The Spiritual Health

The word ‘Dhatus‘ originates from the word ‘DHA’ which means foundation or basis.  The word ‘Dhatu’ in Sanskrit means “that which binds together”. Dhatus is element. Our body is constructed of Dhatus. The base of survival and growth is Dhatus. For the purpose of maintaining life the Dhatus take various forms in the body. The Dhatus make up various organs and body systems. The Dhatus are the bases of development and nourishment. The mind is supported by Dhatus. The Anatomy and the physiology of the human body are dependent on Dhatus.

According to Ayurveda the seven Dhatus are:

1.      Rasa: It is the preliminary Dhatu. It is derived for food digestion. Each and every cell, tissue and part of the body is nourished by Rasa. This is done by circulation of the nutrients. The loss of appetite and other problems are possible if the Rasa is on the increase.  Deficiency of Rasa leads to loss of weight, retarded perception of senses, fatigue and dry skin.

2.      Rakta : Rakta is also known as blood. It is a fluid connective tissue. It is considered basis of life. Many vital functions of the body are served by Rakta.  The Rakta keeps us alive. It provides glow and vigor to the body. It nourishes the intellect and the muscles. Disorder related to Rakta can cause tumors, tiredness, boils, high blood pressure and anemia.

3.      Mansa: Mansa strengthens and supports the fat or Meda Dhatu. It is a derivative of blood. It is responsible for providing stamina and physical strength to the body. Disorders in Mansa are expressed as tumors around the neck, face, thigh, abdomen or genitalia.

4.      Meda: Meda means the adipose tissue. It acts as the store house of fat. It lubricates the body and provides energy. It insulates the body.

5.      Asthi: Asthi means the bone tissue. It forms the skeleton and supports the muscular tissue. Among the connective tissue it is the hardest.

6.      Majja: Majja means the yellow and red bone marrow tissue. It is present within the cavities of the bones. It produces the blood cells. It nourishes the semen. Its deficiency may result in sunken eyes and osteoporosis.

7.      Shukra: This Dhatu is associated with female and male reproductive system. It is responsible for production of children. The source of Shukra is the Majja.

For perfect health one requires appropriate quantity and quality of each Dhatu and the functioning of these Dhatus should be balanced.

Agni is the Digestive Fire which in modern biological terminology is Enzymes. Agni in other words the enzyme is found in the gastrointestinal track. The gastrointestinal tract is also know and alimentary canal. The alimentary canal digests the food. The three doshas on proper normal digestion result in samagni. The aggravated state of the doshas governs the digestive activity. The digestive activity could be excessive, deficient or healthy. The three agnis produced by the three doshas are Vishamagni (irregular fire), tikshnagni (sharp fire) and mandagni(mild fire)

The digestion is weak and irregular and gas is causes if there is excessive Vayu in the body.

A situation similar to an overheard furnace is created when there is excessive Pitta in the body.  When this is the situation there is rapid burning of food, indigestion, thirst, sensation of burning, acidity etc. Sometimes malnutrition can be caused by the burning of the nutrients by the agni.

Presence of excessive Kapha in the digestive tract lowers the digestive fire and consequently the digestion of the food becomes difficult. This results into the person feeling lethargic, dull, inadequate, and poor.  The person may feel his stomach to be heavy and he may suffer from constipation.

The Vayu , Pitta and Kapha also affect the type of feces that are excreted in other words ‘stools’. Disorders in Vayu result in hard stools because of dryness. Disorders in Pitta lead to excess of heat that ultimately results in soft or liquid stools. Stools because or Kapha are moderate. A moderate stool is considered a healthy stool and is thrown out of the body once or twice a day.

There are in all 13 agnis that are housed in the human body and these 13 agnis are responsible of digestion.

• Jatharagni: The Jatharagni works at the gastrointestinal level. It governs and controls the basic digestion. It also controls the remaining 12 agnis.
• 5 Bhutagnis: The five elements present in body tissues are metabolized by the 5 Bhutagnis. The 5 Bhutagnis are a form of heat. They are always there in the tissues. The proper development and functioning of the tissues is dependent on the 5 Bhutagnis.

7 Dhatagnis: The seven dhatus present in the body tissues are metblized by the 7 Dhatagnis. The digestion of food is followed by this biochemical activity. This biochemical activity includes the catabolic as well as the anabolic activities going on in the body.

