Dhātus (dhä·tōōs), n.pl. ( from Sanskrit धातु dhātu - layer, stratum, constituent part, ingredient, element, primitive matter ) in Ayurveda, the seven fundamental principles (elements) that support the basic structure (and functioning) of the body. Dhatu are basically the body tissues which are responsible for the functioning of the systems and organs and the structure of the body.
The most important elements that make up our body are the Dhatus. They are the tissues which form the body structure, nourish and sustain it. There are seven types of Dhatus.<ref name="Intro"/>
They consist of:
#Rasa dhatu (Lymph) : Water
#Rakta dhatu (Blood) : Fire
#Shukra dhatu (Ovum in female)(Sperm in male) : Water
Traditional texts often refer ==Brief explanation of Dhatus=='''According to Ayurveda''' the above as the Seven Dhātus (Saptadhātus)human body is primarily made up of Saptadhatus. Ojas “Saptadhatus” is known as the eighth Dhātua Sanskrit word, or Mahādhātu (superiorwhich means seven constituent elements [Sapta=seven, or great dhātu). *Blood tissue includes blood vessels and all dhatus=tissues connected with the blood system]. like the three Doshas the These seven Dhatus also composed of five elements and one or two elements dominate the dhatus.*The dhatus are formed as a result of responsible for the action entire structure of the digestive fire that breaks down the food in the stomach and gastro-intestinal tractbody.*The digestive enzymes break food down into two parts - dhatus maintain the saar- which is nourishing ans mala - which is the waste product that need to be excreted. The saar is carried to functioning of different systems, organs and vital parts of the body by vyanvayu, where it nourishes and replenishes the Rasa and Rakta dhanu. *Conversion of food into the building blocks of the body, i.e., the dhatus, takes place in play a definite order. FOOD IS FIRST Converted into Rasa dhatu, which then is transformed into rakta, then converted into mamasa, mamasa to med, med into asthi, asthi into majja and finally majja is converted and processed into shukra.*The by-products are tissues or substances that are either used significant role in the body or expelled by it, once they have served their purpose. *The sequence of tissue formation is a series of processes each generating one of the tissue types development and the raw material for the next product. Under this system, the product nourishing of the seven processes is most refined as its raw materials have already undergone a series of transformationbody. Many days go by processing <ref name="Brief explanation of the first product to the last product in refined ojas.*The end product is dependent on the previous product. It is a chain effect. The first workshop produces plasma of the blood. The seventh workshop produces reproductive tissue. As per [[Charaka Samhita]], it is a chain system, as well as a circuit system.Dhatus"/>
'''Wastes'''The dhatus are also part of the body’s protective mechanism. With the help of agni (fire), they are responsible for the immune processes. Each tissue or dhatu is primarily governed by one of the tridoshas – vata, pitta & kapha.[ii] When one dhatu is defective, it affects the successive dhatu, as each dhatu receives its nourishment from the dhatu preceding it. The seven most important dhatus are presented here in serial order:
A constant flow of 1) Rasa (Plasma) which is the first dhatu which contains nutrients, tissues & minerals from digested food and waste products move into , around and out of which nourishes & replenishes all the body. The body expels three waste products - urine, sweat and feces. These substances also have important physiological functions as a part of a well, balanced healthy system. Urine helps the water balance. Sweat keeps the skin moist and supple, and feces gibe support to the colon tissues and bodyorgans.
'''Strength 2) Rakta (blood) which transports oxygen to all tissues and Ojas'''vital organs and maintains life.
