Let's delve a little deeper into the concept of dhatus.
The organs, processes, and structure of the body are all maintained by these tissue layers.
The nutrients that are absorbed and processed through the digestive process constitute the dhatus.
Each of the dhatus performs a specific job in the creation of your body. The quality and function of each individual tissue determine the overall quality and function of the body.
Rasa: Plasma and lymph
Rakta: Red blood cells
Mamsa: Muscles
Meda: Fat or adipose tissue
Asthi: Bone and cartilage
Majja: Bone marrow and nerves
Shukra: Reproductive tissue
The human body, according to Ayurveda, is a network of channels through which wisdom flows. Srotas are the names for these canals. Keeping the srotas open and flowing is one of the goals of an Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Malas are waste products that must be eliminated in order to eliminate poisons and maintain equilibrium. Stool, pee, and perspiration are the most common waste products.
Rasa: Lymph and plasma
The rasa dhatu is responsible for supplying sustenance to all of the body's tissues and organs.
Rasa is in charge of hydrating the tissues and keeping the electrolyte balance in check. Rasa affects every part of the body, although the heart, blood vessels, lymphatic system, skin, and mucous membranes are its primary targets.
ELEMENT
Water
GUNAS
Cool, heavy, oily, soft,
stable, liquid, smooth,
cloudy, gross, and dull
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA:
Kapha
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE:
Nourishment and
pleasure (prinana)
SUFFICIENCY
Rasa instills in us a love of life, as well as a sense of beauty and delight. We feel happy and our perception is clear when our rasa is sufficient. Our skin is glowing, we have plenty of energy, and we like moving around and going about our daily routines.
DEFICIENCY
Dry or cracked skin, dehydration, constipation, anxiety, dizziness, weariness, exhaustion after light exertion, irregular menstruation or cessation of menstruation, tremors, palpitations, sensitivity or intolerance to sound, and a feeling of emptiness in the heart are all symptoms of a deficiency in rasa. The body's overall nutrition may be compromised.
EXCESS
Excess rasa can cause a buildup of saliva and phlegm, as well as congestion, recurring colds, water retention, heaviness, appetite loss, and nausea.
Rakta: Red blood cells
Rakta refers to the red blood cells that oxygenate the body and keep us alive on a physical level.
Rakta, like rasa, is a circulating fluid that allows us to move freely, but with a higher level of desire. Blood provides us colour in both the physical and figurative senses—the colour of our skin and the tenor of our emotions.
ELEMENTS
Fire and water
GUNAS
Hot, dry, light, hard,
rough, liquid, mobile,
clear, sharp, and subtle
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA
Pitta
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE
Life energy; joy in living
(jivana)
SUFFICIENCY
Our life energy abounds when our rakta is ample. We have a strong sense of vitality and delight in life (jivana).
DEFICIENCY
Pallor, low blood pressure, dyspnea, cold hands and feet, dry skin, constipation, bloating, gas, malabsorption, mental dullness, difficulty focusing, and a loss of excitement for life are all symptoms of rakta deficiency.
EXCESS
Increased sweating and urine, loose stools, rashes, heavy menstruation or other bleeding, redness or burning sensations in the eyes, tendinitis, repeated infections, and enlargement of the liver and spleen are all symptoms of too much rakta.
Mamsa: Muscles
The mamsa muscle surrounds the bones and provides strength to our bodies. It also provides us with the ability to move, work, and act.
ELEMENTS
Primarily earth, with
secondary amounts of
water and fire
GUNAS
Hot, dry, sharp, heavy,
hard, mobile, dense,
gross, and cloudy
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA
Kapha and Pitta
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE
Strength, courage,
and the capacity to take
action
SUFFICIENCY
We have courage, confidence, and strength, as well as the potential for openness, forgiveness, and happiness, when our mamsa is sufficient.
DEFICIENCY
When our mamsa is weak, our structure lacks cohesiveness and integration, and we experience weariness, emaciation, weak joints, hypermobility, a lack of coordination, dread, insecurity, and sadness.