‘Dosha‘ in Sanskrit means ‘that which maintains and controls the body ‘. The word ‘Tri’ means Three.  The Tridoshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The Tridoshas cannot be seen by the naked eye. In this universe particularly in man all the activities are set into three main fundamental functions which are destruction, creation and organization. According to Ayurveda the health is maintained because of the Tridoshas.

• Vata (air ) is liable for movements in the body
• Kapha (water) is liable for immunity and strength
• Pitta (fire ) is liable for metabolism and digestion

Vata :Biological element is formed by the combination of air and space. Destruction is controlled by Vata. Vata is considered the main dosha among the Tridoshas because it controls the functions of the other two doshas.  The subdivisions of vara are:

• Prana: Prana means life. The main function of prana is control of all sense organs and respiration.
• Udana: Udana means upward thrust from the naval -diaphragm. Udana assists in the process of memory and speech.
• Vyana : Vyana is liable for blood circulation, and transport of nutrients got from food to the body cells.
• Samana: Samana means balance. The digestive juices from the tissues are brought in to the organs for metabolism and digestion.
• Apana: Apana means energy that is moving downward. Apana is liable for the act of the pelvic organs.

Pitta:Pitta is fire, the thermogenic element. After transformation the Pitta organizes the body. The subdivisions of Pitta are:

• Pachaka: The main site of Pachaka is the stomach. Pachaka assists in digestion
• Ranjaka: The main site of Ranjaka is liver. Ranjaka is liable for tissue or secondary digestion
• Sadhaka: The main site of Sadhaka is heart and brain. It is liable for the maintenance of our cognitive memories and digestion of knowledge.
• Alocchaka: The main site of Alocchaka is in the eye. Alocchaka assists the eye for suitable vision.
• Bharahaka: The main site of Bharahaka is in the skin. Bharahaka is liable for digestion and absorption.

Kapha: Kapha is the combination of water and earth and is liable for maintaining the creation. Its subdivisions are:

• Kledaka: Kledaka is in the stomach. The mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract is protected from the hot irritant fluids of pitta secretions by Kledaka
• Avalambaka: Avalambaka is in the vertebral column, lung apparatus and the heart. Avalambaka protects these organs from the wear and tear.
• Bodhaka: The site of Bodhaka is mouth. The tongue and the mucous membrane are protected by Bodhaka. This gives appropriate taste of the food.
• Tarpaka: The site of Tarpaka is in the spinal cord. It is liable for mental peace
• Shleshaka: Shleshaka is in joints. The wear and tear of the joints is prevented by Shleshaka.

“Panch maha bhootas” means 5 basic eternal elements. Every non living being and every living being  in this universe is an amalgamation of  five basic eternal elements. These five basic elements are

1.       Air or Vayu

2.       Space or Akasha

3.       Fire or Tejas

4.       Earth or Prithvi

5.       Water or Apa

The human body is made up of these five elements. These elements are in various proportions in the cells of the body. Every cell of the living being is living. When we compare the living body with the non living  the difference that we conclude is the manifestation of life.

The above mentioned basic elements have to be understood. They have to be studied in detail. These five elements are derived from one creative principle. These elements are expressions of an undifferentiated creative principle. When we try to understand these five elements both senses, the material sense as well as the subtle sense are of prime importance.  The meaning of these words are not restricted or limited to their physical meanings. Their meanings have to be studied and known in depth.

1.  Air or Vayu : Air is the kinetic force that is transparent and which is resoponsible to set the universe in motion. It moves in the blood, as well as removes the wasted from the body. According to Ayurveda the thoughts move through the mind because of air. Air is responsible for the birds to migrate from the colder region to the warmer region and is also responsible for the movement of the planet around the sun.

2.  Space or Akasha : This is the most delicate element that is omnipresent. It is a container in mind that receives the impressions. This element accepts love in the heart. Space is always ready to accept the truth.

3. Fire or Tejas : This element radiates light and produces heat . It portrays our commitment to pursue an objective by overcoming obstacles. It is that element which makes us void of ignorance and allows the truth to prevail.

4. Earth or Prithvi:  The element of Earth or Prithvi means the iron in our spleen and red blood corpuscles, the land of our planet, strength of one’s moral character, the quality of devotion of mind, the defiance to the act of showing off of others and one’s quiet, slow and persistent advancement in the direction of the set goal.

