There are 7 Dhatus or Body Tissues that give shape and form to the body.
These 7 are Rasa or Rasayana (Tissue Fluids), Rakta (Red Blood Cells), Mansa (Skeletal Muscle), Meda (Fat and Connective Tissue), Asthi (Bones), Majja (Bone Marrow), and Shukra (Sperms or Male & Female Reproductive Fluids). Their nature is to nourish and support one another, Rasa nourishing Rakta, Rakta nourishing Mansa, & so on. Therefore, if a problem exists in one of the 7 Dhatus, those down the line also start to suffer, as they are also not being properly supported.
Each of the Dhatus also nourishes and supports a subsidiary tissue or UPDHATU and produce waste products or MALAS. The UPDHATUS neither nourish each other nor any other tissue for the matter. The relationships between Dhatus, UPDHATUS & MALAS are as follows. What will also be included here are the ways the Dhatus influence our overall physiological being. These 7 Dhatus are overall production of FOOD we eat daily base.
- RASA – As age advances, there is slowing of growth in the body and circulation is hindered hence the substance called Rasayana is given. “RASA” means FOOD JUICE and “AYANA” means MOVEMENT or CIRCULATION. Movement of the RASA throughout the body, day and night, and consequent nourishment, maintenances of the cells, growth of new cells, expulsion of the damaged cells and full nourishment of the body is the main purpose of the RASAYAN treatment.
- RAKTA – supports the blood vessels & tendons and produces bile as waste. It also brings oxygen to the tissues and takes carbon dioxide away, invigorating the entire body.
- MANSA – supports subcutaneous fat and the skin and produces wastes emitted from the body’s orifices. As Mansa is associated with skeletal muscles, it is responsible for giving the body is smooth contours.
- MEDA – supports fat and flat muscle, producing sweat as waste. Being slippery in nature, Meda is responsible for lubrication within the body.
- ASTHI – supports teeth and produces body hair, beard and nails as waste. It creates the supportive structure for the musculature.
- MAJJA – supports head hair and helps produce mother’s milk as its waste or by-product. Majja is what helps to fill in the spaces of the body.
- SHUKRA – supports Ojas, the glow of health and produces no wastes. It is responsible for reproduction.
Good digestion and correct selection of foods according to your body type determine the health of Rasa Dhatus. Mineral-rich foods and a good supply of oxygen and lack of toxins in the blood and regular exercise support the health of Mansa Dhatus. Thus, diet digestion, air, and exercise can be seen to be a very important in matter of the any health conditions. This is how knowledge of Dhatus helps us understand how to bring beauty to our healthy lifestyle. Rests of other Dhatus are also important part of our health.
The Importance of MALAS (waste):
Ayurveda strongly stresses that elimination of wastes is as important to the health and beauty of the body as nourishment it receives. Keeping the tissues cleansed of wastes and facilitating their regular elimination through normal channels is the key to freshness and vitality. Only a clean body can be at its peak and utilize the nutrients it receives, likewise, only an open mind is free to enjoy the world.
There are various means to help support the health of the Dhatus that one will find throughout this volume. At the same time, one of the best ways to accomplish this is by strengthening OJAS.
The Nature of OJAS:
Ojas is the fine essence of all the Dhatus and the superfine essence of SHUKRA DHATU (sperms or male & female reproductive fluids). It manifests in our physical being as the sap of life energy, giving power to the heart muscle, regulating the heart’s own natural pacemaker, providing nourishment to all the muscles, marinating the action of the liver and kidneys, and providing us with a strong immune system. On a subtle level, it is the life force that can be felt when touching a vital individual and sensing the fresh brightness they project. When Ojas is strong the body is strong, firm, and flexible, the skin is smooth, clear and lustrous, the hair is thick, manageable, and shiny, the face looks calm with natural smile, the body posture is relaxed and movement is naturally graceful, and the voice is melodious and speech is kind.
The Soma, or substance Ojas produces in the brain, is the source for capacity to love. It is the subtle, physical manifestation of what allows he mind to express itself with natural compassion, loving kindness, peacefulness, and creativity the highest attributes of beauty. With spiritual practice, Ojas is transformed to strength the Aura, thus giving the adept’s body a deep radiance. Spiritual practices such as meditation, pray and chanting are also considered very strengthening to Ojas. Consider how many religious painting portray the glowing quality of the forms and faces of Gods, Saints and holy people. This glow is Ojas. When Ojas is lost or destroyed, the opposite of health becomes apparent. All the qualities we associate with lack of vitality, both physical and mental, manifest.
Although Ojas can be destroyed, it can also be regained and strengthened. Aside from religious and spiritual practices, there are natural, everyday ways to increase Ojas. Following a lifestyle suitable to keep your body in balance is central, simple attention to appropriate loving care. Then there are specific home remedies. Warm, raw milk and GHEE (clarified butter) are highly valued as foods because they directly nourish and rejuvenate Ojas. From an Ayurvedic point of view, it is the regeneration of Ojas in the body that makes a person coming from such a holiday look rested, refreshed, calm, and radiant. It becomes apparent that many aspects of modern life are destructive to Ojas. Therefore proper diet according to your body type, lifestyle, and spiritual practice are essential elements in the restoration of Ojas, our vitality and natural beauty.
AGNI – The Fire is the Beauty:
Unique to Ayurveda is the concept of AGNI (fire). Most simply put, Agni is the digestive fire. It is Agni that has power to digest food well, making all nutrients available to the tissues. It is Agni that powers mind to be intelligently disciplined to achieve inner beauty. It is Agni that also cleans toxins and excess wastes from the system, keeping the digestive tract clean and the outer body fresh and glowing. So, of course, strong, healthy, balances Agni is necessary to keep the body and mind balances and beautiful. More usually than not, problems come to the surface for us psychologically and physically when Agni is low or too high. Agni that is too low will be the cause of poor digestion and imbalanced of VATA (the air). When Agni is too high, however, it will literally burn foods up before they can be assimilated and also imbalanced of Pitta (the fire).
If you want to improve your Agni:
- Add fresh ginger or ginger powder into your Tea or Coffee(Pitta type always use half or less amount of Ginger products, Vata type can have 1tsp per cup or less according to taste or less if having chest burning after having it)
- GHEE is the best for all body types, make your food with it or add into your food
- Try to eat smaller meals or if you eat lunch & dinner, divide each into 2 parts if you already have constipation
- After meal drink warm water or sip warm water with your meal, best thing is to drink warm water in the morning (empty stomach), it will make your bowel movement smooth
- Each bite, try to chew maximum 32 times as chewing is most important
Note: This “AGNI (fire)” is imagination factor of Ayurveda to make everyone realize the importance of digesting food properly, eating properly according to your body type. If your metabolism is fine, then you are fine for sure. Most of the people are imbalanced of VATA (the air).