EXCESS
Obesity, tight muscles, a rigid body, inflexibility, impatience, hostility, and diminished sexual energy are all symptoms of too much mamsa. Fibroid disorders or miscarriage are possible in women.
Meda: Fat or adipose tissue
The purpose of fat, also known as adipose tissue, is to lubricate the muscles, tendons, and other structures.
When we move or change positions, fat lubricates the abdominal organs, allowing them to slide somewhat within our abdomen. Meda is also involved in the creation of cell membranes and other cellular structures at the cellular level.
ELEMENTS
Primarily water, but it
contains earth as well
GUNAS
Cold, heavy, oily, stable,
hard, and dense
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA
Kapha
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE
Lubrication and a sense
of smooth ease
SUFFICIENCY
A adequate amount of meda offers us a sense of smoothness and ease, as well as the psychological sensation of being cared for. Many people become obese or build layers of meda dhatu to counteract a feeling of not being loved, according to Ayurvedic theory.
DEFICIENCY
Fatigue, emaciation, cracking joints, dry skin, weariness of the eyes, irregular menstruation or cessation of menstruation, low back discomfort, and brittle or weak hair, nails, teeth, and bones are all symptoms of meda deficiency.
EXCESS
Obesity, lethargy, loss of mobility, asthma, gallstones, decreased sexual energy, thirst, hypertension, diabetes, slow metabolism, sweating, and drooping of the thighs, breasts, and belly are all symptoms of too much meda. Excess meda is linked to fear and being overly attached or clingy on an emotional level. These are primarily Kapha issues.
The purpose of bone is to provide internal support (dharana). It is the body's densest tissue. All of the other dhatus are supported by the bones, which provide strength and a solid foundation.
Our interior organs, such as the brain, heart, and reproductive organs, are all protected by asthi. Asthi is also responsible for the formation of our teeth, nails, and hair.
Asthi: Bone and cartilage
The purpose of bone is to provide internal support (dharana). It is the body's densest tissue. All of the other dhatus are supported by the bones, which provide strength and a solid foundation.
Our interior organs, such as the brain, heart, and reproductive organs, are all protected by asthi. Asthi is also responsible for the formation of our teeth, nails, and hair.
ELEMENTS
Primarily earth, but
also space and air
GUNAS
Cold, dense, hard,
stable, and rough
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA
Vata
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE
A container and
foundation; confidence
and stability
SUFFICIENCY
Ayurveda believes that having enough bone gives us stability, confidence, and stamina. Our teeth, bones, nails, and hair are all healthy and strong.
DEFICIENCY
Fatigue, joint pain or looseness, osteoporosis, arthritis, scoliosis, brittle nails, weakening or loss of teeth and hair, and poor bone and tooth formation are all symptoms of asthi deficiency.
EXCESS
Asthma can cause bone spurs, additional teeth, calcifications, joint discomfort, and arthritis, as well as dread, worry, and low stamina. Bone cancer can develop in extreme circumstances.
Majja: Bone marrow and nerves
The tissue that makes up the interior of big bones is called bone marrow. It is responsible for the production of red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells.
Marrow, according to Ayurveda, fills empty places in the body, such as nerve channels, bones, and the brain cavity. It aids in the lubrication of the eyes, faeces, and skin, as well as the secretion of synovial fluid. Majja dhatu is closely linked to the subconscious mind and dreams, and controls the autonomic nervous system via nerve tissue. Majja's primary job is to facilitate communication between all elements of the mind-body system.
ELEMENTS
Primarily water, but it
contains some earth, too
GUNAS
Oily, soft
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA
Vata
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE
An anchor; lubrication
SUFFICIENCY
A sufficient amount of majja in our lives provides us a sense of fullness and contentment (purana). Its lubricating properties encourage feelings of love, sympathy, and tenderness.
DEFICIENCY
Osteoporosis, anaemia, pain in the tiny joints, dizziness, sleeplessness, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurological illnesses, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), loss of sexual vitality, and feelings of emptiness and fear can all be symptoms of a majja deficiency.
Majja deficiency is a common symptom of Vata disorders.