5. Water or Apa: The element of water or Apa means Implication of the cohesive aspects of reality which flows into the body and binds things together.

Herbs play a very important role particularly in modern times when the harmful effects of over-medication and food processing have assumed startling proportions. Herbs are generally related to six tastes i.e. sour, salty, sweet, bitter, pungent and astringent. They are now being more and more used in cosmetics, tea and food, as well as alternative medicines.

The rising interest in herbs is a part of the progress towards the change in life-styles. This change is based on our thinking that plants have a huge potential of being used as remedial medicines for a number of ailments.

India has been acclaimed internationally as the warehouse of herbal ayurvedic secrets. There are numerous Indian herbs which are used by many people for the purpose of skin care, which are as follows:

Aloe Vera

It is useful for X-ray burns, Cutaneous, Dermatitis and disorders of skin. Drug from juice of Aloe Vera is tonic and is used in ameneorrhoea, jaundice, piles and atonic. Aloe Vera Gel has the outstanding ability to cure ulcer, burns and wounds.

Amla

Emblica offencialis (Amla) also called as the Indian Gooseberry which is a good source of vitamin C has anti aging properties. Also, the plant has antibacterial properties which are good for skin disorders.

Neem

The tree has many medicinal values. It is vermifuge, Astringent, antiseptic in nature. Due to its antibacterial properties, it is used in most of the cosmetic products such as tooth paste, shampoos and creams.

Henna

The roots are basically bitter, depurative, diuretic, refrigerant, abortifacient, trichogenous and abortifacient and are effective in burning sensation, amenorrhea and leprosy skin diseases. Henna is extensively used for drawing tattoos, designs and arts. Leaves are useful in ulcers, wounds, strangury cough, dysentery, bronchitis etc. The fruit is believed to have emmenagogue properties.

Pudina

The whole plant is antifibrile, antibacterial. It gives up menthol and an essential oil which exert, by way of their rapid evaporation, anaesthetic, aslightly and anodyne local effect. It is useful in headache, cough sore throat, rhinitis, prurigo, colic and vomiting. Menthol obtained from this is used in balm. It is also used as flavoring agent in preparations of culinary.

Thus, there are numerous Indian herbs which are used for the purpose of skin care by several people.

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Even in the history of India, the ayurvedic vaidyas used these medicinal herbs since a very long time. The knowledge of ayurvedic medicines developed amongst the Hindu’s through the four sacred books of Hindu wisdom. The rig-veda, contained the sacred Hindu chants, medicine formulations, description of the surgeries, amputations etc. along with the help of numerous herbs. The ayurvedic vaidyas and the other literates used these herbs in a number of forms like oil, concoctions, paste, filtrate etc. as a treatment for numerous diseases. The oral medicines that were taken are usually in the form of pills or powders which were combined with sugar. Somewhere around in 1200, BCE a literate named Punarvasu Atreya initiated the first medical school in India in the state of Punjab. Later, some seven years after this a professor from this school, named Charaka gathered about 500 distinct herbs and created herbal remedies from them and thus created the Charaka Samhiti which today is considered as one the greatest ayurvedic books. The Hindu herbal medicines mainly are categorized under two main categories.

• The ones which cleanse with cathartic actions.
• Sedatives.

In the early 250 BC when the great emperor Asoka converted himself into Buddhism, he sent Buddhist monks trained in the medicinal uses of ayurveda to the countryside to heal large masses of people. During this phase, the Indian healing technique reached new level and also became more popular amongst the common people. People from various places like the Middle East, China etc. came for treatment using these herbs. In the beginning of the 600 CE, when the Islamic armies started to expand their rule, also learnt about the magical effects of ayurveda and then took these remedies to their home and in Europe. The healing aloe gel, oil extract from castor, sesame oil, the sandalwood and the use black pepper were all discovered in Europe.

There are innumerable Indian herbs that have found great importance as cures in the present world. For instance some of the most famous herb of India include aloe vera, nutmeg, cardamom, sesame oil, eclipta alba, tulsi etc.

Directly or indirectly, we all use Ayurveda in our regular life. Do you add, mint leaves, tulsi (ocimum sanctum), ginger into your tea? If you do, then you follow ayurveda regularly.