*Good health and strong body are inseperable. A healthy body is a strong body. Hence strength refers to physical energy that helps to do tasks and lift heavy things. Good food and exercise nourish all muscles and make them stable and strong.Sushrut has differentiated between Bala - strength and ojas - vitality. He states - physical energy is vitality - 3) Mamsa (muscle) which covers the power and capacity to endure and perform well. The quality of voice and glow of the skin are determined by the ojas. All external and internal parts of the body are able to perform their tasks well because of ojas.*Ojas - shukra is a very important and delicate vital element of the body and is dominated by the qualities of the element water. The final product of ras, rakt, medorgans, majja and other dhatus in the body is called ojas. It is mild in nature. Ojas is an elastic,oily, cold, white liquid and is located in the heart.*In the transformation of food from rasa to shukra dhatu, every step releases ojas. It is the essence enables movements of all the dhatus. Just as bees collect honey from flower, the digestive fires collect ojas from dhatus. Even though it permeates the entire body. Ojas is moist and has a reddish yelloish bones & joints and whitish hue. It is of two types.#Par - located in maintains the heart, its normal amount is 8 points, its absence leads to death.#Apar is spread over the entire body, its normal amount is amount is about a handful. A decrease in the 'Apar' ojas leads to lifelessness, indifference physical capacity and reduced immunity.#Ojas lends strength and radiance to the body. Being the essence of all dhatus its decline in the body leads to a corresponding decline in the ability of the dhatus to support the body, even when they are in balance. It keeps all dhatus steady and nourished. All physical, mental, sensory and motor functions are made possible by ojas in times of joy and sorrow. It is also source of will power, determination, patience and enthusiasm. It is the function of health and happiness. without ojas external medication is of no use. On losing ojas, one becomes immune to all treatment.
4) Meda (Adipose tissue) maintains the lubrication and oiliness of all the tissues.
== Symptoms of decfreases in Ojas ==A timid 5) Asthi (bones and scared personality, dry and lustreless appearance, a general listlessness, weakness in Cartilage) gives support to the mind and body, worries and tension, painful and fatoigued organs, and loss of zest for lifestructure.
6) Majja (bone marrow) fills up the bony spaces 7
== Causes of decrease ==Anger, worrying, fear, sorrow and other psychological excitement, inadequate diet, excessive fasting, eating 7) Shukra which are the reproductive tissues responsible for reproduction. Sperm in males and drinking too many rough, dry and harsh foods, overcook, insomnia, emaciation due to sickness, excessive secretion of kapha, mala, blood and semen and external injury - all can lead to decline Ova in ojas. The disease commonly known as 'Aids'results from a drastic reduction of ojas levels in the body.females
Any disease where vata-pitta-kapha are involved, the vitiated doshas directly affect the dhatus. With insight into the governing dosha, the cause of a diseased dhatu is accurately determined. The disturbed dosha ( vata, pitta or kapha ) and improper dhatus are always directly involved in the disease process. Once the root cause of the illness is known, the corresponding therapies are used to balance the system through reducing the excess element(s) and increasing the deficient one(s). Balance of the dhatus can be maintained by taking steps to keep the tridoshas in balance through a proper diet, exercise and recovery program.
== Digestion and Metabolism == *The protiens, carbohydrates, oils, vitamins etc, which are ingested Traditional texts often refer to the above as food nourish the dhatus and provide strength and colour,intelligence, longevity etcSeven Dhātus (Saptadhātus). But this Ojas is possible only when known as the ingested external elements are successfully converted into body elementseighth Dhātu, or Mahādhātu (superior, or great dhātu). This entire process is called digestion and metabolism, *Blood tissue includes blood vessels and all tissues connected with the substances that carry out these processes are refered to as agnisblood system. Different enzymes are produced by these agnis in like the three Doshas the stomach, liver seven Dhatus also composed of five elements and dhatu channels to carry out digestionone or two elements dominate the dhatus.*The entire digestive system begins in the mouth. The food mixed with saliva and taste is perceived. Food then moves to the stomach where it turns watery foamy, soft and smooth due to dhatus are formed as a result of the action of the stomach juice watery foamy,soft and smooth due to digestive fire that breaks down the action of food in the stomach juice which is liquid and oily. Here foamy kapha and sweet rasa are producedgastro-intestinal tract.*This half digested food reaches the intestines via duodenum. Here 'samaan vayu' and 'pachak pitta' act upon it, segregate the The digestive enzymes break food down into two parts (1) saar (2) Asaar or kitt. If samanavayu and pachak pitta are in now intensity, then - the toxins are formed and the ras becomes sour and bitter. These toxins are the cause of disease.