 3 are similar to biological molecules like protein, carbohydrates, fats, etc. of the food. 
Among these three tastes, Sweet taste is produced first in the upper digestive tract by the principal action of Decomposing Badkhen. 
This sweet taste in return produces Badkhen characteristics in the digestive system and then throughout the body at later stages.. 
Finally, Bitter taste is produced in the end part of the digestive tract by the principal action oif Fire-like Lung.  This Bitter taste in return produces Lung characteristics in the digestive tract and then throughout the body at a later stage. 
All these mean that if the three post-digestive tastes are produced sufficiently, then the three body principles also function harmoniously. 
All Sweet and Salty foods become Sweet in post-digestion,  Sour taste becomes Sour and Bitter, Pungent and Astringent becomes Bitter in the post-digestion stage. 

DIGESTIVE HEATS AND THEIR PRINCIPAL SEAT 
We know that Decomposing Badkhen, digestive Tipa and fire-like Lung are the 3 digestive heats of our body. 
Decomposing Badkhen is seated in the Stomach, and therby produces Sweet taste, after breaking down the food particles. 
Digestive Tipa is seated around the upper part of the small intestine and thereby produces Sour taste. Fire-like Lung is seated in the large intestine and produces Bitter tasaste. 
Manifestation of symptoms after eating, after digestion and in the empty stomach which correspond to Badkhen Tipa and Lung disorders are due to the principal function of digestive heat in these parts of our body. 

PERSONAL DISPOSITION AND DIGESTIVE HEAT 
Eeach and every individual is different in physical appearance, behaviour, emotions etc. Even preferences for food, sports, entertainment, jobs, weather places, houses, colours etc. differ from individual to individual. Similarly strength of dig. heat differes from person to person. 
Tibetan medicine classifies human personaliities into seven major types, that encompasses both physical and mental personalities.  Similarly there are four main types of digestive heat.  They are variable, high, low and normal digestive heats. 
Excessive appetite and anorexia indicates VARIABLE degrees of dig. heat and corresponds to Lung characteristics. 
Excessive appetite indicates a very high degree of digestive heat and corresponds to Tipa. 
Weak appetite and slow bowel movement indicates a low degree of digestive heat and indicates Badkhen. 
These digestive types are initially determined as an offspring in the Mother's womb, by the food and lifestyle of the mother, and the genetic coding of the parents during the period of gestation. 
Digestive heat is then further influenced by the post-natal care during childhood. 
After puberty, if we take proper food and indulge in proper lifestyle, we can then maintain and strong dig. heat throughout our lifespan, unless influenced by serious illness or otherwise. 

DIGESTIVE HEAT AND LIFESTYLE 
It i is always important to preserve the strength of digestive heat. For this, observing a proper lifestyle to protoect the dig. heat is necessary. 

Badkhen personality types, Badkhen and Lung digestive types, weak and emaciated persons, person suffering from chronic or severe illness, aged people, pregnant women, must always watch their digestive heat. 

Always keep the body fresh, light and warm by avoiding long hours of sleep. 
Avoid sitting in wet, humid and damp places. 
Exercise regularly - jogging  and walking is best to preserve digestive heat. 

DIGESTIVE HEAT AND THE FOOD HABIT 
The quality and amount of food intake determines the strength of the digestive heat.   It is  important to eat light and warming food items to protect digestive heat.  Always take boiled warm or luke warm water after the meal in order to help digestion, provide body heat and prevent minor problems related to eating.  Eat less raw vegetables and uncooked foods, cold drinks, sweets and fats. 
Take fresh and boiled food as much as possible. 
People who have a weak digestion) must eat less more frequently than 3 meals a day. 
One should feel fresh and light after eating - energised. 
Keep a space for an appetite, ensure regular bowel movements and clarity of sense organs all the time by filling two-fourths of the stomach with sold foods and one-fourth with drinks. 
Take lambs meat, chicken, fish, honey and old grains from dry lands. 
Unwholesome food combinations are detrimental to digestive heat. 
Take more warming foods in winter, monsoon and when the weather is cold. Coarse foods in early spring, when the weather begins to warm, and cooling foods in late spring and autumn nd when the weather is hot. 
Fasting is recommended for the obese person.