Sapta dhatus

                                          SAPTA DHATUS

The sole purpose of metabolism is to assemble proper ‘Dhatus’ together in synchronization with which they carry out their role as the field of physiological activity. Dhatus which are of seven different types work in coordination with one another.

They are: life sap (rasa), blood (rakta), muscles (mansa), fatty tissue (med), bones (asthi), bone marrow and nervous tissue (majja) and semen and reproductive system (shukra).

It works in such a way that one tissue or dhatu transforms to the next from the nourishment they get from the digestive sysytem.There are seven dhatus in all rasa, rakta, mansa, med, asthi, majja and shukra.So from rasa (life sap) the body develops rakta (blood), from rakta it develops mansa (muscles), from mansa is developed med (fat), from med is developed asthi (bones), from asthi the body develops majja (nervous system) and from majja is generated shukra (semen).

Thus according to ayurveda the seven dhatus are responsible for the immune system. The best thing about Ayurveda is that they follow a very specific method of treatment for diseases related to different dhatus.The growth and survival of the human body depends on these dhatus or the tissues.

These seven dhatus are in turn made of five mahabhutas.When there is a slight disturbance or imbalance in the equilibrium of these dhatus it will result in ailments or diseases of the human body.

The Ayurveda see body as whole compartment and finds the root causes of the disease The imbalance in these dosha or transforming of Dhatus are the real cause of disease, by just make proper adjustment in your diet and lifestyle the dosha and Dhatus can be brought to balance thus making a person healthy or a man can live up to long life.

Tulsi - "Holy Basil"

                                                TULSI - "HOLY BASIL"

In terms of the Ayurvedic doshas, tulsi has bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes and generates a warming influence on the physiology. The herb is predominantly Kapha-reducing, but it can also be used to pacify Vata and Pitta. However, it can have a mildly Pitta-aggravating effect in individuals who are severely overheated.

Tulsi has spiritual as well as medicinal significance in Ayurveda. In Hindu mythology, the plant is an incarnation of the goddess Tulsi, offering divine protection. Many Indian families keep a living Tulsi plant in their homes – tending to it with great care and reverence. The plant’s woody stalks are often made into beads used in meditation malas or rosaries.

Often referred to as holy basil, Tulsi is a potent herb that has been used in India for thousands of years to treat colds, coughs, and flu. According to Ayurveda, tulsi promotes purity and lightness in the body, cleansing the respiratory tract of toxins and relieving digestive gas and bloating. Tulsi leaves offer a rich source of essential oil, containing eugenol, nerol, camphor, and a variety of terpenes and flavonoids. The oil is a strong antiseptic against many kinds of disease-causing organisms, including bacteria, fungi, and parasites.

Tulsi’s Benefits in Soothing Stress
Tulsi oil has antioxidant properties that may explain its effectiveness in reducing the damaging effects of stress on the body. A number of studies of animals have shown that tulsi protects healthy cells from the toxicity of radiation and chemotherapy. In addition, tulsi seems to influence the neurochemistry of the brain in a way similar to antidepressant medications.

Ayurvedic Herb - Ginger

Ginger is the most valuable herb in ayurvedic system. Ginger increases Pitta dosha in body and decreases Kapha and Vatta dosha. Ginger is also called bitter tonic, excellent herb to improve digestion. If a person eats little raw ginger with sea salt before lunch or dinner his digestion improves and can be free from many digestive aliments.

Traditional ayurvedic texts recommend ginger for use for joint pain, motion or airsickness and clearing the microcirculatory channels to facilitate absorption of nutrients and better elimination of wastes.
Where will you get such a cheap herb of such great importance other than “Ayurveda”

The best way to include ginger in your diet is to add a slice of ginger in your morning tea, its stimulates your digestive system and also stimulates your taste buds. Another way of having ginger is to boil a little piece of ginger in a liter of water and boil it for 5 minutes, cool the water and you can drink that water throughout your day. Ginger can also be used in your daily cooking recipe as a condiment and spice which will increase taste of your food with its benefitting properties.
Ginger must be avoided by persons having gastric disturbance like acidity, gastritis or gastric and duodenal ulcers as ginger is bitter it irritates the gastric mucosa.
As a person gets old he should regularly in take ginger in his diet because ginger is a cheap medicine which can give a healthy physiology to old age people and can bay off many old age diseases.

Tridosha

Ayurveda relies on Tridosha theory for diagnosis and curing disease.Tridosha are the 3 dosha present in body. Increasing or decreasing these dosha causes ill in body. Dosha should be kept in harmony for proper functioning of the body.
The 3 dosha are:-

1)Vata, composed of air, governs all movement in the mind and body and must be kept in good balance. Too much vata leads to worries, insomnia, cramps and constipation. It controls blood flow, elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind. It is also responsible for the activation of the nervous system, hearing and speech; and expresses as enthusiasm and creativity. Vata also controls the other two principles, Pitta and Kapha, and is usually the first cause of disease. Another word for Vata is Vayu - it is the more traditional Sanskrit word for air.

2) Pitta is said to be composed of fire and water; it governs all heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and body. It controls how we digest food, how we metabolize our sensory perceptions, and how we discriminate between right and wrong. Pitta must be kept in balance, too. Too much it can lead to anger, criticism, ulcers, rashes and thinning hair. A balanced Pitta mind makes one a good leader with a warm personality.

3) Kapha is the watery humour. It cements the elements in the body, providing the material for physical structure and maintains the body resistance by lubricating the joints; providing moisture to the skin, helping to heal the wounds, filling the spaces in the body; giving the biological strength, vigor and stability, supporting memory retention and giving the energy to the heart and lungs. In all it maintains immunity.
Kapha is also responsible for emotions of attachment, greed and long-standing envy; it is also expressed in tendencies toward calmness, forgiveness and love. Too much Kapha leads to lethargy and weight gain, as well as congestion and allergies
Each being from his birth has one pre-dominant dosha, which represents his physique character and behavior. Ayurveda has the key to cure this imbalance in dosha to cure man and make him healthy.