Health Management-3 Foundational Principle of AYURVEDA

माँस धातु (Muscle Tissues)

           माॅंस धातु शरीर में पृथ्वी व अग्नि तत्व का प्रतिनिधित्व करती है। व वायु तत्व द्वारा परिचालित की जाती है। माॅंस धातु की वृद्धि के लिए बला, अश्वगन्धा, मुलहटी का सेवन करना चाहिए।

            माॅंस धातु की क्षीणता से व्यक्ति भावनात्मक रूप् से कमजोर व कायर होता है। वायु दोष माॅंस धातु का क्षय कर देता है यह जोड़ों के आस-पास के उत्तकों को नुक्सान पहुॅंचाता है जिससे शरीर में अनेक प्रकार की विकृतियाॅं उत्पन्न होती हैं। स्वस्थ माॅंस धातु के निर्माण के लिए भोजन में पर्याप्त पृथ्वी तत्व की मात्रा होनी चाहिए। केवल इतना ही पर्याप्त नहीं है अपितु जठराग्नि व मांॅसाग्नि भी स्वस्थ होनी चाहिए। यदि जठराग्नि ठीक होगी तभी भोजन से पोषक तत्व ठीक से पचकर पुनः माॅंस धातु में परिवर्तित हो पाॅंएगे। माॅंसाग्नि भी रक्त से माॅंस का निर्माण करने के लिए आवश्यक है। ऐसा देखा गया है कि व्यक्ति जितना शरीर श्रम अथवा व्यायाम ;मगमतबपेमद्ध करता है माॅंसाग्नि उतनी मजबूत होती है।

            यदि माॅंसाग्नि सुस्त ;सवूद्ध है शरीर में पर्याप्त पृथ्वी तत्व होने पर भी अर्थात् कठोर व कमजोर होते हैं। माॅंसपेशियों के उत्तक हल्की गुणवत्ता ;सवू ुनंसपजलद्ध के उत्पन्न होते हैं। यदि माॅंसाग्नि अधिक तीव्र होगी व शरीर में पर्याप्त पृथ्वी तत्व है तो मजबूत माॅंस धातु की उत्पत्ति तो होती है परन्तु उसमें सूजन ;प्दसिंउउंजपवदद्ध होने का खतरा बना रहता है। यदि माॅंसाग्नि अधिक विकसित है व शरीर में पर्याप्त पृथ्वी तत्व नहीं है तो यह माॅंस धातु का ही भक्ष्ण कर जाती है।

            माॅंस धातु के संकुचन व कार्य के लिए उदान वायु को उत्तरदायी माना

गया है। यदि माॅंस धातु स्वस्थ है तो व्यक्ति का कार्य सन्तुलित व श्रेष्ठ होता है। यदि व्यक्ति सात्विक है तो वह परमार्थ के अनुसार कार्य करता है। यदि राजसिक, तामसिक है तो वह स्वार्थ के लिए कार्य करता है।

ैनउउंतल व िजीम मििमबजे व िक्वेीं अपजपजपवदे वद जीम उंदें कींजनण्ण्ण्

सूक्ष्म शरीर के अनुसार स्वस्थ माॅंसपेशियों के निर्माण के लिए मूलाधार, मणिपुर व विशुद्धि चक्र में प्राण का प्रवाह उचित होना चाहिए। मूलाधार चक्र पृथ्वी तत्व का, मणिपुर चक्र अग्नि तत्व का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं। विशुद्धि चक्र उदान वायु का स्थान ;ीवउू ेपजमद्ध जो माॅंसपेशियों के परिचालन में मुख्य भूमिका अदा करती है।

           Mamsa dhatu refers to the muscles of the body, but the term literally means flesh or meat. In the physical body, mamsa dhatu refers directly to the muscles and indirectly to the ligaments and skin, which are upadhatus of mamsa dhatu. The function of Mamsa Dhatu is binding. Muscles are like a gelatinous covering and give strength to the basic body’s frame. When Mamsa Dhatu is deficient, one lacks cohesion and integrity of body structure. When it is sufficient quantity, courage, confidence and strength along with the capacity of openness, forgiveness and happiness comes. The word “Mamsa” comes from the word ‘Mam” which means to “Hold Firm”.

          There are three types of muscles in the human body.  The skeletal muscles are responsible for movements of joints and are under voluntary control. Smooth muscles are present in internal organs and are not under voluntary control. For example the intestines contain smooth muscles which propel food forward. Cardiac muscle is present only in the heart and is a specialized tissue responsible for pumping of blood.

      Muscle is built from earth and fire and is then motivated by air. Earth provides the substance from which the bulky structure of muscle is made.  Fire ignites the engine that directs its focus and action. Muscle is a highly metabolic tissue. While earth and fire play their fundamental roles in building the tissue, it is air that inspires and initiates its motion.

Healing the mamsa dhatu means restoring the proper quantity and quality of earth and fire in the body and mind. The proper quantity is based upon the constitutional tendency of the individual. Those with more kapha in their constitution will naturally have more mamsa dhatu. This makes depletion less likely and excess more likely. Those with more of a vata constitution tend to have a naturally lower amount of mamsa dhatu and are the most susceptible to depletion. Those with a pitta nature tend to have a moderate quantity of mamsa dhatu and are prone to depletion secondary to excessive fire.

