Health Management-4 Foundational Principle of AYURVEDA

Meda Dhatu

            मेद धातु - माॅंस धातु से मेद धातु का निर्माण होता है जो कि अंगों के उचित संचालन में एक प्रकार से माॅबिल आॅयल ;स्नइतपबंदजद्ध का कार्य करती है, अर्थात् स्निगधता प्रदान करती है। साथ-साथ शरीर का उचित तापक्रम भी बराबर रखती है। मेद धातु का मल पसीना व त्वचा का तेल है। मेद धातु का एक ओर कार्य स्नायु तन्त्र को अत्यधिक उत्तेजना से बचाकर रखना होता है। प्रायः देखा गया है कि पतला बच्चा कई बार अधिक उत्तेजित रहता है। उसका कारण यही होता है।

            यदि मेद धातु व कफ अधिक मात्रा में उत्पन्न हो जाएॅं तो व्यक्ति मानसिक रूप से सुस्त होने लगता है। यदि वात और पित्त की अधिकता के कारण मेद धातु का क्षय हो जाए तो व्यक्ति चिड़चिड़ा हो जाता है व जल्दी-जल्दी भय, उत्तेजना व क्रोध के आवेश में फंसता है।

            सूक्ष्म शरीर में स्वस्थ मेद धातु की उत्पत्ति मूलाधार व स्वाधिष्ठान चक्र के प्राण प्रवाह पर निर्भर रहती है। मूलाधार चक्र मेद धातु को पृथ्वी तत्व की आपूर्ति कराता है जबकि स्वाधिष्ठान के द्वारा जल तत्व की पूर्ति होती है।

            जो व्यक्ति कफ प्रधान होते हैं उनमें मेद धातु अधिक होती है। इससे बचने के लिए भारी खाद्य पदार्थों से बचाव व शरीर की अग्नि को तेज करना आवश्यक होता है। इसके लिए उचित व्यायाम व शरीर को गर्मी प्रदान करने वाले प्राणायाम हितकारी हैं। इसी प्रकार वात प्रधान व्यक्ति में मेद धातु कम होती है वे प्रायः दुर्बल होते हैं। पित्त वाले व्यक्ति औसत स्तर के होते हैं।

            सात्विक व्यक्ति में कफ व अग्नि सन्तुलित होती है और उत्तम गुणवत्ता की मेद धातु उत्पन्न होती है। ऐसा व्यक्ति सभी से निष्काम प्रेम करता है। सतोगुणी व्यक्ति का मूलाधार व स्वाधिष्ठान चक्र श्रेष्ठ अवस्था में होता है और इस कारण वह उत्तम स्वास्थ्य का धनी होता है।

Meda Dhatu are the finer part of the mansa dhatu that are also known as fatty tissue. They keep the lubrication between the various body organs and help the body in maintaining right internal temperature. These tissues are the primary storage sites for excess body fat in the abdomen.  Medas dhatu is formed as posaka mamsa dhatu and is digested by the medagni.  The waste products produced by the formation of medas dhatu are the skin secretions of sweat and sebum (oil).

The nutrients required to form medha dhatu are present in mamsa dhatu. These nutrients get metabolized with water and form medha dahtu. Medha dahtu is snigdha (oily) and soft .

The role of medas dhatu within the majjavaha srota (Channels transporting bone marrow) is to protect the nervous system from excessive stimulation and in doing so keep the body calm.

As medas dhatu and kapha dosha increase, the majjavaha srota becomes sluggish and less responsive.  As neurological responses slow so too does thought and the mind appears dull. The mind gets wrapped up in the dramas of attachment such as dependency, clinging and desire. Love becomes conditional and takes the form of deep attachment.

As medas dhatu and kapha dosha decrease, the majjavaha srota becomes excessively excitable and the light of pure awareness becomes irritating and agitating. This occurs as vata or pitta doshas reduced medas dhatu. As a result, the mind gets wrapped up in fear, anxiety or anger. Love becomes difficult to feel and when it is experienced, it is intense but fragile. In this state, the emotional heart is easily hurt and it is difficult to recover from feelings of betrayal or the grief of loss.