Ayurveda is a self care system which originated more than 5000 years ago in India. Ayurveda uses herbal plants in various forms and combinations to cure a wide range of illnesses and sickness. Slowly, but consistently ayurveda is becoming popular all around the world with many practitioners adding various new practices, well researched and experienced principles and also therapies to improve the life. Thus it can be in a simple line said as the art of healthy living.

Ayurveda- The word can be divided into two root words “ayu” and “veda” which combine together to form the magical medical treatment method named ayurveda that uses various herbs. Ayurveda when translated means “the science of life”. This simple definition of ayurveda is further expanded by the experts making us understand the new meaning of ayurveda.

According to the great ayurveda experts, the meaning of “ayu” is not just restricted to life. According to the principles of ayurveda, when our complete body, all five senses, heart, mind and spirit function properly in a coordinated manner and are in proper balance only then it can be truly said as a true life or the living body. Similarly, “Veda” does not exactly mean science. It means an ageless never changing knowledge which is based on basic fundamental properties. Veda is also a map which will guide you onto how to benefit from knowledge.

Ayurveda not just provides you the basic information to cure disease and illness but also teaches us what life is and how to sustain the physical health and also our mind, heart senses and spirit. It helps provides a wide range of information from what a person should eat, drink and what type of lifestyle to follow to achieve maximum amount of benefit for a healthy living. Thus even if you don’t want to get too much into depth of ayurveda some small amount of knowledge is still necessary for a healthy problem free life.

There are two basic objectives of Ayurveda.

• The first objective of ayurveda is to keep an already healthy person healthy for life.
• While the next objective of ayurveda is to teach a person who does not have any knowledge of ayurveda or how to keep healthy the right method to get rid of the bodies imbalance and thus live a healthy life.

So, if you don’t have much knowledge about the science of healthy living, you better start taking your life a bit seriously and follow the ayurvedic principles to sustain the good health.

Are you suffering from a sore throat or other problems like acne, hair fall, stomach ache etc? If you are, then check the medicines you are taking for them. Most of the modern day medicines are made from the plant extracts or are the identical chemical molecules of the chemicals extracted from the herbal plants. The herbs are very useful in various diseases treatments and are also effective for increasing resistance power of the body.

Since the prehistoric times, humans have been using plants and their products for shelter, clothing food and also as medicines. In the early 5^th century BC, Hippocrates a Greek doctor had listed about 400 important medicinal herbs that were used very commonly in the regular life.

Amongst the other countries, the use of herbs to cure diseases was a common practice in the countries like ancient China and ancient India. India has always been renowned as a storehouse of herbal plants and Ayurvedic remedies used to treat a series of diseases and illnesses. Nearly 4,500 years ago the Rig Veda an oral tradition was practiced by the people and books on the medicinal herbs was written along with the prayers and the description of the surgeries and prescriptions for the various diseases created from 67 different Indian herbs.

Herbs are generally related with their six tastes which are- sweet, bitter, sour, pungent, salty and astringent.

• Sweet: Wild asparagus or shatavari, ashvagandha etc. have a cooling taste.
• Bitter: Jeera, neem, coriander seeds etc. are mainly bitter in taste but help to reduce the accumulation of toxins in the body.
• Sour: Herbs like tamarind, gooseberry, lemon etc. are sour in taste and are heat producing herbs.
• Pungent: asafetida or hing, garlic/ lasan are very pungent in taste but act as an antidote for obesity and also help in weight gain.
• Salty: The rock salt is recommended by the experts as a cooling agent which also benefits the eyes.
• Astringent: various other herbs like the turmeric etc. are astringents which are used often as cooling herbs.

A number of various combinations made from these different herbs categorized by their taste are used to for the treatment of a number of diseases and illnesses. Some of the herbs that are used on daily basis include basil, aloe vera, ginger, garlic, turmeric, castor oil etc. Each of these herbs has a wide range of uses and beneficial effects on our body’s system.

Herbs maybe any parts of the plant such as leaves, barks, roots, flowers or seeds. The herbal extracts from any part of the plant are usually used in small quantities.  Large quantities or extracts of these herbs may affect or poisoned the body and results into various side effects. Thus it is very important to make a research before using any herbs as a medicine or home remedies for any type of disease. Utmost caution is very necessary for using any type of herb.

The herbs were always overwhelmed in the ancient science of ayurveda and have been seen to have a very gentle, soothing yet powerful effect thus improving the health and the beauty of humans.