           The doshas can also travel into mamsa dhatu and create tissue changes to the quality of mamsa dhatu, called dushti. If Vata dosha travels into the mamsa in excess, there will be acute pain in the muscles, spasms, tremors, fatigue, and a wasting of the muscle with dry skin. If Pitta dosha travels into mamsa, boils or red skin will appear and there will be inflammation, fibromyalgia, fatigue, and tendonitis. Kapha in the mamsa dhatu will show as swelling, flaccidity, excess ear wax and nasal crust with possible uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breasts, heavy and “sticky” muscles, inflexibility.

       For increased mamsa dhatu, a basic protocol is a Kapha pacifying diet, including, light foods, Trikatu, Kutaki, Ginger, Yoga with movement that can increase the heart rate and warm the muscles, and aerobic exercise. Decreased mamsa dhatu can be helped by a Vata pacifying diet with the herbs: Bala, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, milk, wheat, exercise, and easy yoga, holding a few poses and relaxation. Kapha imbalance needs increase in agni and heat to the body to melt bodily tissues.

Waste Product – Excreta from Ears, Eyes, Mouth, Nose & Roots of hair

Cause of Mamsa Dhatu Disorders –

FOODS –

Unhealthy food combinations,

Insufficient of excess Protein intake,

Heavy Acidic foods like Meat & Dairy products,

Over or Under eating,

BODY – Daytime Sleeping,

Lack of Sleep or Rest,

Excessive or Insufficient Physical Exercise,

Physical Trauma,

Liver Imbalances & Diseases,

Typhoid,

Tuberculosis,

MIND –

Emotional Stress,

Stressed & Uneasy.

Symptoms of Mamsa Dhatu Disorders -

Increased –

Fibrocystic changes in the Breasts,

Enlarged Lips,

Enlarged Cheeks & Tongue,

Uterine Fybroids,

Muscle Flaccidity

Muscle Hypertrophy,

Undue growth of Muscle,

Fibromas & Myomas.

Decreased –

Craving for Proteins,

Emaciation,

Dislocation of joints,

Fatigue,

Loss of Muscle power,

Muscle Rigidity,

Atrophy,

Wasting of Muscles.

VATA –

Muscular Tics,

Spasm,

Muscular Weakness,

Fatigue,

Improper Coordination,

Muscle Twitching,

Muscular Atrophy

PITTA –

Tendonitis,

Muscular Rheumatism

Fibromyalgia,

Multiple boils,

Haemorrhoids,

Piles,

Cough,

Irritation in the Throat,

Snoring

KAPHA –

Benign Tumors,

Muscle Tumors,

Muscular Hypertrophy,

Hypertrophy

Bala for Muscle Strength:

Ayurveda acharyas have grouped this plant under Balya (body strengthening herbs), Brimhaniya ( body bulk increasing herbs), Prajasthapana ( herbs used to cure infertility), Madhura skanda (herbs with sweet taste) and Vatasamshamana (Herbs which normalize vata dosha).

According to ayurveda principles the plant Bala is light to digest and increases moistness of tissues. It is sweet to taste and acts as body coolant.

Medicinal properties of Bala (Sida Cordifolia):

This plant normalizes Vata and pitta. Hence it is used in diseases which are caused due to vitiation of vata and pitta. Bala has anti inflammatory properties. Its preparations are used as external applications in swelling of wounds and inflammation of eyes. Oils prepared using this herb are very useful in arthritis and other diseases which affect joints. These oils help to reduce pain and inflammation. Bala normalizes vata and sooths excited nerves. For this reason the oil prepared using this herb is used to massage patients who suffer from paralysis, cervical spondylosis, facial paralysis etc.

Sida Cordifolia controls motility of large intestine. It helps to absorb water and nutrients from intestines. Hence its preparations are widely used in Grahani or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

This herb is a very good cardiac tonic and reduces petechial hemorrhage. Ayurveda acharyas recommend use of this plant in these conditions.

Bala is known for its “shukrala” properties. Shukrala means increasing shukra dhatu. Because of this property bala is used in ayurvedic preparations which increase sperm count and sperm motility. It helps to increase quality and quantity of semen. This herb is mainly used in male and female infertility. Texts of ayurveda praise the herb Bala as Vrishya (aphrodisiac). Hence this herb is used in conditions like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

The herbal preparations which are used in Female infertility contain this herb as main ingredient as it acts as a very good uterine tonic.

The diuretic properties of this herb help in cystitis and it rejuvenates urinary system.

Bala is a very good rasayana herb. Hence it is widely used in convalescing patients as it supplies essential nutrients.  It helps to build a healthy body and strengthens body immune system.

This herb is used in African folk medicine to treat various conditions like bronchitis, asthma, nasal congestion, stomatitis etc.

With thanks from the website of Dr. Savitha Suri:

http://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/ayurveda-medicinal-properties-bala-sida-cordifolia#.VLJ7sMuUde8