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Tissue physiology : An Ayurvedic Perspective (DHATU& MALA

VIGYAN)

Conference Paper · January 2011

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 1

DHATU AND MALA VIGYAN-

TISSUE PHYSIOLOGY : AN AYURVEDIC
PERSPECTIVE
N.SRIKANTH
ASST.DIRECTOR
CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH
IN AYURVEDA AND SIDDHA
Department of AYUSH
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Govt. of India
 Presentation covers……….
2

 Background
 Importance of knowledge (Sareera vichaya-tissue physiology )
 Definition of Dhatus (tissue elements) :Anatomical physiological
and Nutritional perspective -Body-dosha dhatu mala mulam hi
sareeram
 Classification of dhatus
 Tissue physiology –Composition , functions
 Dhatu Poishana Nyayas (physiology of tissue metabolism)
 Relation of doshas and dhatus (asharyee –ashraya bhavas)
and Clinical applications
 Bio-waste (Malas)-Definition, functions
 Background
3

 Health is a dynamic integration of

- doshas, (biological-forces)
- Dhatus(tissue-systems)
- Malas(metabolic wastes)
- Mind ,sensory system and soul

Comprehensive definition of health

 Background
4

HEALTH - DISEASE Vs TISSUE PHYSIOLOGY

Samahayogavahi or homoeostasis :
Tissue - Organ- System integration
“Samahayogavahi yadha hi asmin sareerae
dhatavah…vaishamagamanam hi ….. Vridhi
hrasa gamanam hi punar dhatunam……….”
 Importance of knowledge of Sareera vichaya-
or Tissue physiology
5

 “Sareera vichaya sareeropa karatha mishyateh;

sareeropa kareshu bhavashu gyana
muthpadyanteh; ,tasmath Sareeravichayam
prasamsante kushalah........”

 The high end of medical science to maintain the

health through homoeostasis of dhatus(tissues)

 Dhatu samya kriya prokta tantrasyadu

prayoganam .
 Definition of Dhatus (tissue elements)
6
Anatomical ,physiological and Nutritional perspective -dosha dhatu
mala mulam hi sareeram
1. Sareera dharanath Dhatavah-
Dhatavaho deha dharanath
- Anatomical structures and support
2.Dharana Poshanayor…..dhatu –
Dhadhati-dharayeeti sareera samvardhakaan –dhatu
-Responsible for Nutrition of the body
3. Dhadadhate va sareera manah prana iti -dhatu
- Physiology -Dynamic integration and coordination of
functions of body systems ,mind for the existence of life.
 Definition of Dhatus (tissue elements) contd…
7

 Deha – anabolism
 Kaya – nutrition
 Sareera –catabolism
 Classification
8

 DHATU
 UPADHATU

 Prasadhakya dhatu
 Malakhya dhatu
Concept of Sapta Dhatus
( 7 Body Tissues)
Body is made up of Seven Tissues and their function is to
maintain the body matrix
1. Rasa 5. Asthi
(Plasma) (Bones)

2. Rakta 6. Majja
(Blood) (Bone marrow)

3. Mansa 7. Shukra
(Muscles) (Reproductive
tissues)
4. Medas
(Fats) Ojas
(Responsible for Immunity)
 Bhutic Predominance of Tissue Elements
10

Dhatu Mahabhuta
Rasa Water
Rakta Fire
Mamsa Earth
Meda Water and earth
Asthi Earth and air
Majja Water
Sukra Water
 Tissue physiology– Composition and functions

11

Core functional attributes of Dhatus

RASA –PREENANA
RAKTA –JEEVANA
MAMASA-LEPANA
MEDHO- SNEHANA
ASTHI-DHARANA
MAJJA-PURANA
SUKRA –GHARBA UTAPADANA
 Tissue Physiological Deranged status
functions
12

Rasa •Lustrous skin •Heaviness

•Vitality •Nausea
•Joy •Weakness
•Focused mind •Depression
•Bad taste in mouth
Rakta •Gives normal colour/ •Inflamed vessels
complexion to various •Abscesses
organs, •Bleeding disorders
•Strengthens muscle tissue •Rashes
•Jaundice
Mamsa •Strength •Sarcomatous tumours
•Stability •Lethargy
•Fear
 Tissue Physiological Deranged status
functions
13

