What Is Health in Ayurveda? Doshas, Dhatus, Malas, and Agni Explained

It is rather a state of balance among body, mind, and consciousness. Health consists of a balanced state of the three humors (doshas), the seven tissues (dhatus), the three wastes (malas), and the gastric fire (agni), together with the clarity and balance of the senses, mind, and spirit. Although you will not need to master all these terms and considerations in order to effectively use the remedies in Part III, an acquaintance with them will give you a bigger picture of the depth and practicality of this science. You are already familiar with the three doshas, the biological humors or principles that govern all activity in the body: vata, the energy or principle of movement; pitta, the energy of digestion and metabolism; and kapha, the principle of lubrication and structure.

Balance of the three doshas maintains health; imbalance leads to disease. The dhatus are the basic bodily tissues. They are responsible for the entire structure of the body and the functioning of the different organs and systems. Crucial to the development and nourishment of the body, the dhatus unfold successively as follows, starting with the nourishment derived from the product of digestion: 1.

Rasa (plasma or cytoplasm) contains nutrients from digested food and subsequently nourishes all tissues, organs, and systems. Rakta (blood) governs oxygenation in all tissues and vital organs and thus maintains life-function. Mamsa (muscle) covers the delicate vital organs, performs the movements of the joints, and maintains the physical strength of the body. Meda (fat) maintains the lubrication of the tissues and serves as insulating material to protect the body’s heat.

Asthi (bone and cartilage) gives support to the body’s structure. Majja (bone marrow and nerves) fills up the bony spaces, carries motor and sensory impulses, and facilitates communication among the body’s cells and organs. Shukra and artava (male and female reproductive tissues) contain the pure essence of all bodily tissues and can create a new life. Each dhatu is dependent on the previous one.

If the raw materials of digestion are inadequate, or if there is a problem in any stage, each successive dhatu will not receive the nourishment it needs and the respective tissues or organ systems will suffer. So for good health, all seven dhatus must develop and function properly. The three waste products (malas) are feces, urine, and sweat. The body must be able to produce these in appropriate amounts, and to eliminate them through their respective channels.