EXCESS
Excess majja causes heaviness in the eyes, limbs, and joints, as well as excessive sleep, sluggishness, pineal and pituitary tumours, and nerve and neurological system diseases. It can also cause festering ulcers, fluid buildup in the brain's ventricles, vision problems, and brain tumours.
Shukra: Reproductive tissue
Tissues of the Shukra Reproductive System
Reproductive tissue's primary function is, unsurprisingly, reproduction (garbha utpadana).
It enables us to create another living being and continue the flow of human life. Shukra is a term that refers to both the seed (in women, the ovum) and the reproductive fluids in general.
Shukra is thought to offer the eyes illumination and the soul inspiration.
ELEMENTS
Primarily water, with
some attributes of earth
GUNAS
Heavy, oily, liquid,
and dense
ASSOCIATED
WITH DOSHA
Kapha
BELIEVED TO
PROVIDE
Strength, energy, and
stamina for the
entire body
SUFFICIENCY
Shukra comprises both a reproductive (semen or ovum) and a pleasure component in both men and women. While both components work together in men (ejaculation with pleasurable release), the release of the ovum is not pleasurable in women; instead, shukra stimulates the flow of lubricating secretions associated with sexual excitation and pleasure in women.
DEFICIENCY
Lack of vigour and sexual desire, infertility, impotence, dry mouth, lassitude, tiredness, and pain during intercourse are all symptoms of deficient reproductive tissue. Fear, worry, or a lack of love are examples of emotional deficit.
It can also lead to blood in the sperm, a reduced sperm count, and impotence in men. A lack of lubricating fluids during sexual activity, anovulation (absence of ovulation), and sterility are all symptoms of inadequate reproductive tissue in women.
EXCESS
Excess reproductive tissue can lead to an increase in sexual desire, as well as an increase in reproductive fluid, stones in the sperm, and prostate hypertrophy in men, and ovarian and uterine cysts in women.
Digesting Rasa Dhatu
Rasa dhatu is the body's fundamental plasma and the ocean, or vital fluid, in which all of the body's other tissues exist.
The digestive fire within each dhatu processes these nutrients when food is digested and nutrients are released, producing mature tissue and immature tissue for the next dhatu.
Rasa is thus the source of all tissues, while shukra holds the essence of all tissues.
Each tissue is formed by the grosser tissue, which generates a subtler tissue, similar to how cream is produced from milk.
When plasma is digested, it forms blood.
Blood transforms into muscle.
Muscle deteriorates into fat.
Fat turns into bone.
Marrow is formed from bone.
Marrow is transformed into reproductive fluid.
The subtler dhatus assist and store the energy accumulated by the grosser ones.
Plasma is concentrated in blood.
Muscle is blood that has been concentrated.
Muscle is concentrated in fat.
Bone is a fat-concentrated structure.
Bone marrow is a concentrated form of bone.
Marrow marrow marrow marrow marrow marrow marrow marrow m
The reproductive fluid is the entire body's concentrated essence and energy reserve.
Because of the way the dhatus are created, there is a greater quantity of grosser tissues than subtler tissues. Only a small fraction of plasma becomes blood, and only a small portion of blood becomes muscle, etc., until only a small amount of reproductive fluid is created. The subtler tissues are more concentrated and long-lasting, despite their modest size.
Tissues that are more subtle take longer to mature than those that are more visible. Plasma is created daily with our diet, but it takes five days for it to turn into blood, according to Ayurveda. It takes 36 days to complete the digestive cycle, which includes both gross and delicate digestion. Ojas is the end product of digestion, and it provides us with life, power, and immunity.
The first tissue, plasma, is intimately connected to the last dhatu, reproductive tissue.
The reproductive fluid can nourish or support the plasma, and the plasma can nourish or support the reproductive fluid. Many nutrients that raise plasma levels, such as milk, also raise reproductive fluid levels.
Similarly, a lack of plasma results in a lack of reproductive fluid (and vice versa). Ayurveda presents a true systems biology paradigm for comprehending the interdependence of the mind-body system as a whole in this aspect.
If you want to find out how to strengthen your Srotas, Ojas, or any specific body part, or need help reaching perfect health... please feel free to join my waiting list here.