Meda •Lubrication •Excess fat

•Flexibility •Low vitality
•Sonorous voice •Numbness
•Honesty
Asthi •Strong bones, teeth, nails •Joint stiffness
and joints •Hair loss
•Optimism •Tooth decay
•Integrity
Majja •Resistance to infection •Bone/ Joint pain
•Joy in movement •Fatigue
•Resonant voice •Giddiness
Sukra •Sexual desire •Obsessive sexual desire
•Fertility •Dysmenorrhoea
•Complexion •Low ejaculation
•Impotence
•Low vitality
 7 Kalas -Fine structure that separates the dhatus (Tissues) from their
ashayas (Organ systems -receptacles) Epithelial and lymphoid tissues
(kala khalvapi sapta bhavantu dhatwashayantara maryada)
14

Name of the kala Location Functions

1. Mamsa-dhara Sira Separate and support the Mamsa
Dhamani dhatu.
Snayu
Srotas
2. Rakta-dhara Siras of mamsa, yakrit and Supports rakta.
pliha.
3. Medodhara Sthulasthi and Anuasthi Supports Meda- dhatu
4. Sandhis Lubricates sandhis for smooth
Shleshmadhara function.
5. Purishadhara Extends from the yakrit to Differentiates sara from kitta.
the antras and other
abdominal viscera.
6. Pittadhara Grahani Provides Pachakapitta for digestion.
Separates sara fraction from the kitta
fraction.
7. Shukradhara All over the body location. Supports shukradhatu.
 Bio Transformation and Formation Of Tissue
Elements
CONCEPT OF AGNI (biochemical phenomenon )

Normal Agni
Food
Essence of digested food Waste products (Mala)
(Sara) normal excretion
- Nutrition to body
- Organs
- Tissues
- Cells
- Nutrition of Panchbhoota (5 elements)
 Concept of Agni – Metabolic Fire
 Physiological concept of digestion and metabolism is
based on the concept of Agni- Metabolic fire
 Food digestion in stomach & GIT is initiated by major
Jathragni. This can be equated with enzymes,
hormones and secretions of digestion.
 Nutrition & tissue metabolism is carried out by seven
Dhatwagnies – at various tissues of body
 Micro-digestion and bio-transformation at cellular,
subatomic and elemental levels is carried out by 5
Bhutagnis at gene level
 Therefore from gross to subtle level, digestion,
nutrition & metabolism is carried out by 13 types of
metabolic fires-Agnis
 The status of health and nutrition depends upon the
status of Agni
 The species of Raw-materials-nutrient Finished products of the reaction
dhatwagni homologues of dhatus Prasadapaka Kittapaka
from the food substance
17

Rasagni Annarasa Rasa-dhatu Shleshma

Raktagni Nutrient homologues of Poshaka asthayi Pitta
rakta dhatu-raw (precursor) rakta
materials in the dhatu
substrate, in rasa-dhatu
Mamsagni Nutrient homologues of Poshaka asthayi Karnamala
mamsa-dhatu (precursor) mamsa- Akshimala
dhatu Nasikamala
Asyamala
Lomakupamala
Prajananamala
Medogni Nutrient homologues of Poshaka asthayi Sweda
meda - dhatu (precursor) meda-
dhatu
 The species of Raw-materials-nutrient Finished products of the reaction
dhatwagni homologues of dhatus Prasadapaka Kittapaka
from the food
substance
18

Asthyagni Nutrient Poshaka Kesha

homologues of asthayi Shamashru
Asthi-dhatu (precursor) Loma
asthi-dhatu Nakha
Majjagni Nutrient Poshaka Akshi-sneha
homologues of asthayi Vit-sneha
Majja-dhatu (precursor) Twak sneha
Majja-dhatu
Shukragni Nutrient Poshaka Ojas
homologues of asthayi
Shukra-dhatu (precursor)
Shukra-dhatu
Dhatuparinama Nyayas: Principles of Metabolism
19

•Ksheera dadhinanyaa/karma-parinama
paksha/sarvaatma Parinaama Paksha
(transformative process)
•Kedarakulyaanyaya (transportation process)
•Khale kapothanyaya (selective process)
•Ekakala dhatu poshana siddhantha
 Ksheera dadhinanyaa/karma-parinama
paksha/sarvaatma Parinaama Paksha (transformative
process)
20
 Kedarakulyaanyaya (transportation
process)
21
 Khale kapothanyaya (selective process)
22
 Ekakala dhatu poshana siddhantha
23
Thee biological forces and tissue metabolism
24