In the subtle body, the health of the medas dhatu is directly dependent upon the flow of prana through muladhara and svadhistana chakras. Through muladhara chakra, prana carries the qualities of the earth element throughout the subtle body creating the feeling of being grounded and stable. Through svadhistana chakra, prana carries the qualities of water affecting our capacity to desire and experience pleasure through the senses. Thus medas dhatu, related to the flow of water is the physical manifestation of sensory desire.  Strong sensory desire brings about increased medas dhatu (body fat).

Functions of medha dahtu

Because of medha dhatu the body looks soft and fair.

It gives a good shape to body.

It helps to produce sweat and keeps the body skin moist.

It prevents drying of skin It strengthens the body and provides energy It nourishes the next dhatu asthi ( bone ) It protects internal organs by providing them a cushioning effect.

It controls body temperature.

What happens when meda dhatu increases? ( Increase in body fat )

Increased medha dhatu causes tiredness .Even a slight exertion causes dyspnoea.

Buttocks, breast and abdomen get enlarged and they become pendulous.

It leads to athisthoulyata (obesity)

Healing the medas dhatu means restoring the proper quantity and quality of water and earth in the body and normalizing the flow of these qualities through the chakras.  Those with more kapha in their constitution will naturally have more medas 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 medas dhatu and are the most susceptible to depletion. Those with a pitta nature tend to have a moderate quantity of medas dhatu and are prone to depletion only when exposed to excessive heat or when affected by a vata imbalance.

When kapha has entered the medas dhatu and medovaha srota, the best treatment is reducing the quantity of heavy foods and increasing agni in order to enhance fat metabolism. Fatty foods such as nuts and fatty meats should be minimized and lighter foods such as vegetables and seeds should be increased. The pungent and bitter tastes reduce medas dhatu.  Of the two, the pungent taste is best as it also increases agni.

Exercise and heating pranayamas such as kapalabhati and surya bhedana also reduce the medas dhatu.  Bija mantras such as ham, yam and ram are beneficial as they increase the dry and light qualities that reduce medas. Patients should also avoid excessive sleep. Bija mantras such as ham, yam and ram are beneficial as they increase the dry and light qualities that reduce medas.

When pitta has entered the mamsa dhatu and mamsavaha srota, the best treatment is to reduce the strength of jatharagni and medagni. Thus, if the patient is in a state of depletion the sweet taste is best as it is both cool and nourishing. Sweet herbs that reduce agni include shatavari, slippery elm and licorice. The bija mantra vam is best as it cools and increases the qualities of the water element.

When vata has entered the medas dhatu and medovaha srota, the best treatment is to stabilize jatharagni and medagni and then slowly increase the intake of the water and earth elements as agni becomes stronger and more stable.  Stabilization is accomplished through developing regular daily routines – particularly those surrounding eating and sleeping. Earth element is increased through the intake of heavier foods such as grains, nuts and legumes. In order to support and stabilize agni, warm spices should be taken but not those that are very hot. Examples include fennel, fresh ginger and fenugreek. The best taste is the sour taste as it increases and stabilizes the fire while nourishing the body. The sweet taste builds medas dhatu but should be taken with warm spices to assure that agni is strong enough to digest it.  For example, when sweet herbs such as ashwagandha, shatavari, licorice and slippery elm are used, they should be mixed with warmer spices such as ginger, cumin or cinnamon. Exercise should be minimized in the depleted patient. Pranayama may be practiced in proportion to the patient’s state of ojas. Alternate nostril breathing is best. Yoga asana may also be practiced but should be restorative to the physical and energetic systems of the body. The best bija mantras to chant are lam and vam which increase the qualities of earth and water respectively.  Patients should be supported to sleep well and if necessary a little longer than usual until balance is restored.

In summary, a healthy medas dhatu is lead to a body that acts like a well oiled machine and a heart that is capable of love and devotion. In order to keep it healthy, it is important to know one’s prakruti and vikruti and then to take the appropriate actions to restore balance.

In the sattvic individual, kapha is in a balanced state with agni and only a healthy amount of high quality medas is produced and stored. In addition, there is proper flow of prana through the muladhara and svadhistana chakras. Earth and water are balanced for the constitution. Psychologically, the unencumbered heart sees clearly by the divine light without being blinded or agitated by it. The foundation for love is not only established, it becomes unconditional. Excessive or deficient medas dhatu is a consequence of a rajas or tamasic consciousness leading the mind into the dramas of samsara (worldly existence) and away from the doorstep of unconditional love.