*The digested saar used for further nourishment and asaar - which is nourishing ans mala - which is not digested properly becomes the kitt(waste). It's solid part becomes stool, the liquid part becomes urine, and collects in the bowelsproduct that need to be excreted. The agnis convert the form saar is carried to different parts of five elements in the digested food to match the form fund in the body. This by vyanvayu, where it nourishes and replenishes the earth element formed in the bodyRasa and Rakta dhanu.This ahaar ras is circulated around *Conversion of food into the body as the ras dhatu through the srotas - channels. This nourishing ras in which are inherent building blocks of all dhatus, thus reaches all the parts of the body, i.*The digestive action of e., the agni - enzymes replenishes dhatus and produced ojas. Pitta plays , takes place in a vital role in this entire digestive processdefinite order. So ayurveda does not differentiate between pitta FOOD IS FIRST Converted into Rasa dhatu, which then is transformed into rakta, then converted into mamasa, mamasa to med, med into asthi, asthi into majja and finally majja is converted and agniprocessed into shukra.*Aama toxins The by- When the ahaar ras nutritive part of the ingested food is not properly digested due to decreased activity of agni products are tissues or enzymes, it turns toxic and is called aama ras or toxins. This causes various ailments substances that are either used in the body. As toxins are not acceptable to the bodyor expelled by it, once they accumulate in different body parts like lungs, heart and other organshave served their purpose. *The four cavities that usually attract toxins are the brain, chest, abdomen and rectum sequence of which, the abdomen tissue formation is the most common site a series of processes each generating one of aama ras accumulation. This leads to dyspepsia and other disorders.*Aama ras affects the agnis weakening the metabolic process tissue types and causing food to remain undigested, blocking the srotas - raw material for the body channelsnext product. This leads to blockage in Under this system, the srotas due to sweat, urine etc. Weakness, heaviness, improper circulation product of vayu, lazyness, increased salivation, phlegm formation, absence of elimination the seven processes is most refined as its raw materials have already undergone a series of stools, fatigue etctransformation. are the symptoms Many days go by processing of aama diseases. In a normal person, digestive powers keep gaining strength till the age of 60 and after 60 begind first product to declinethe last product in refined ojas. This prevents *The end product is dependent on the body from getting all the nutrients that it needsprevious product. It is a chain effect. The body weakens and quantity first workshop produces plasma of wastes increasesthe blood. A person also experiences the draining of mental facultiesThe seventh workshop produces reproductive tissue. This As per [[Charaka Samhita]], it is termed a chain system, as well as old agea circuit system. If the agnis - enzymes are strengthened, the ageing process will be arrested. == Health Horizons - Maintaining of wellness ==
*Living is an art - says ayurveda==References==<references> <ref name="Brief explanation of Dhatus">[https://www. Ayurveda embodies the art of livingdabur. The primary aim of com/daburarogya/ayurveda is to protect health and maximise the joy of living. Secondary, prevention of diseases through systematic daily routine and promoting a spiritual life style is another aim. *The expertise and scope of /ayurveda is quite vast. On -aur-hum/saptadhatu-the one hand it gives detailed information of how ailments occur and on the other hand prescribes natural solutions to them. *The sages charaka and sushruta formed guidelines for promoting health and addressed them as :- Maintaining of wellness seven-body- #daily routine#routine suited to seasonstissues.aspx Referred by Dabur Aarogya]</ref>
<ref name="Intro">The above mentioned information is added from the book called '''"MUDRAS & HEALTH PERSPECTIVES"'''Sage sushruta explains the qualities of a healthy person.by '''*The one whose three doshas, seven dhatus and elimination of the three wastes is in balance and also who has a balanced and contented mind and soul - is considered to be a healthy person. They proceeded saying - 'one who follows Swastha vritta would be- He lives a disease free and potent life of hundred years with full vigour in all his senses'"SUMAN.So the wisdom lies in following the proper means for being healthy and happy - says ayurvedaK.The guidlines of swastha vritta - CHIPLUNKAR"''''' That one who wishes to attain health should be always careful and alert like - As the chief guards the security of the metropolis and as the charioteer takes utmost care of his chariot, likewise one has to take care of his health with wisdom and secure perfect health.</ref>
== References ==#Meaning of mudra mentioned in the above content is borrowed from wikipedia. [https:<//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dh%C4%81tu_(Ayurveda)]#The above mentioned information is added from the book called '''"MUDRAS & HEALTH PERSPECTIVES"''' by '''''"SUMAN.K.CHIPLUNKAR"'''''.references>
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