•Visarga -soma –kapha – anabolism

•Adana - surya -pitta -transformation/catabolism
•Vikspha-vayu –vata – transpiration
Concept of Dhatu Vaha Srotas in Body
(Macro & Micro Channels of Nutrition and tissue Metabolism )

 Human body is made up of srotas (Macro- & Micro-

Channels)

 Smooth flow of materials inside channels leads to health

& fitness

 Obstruction in srotas initiates the disease process-

intracellular to system level

 E.g.- The function of athero-thrombotic plaques is

responsible for Cardiovascular disorders

 Endothelial dysfunction leads to obstruction and variety

of diseases in the body

 Srotas concept is very significant from clinical point of

view for prevention & cure of diseases
 Seven srotas supply nutrients to the tissues
26

 Rasa vaha srotas- channels carrying plasma and

lymph.
 Site of origin: heart, blood vessels.
 Rakta vaha srotas- channels carrying formed blood
elements and haemoglobin in particular.
 Site of origin: liver and spleen.
 Mamsa vaha srotas- channels nourishing the muscle
tissue.
 Site of origin: tendons, ligaments, skin.
 Seven srotas supply nutrients to the tissues
27

 Meda vaha srotas- channels supplying nutrients for the

formation of fatty tissues.
 Site of origin: kidneys, omentum.
 Asthi vaha srotas- channels which transport the nutrients for
producing bone tissue.
 Site of origin: bone and adipose tissue.
 Majja vaha srotas- channels carrying materials for producing
bone marrow.
 Site of origin: joints and bones.
 Sukra vaha srotas- channels carrying the sperm and ova and
supplying nutrients for their formation.
 Site of origin: testicles and ovaries.
 Upadhatu
28

Upamithi dhatu---
---supports body and provide nutrition
----no capacity to transform into other tissues
Main Dhatu Upadhatu
1. Rasa Stanya (Breast milk)
2. Rakta Kandarasa and Siras
3. Maamsa Vasa and twak
4. Medas Snnayu and Sandhi
5. Asthi No Upadhatu
6. Majja No
7. Sukra Dhatu Ojas
 Bio -wastes (Malas)
29

Definition
 Mrijayate sodhyate iti –cleanses the body on
expulsion
 Malimeekaranath malaa- waste products of
metabolism
 Bio -wastes (Malas)
30

•Proper formation and elimination of the three primary bio-

wastes (Trimalas) i.e.
Urine (Mootra)
Faeces (Pureesha)
 Sweat (Sweda)
are absolutely essential for optimal health.
•Increase/ decrease of these bio-wastes result in to the
following disease /conditions.
 Bio –wastes : Functional Attributes
31

•Faeces (Pureesha)----- Avasthambha

•Urine (Mootra)----------kleda vahanam
•Sweat (Sweda)------- kleda Vbhruti
 Mala Increased state Decreased state

32

Faeces (purisha)
•Heaviness •Weakness
Mahabhuta :earth •Abdominal pain •Bloating
•Flatulence •Upper gastrointestinal pain
•Borborygmi •Osteoarthritis
•Low back pain
•Asthma
Urine (mutra) •Polyuria •Reduced urine
•Bladder dysfunction and •Kidney stones
Mahabhutas: infections •Increased thirst
Water and fire •Urinary tract infections •Abdominal pain
Perspiration (sveda) •Fungal skin infections •Dry skin
•Body odour •Low perspiration
Mahabhuta: water •Itching •High body temperature
•High perspiration •Burning sensation
•Low body temperature
 Relation of doshas(biological forces ) and dhatus(tissues)
(ASHRAYA-ASHARYEE BHAVAS)- Clinical applications
33

Dosha Dhatu and Mala

Vata Asthi
Pitta Rakta ,Sweda
Kapha Rasa, Mamsa, Medas,
Majja, Shukra, Mutra &
Purisha
Clinical applications
Tatra asthi sthito vayu---------
EXCEPTION-ASTHI-VAYU RELATION
 34

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