Nourishing Rasa dhatu - Feeding Compassion & Love
Rasa dhatu is a very beautiful part of the human body and a topic of great interest for those who want to feel great in life. Learning about rasa formation and how to properly care for rasa, means the start of healing many of the health issues we face today including poor energy and having the ability to feel satisfied in life.
“We are what we eat, yes, but more so we are what we digest because it is within the digestion and assimilation of nutrients, thoughts and emotions, where true health is grown.”
The food we eat gives us the nutrients to form the body constituents that make being alive possible, reaching down to a cellular level, nourishing thoughts and emotions. It is all formed after the healthy action of agni (transformative fire) within tissues and within our gut, and this action is on the food we consume and how we consume it. From here, we form the tissues (dhatus) of our body starting with plasma tissue or rasa. Rasa dhatu is nourishing and it is flowing with the elements required for healthy growth and development of the rest of the six dhatus that follow.
The Dhatus - The Building of Quality Tissue
Dhatus, or the tissues of the body including blood plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow, and male/female reproductive tissues, should be produced in proper amounts, well-formed with minimal waste upon creation and quickly excreted. When the dhatus are this way, experiences in life are given maximum satisfaction and the person feels a great sense of well-being. Yet, there is the possibility of dhatus being formed poorly, in excess, or not enough, and the person feels a lack, a dissatisfaction in the consciousness and much fatigue in the body.
When we consume a substance of food, that substance is digested and turned into what is called rasa and rasa is the first tissue to be formed of the seven tissues our body makes. Rasa has many meanings in Sanskrit. Rasa also means emotion, rasa means taste, and rasa also means feeling. The many meanings of rasa give insight to it’s effect on our well-being.
What feeds the dhatus? How are they formed? Ahara rasa is the precursor to nutrients that feed the dhatus and is what becomes of the food after digestion has occurred. The dhatus have the job of transforming immature tissue (asthayi) into mature tissue (sthayi). It is found to take 5 days from ahara rasa (formed within 12 hours after ingestion of nutrients) to become sthayi - ripened, ready and healthy tissue. Then immature dhatu of the next dhatu in sequence is formed then it becomes mature dhatu. For example in 10 days from ingestion of nutrients mature rasa becomes immature rakta then mature rakta dhatu (blood) and in 15 days from ingestion of nutrients, mature mamsa (muscle) is formed, in 20 days we have mature meda (fat), 25 days mature asthi (bone), 30 days mature majja (marrow) and about 35 days after the ingestion of nutrients the male and female reproductive tissue (shukra/artava) are formed. It is here at this seventh dhatu formation that the eight manifestation of food transformation is made into a beautiful essence of ojas. Ojas is considered a cross between consciousness and matter and considered that which gives radiance and excellence of health, strength of immunity, energy to the mind, intellect and discernment, spiritual grip, and liberation in life.
There are three products that are made when a dhatu is being formed with the help of each dhatu agni and they are sara, mala, and upadhatu’s. Sara is pure sthayi mature dhatu - it is healthy and well formed. Mala is the waste by-product considered inferior but serves important functions in the body. Some of the main mala’s include feces, urine, and sweat. Lastly, there is superior products or upadhatus that we want formed such as breast milk, blood vessels, ligaments, etc. It is from the amount and the quality of upadhatus that we can see if the dhatus are healthy and sufficient in the body for it is healthy dhatus that form healthy upadhatus.
Ayurveda uses the wastes produced at each stage of dhatu digestion in diagnosing. Where there is excess dhatu, it is indictive of poor digestion at the level of that dhatu. Dhatus are formed in order, with each dhatu being formed from the one previous to it. This does not include accessory organs, for example breast milk, as these do not nourish or provide nutrients to the body in return, but are meant to nourish the child, for example.
Beautiful Rasa - Flowing Waters of Satisfaction and Compassion
Rasa dhatu - plasma tissue or blood plasma. The beautiful flowing waters of the body, yet more than just water. Rasa dhatu in western pathology refers to the lymph, plasma, and white blood cells. It is responsible for our immunity, nourishment, and growth and is what makes kapha dosha which is in every living thing especially important to keep nourished during the doshic time of life for babies and young children; the growing stage. Rasa is the blood plasma of our body, think the yellow part when blood settles in a tube. It includes the primary waters of the body or the non-cellular portion of the blood. So, the lymph and fluids between the cells are provided for by rasa and watery secretions including breast milk, menstrual fluid and semen are also indirectly related to rasa. In ayurveda, rasa refers to a literal taste, when used in discussing food and it can be used to refer to emotions when implying the taste for life and contentment.
The dhatus, are the foundation of the physical body as they provide support, structure, and growth.
“Rasa dhatu is the first dhatu formed post-digestion and the primary juice of life that gives the foundation for the creation of the rest of the dhatus.”
In ayurveda, we consider tissue as having low quality or excellent quality. When Rasa dhatu is of excellent quality (called sara), the skin or tvak is smooth, soft and fresh appearing. The eyes have a clarity to them and the hair is deep rooted and lovely appearing.
Rasa needs to flow in the body and it does this through rasa vaha srota or the channel that originates in the heart and spreads throughout the body. Rasa is more than fluid, it is nourishment. Glucose and nutrients mix with the plasma and are carried by vyana vayu (the down and out action of the body) to the rest of the dhatus of the body (including blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow, and reproductive organs). When rasa dhatu is healthy, a person feels satisfied in body and is an active participant in life. The satisfaction one feels is both physical and psychological because every cell is nourished when rasa dhatu is well formed.
The dhatus have qualities to them just like the doshas do. Rasa has the qualities of being cold, heavy, moist, soft, stable, smooth, flowing, cloudy, gross and dull. These are the qualities of the dosha that rasa dhatu makes -kapha dosha - which is made up of water and earth, and they play a role in the balancing of kapha in the body. When dhatus are formed, there is some mala, or waste and this is how kapha dosha is produced; by the formation of rasa dhatu.
The Main Functions of Rasa Dhatu
Rasa dhatu quality and quantity is crucial for good health. Rasa brings satisfaction to the body and mind, provides nutrition to all the bodily cells; it maintains life. Rasa forms the menstrual fluid, breast milk, and skin (tvak) (upadhatus), forms kapha dosha, transports waste from the cells to the kidneys, and avoids initiation of any disease process. The upadhatus of rasa are constructing elements that do not give nourishment to the body. The upadhatus of rasa dhatu are stanya –breast milk (providing immunity and health to baby and travels through Stanyavaha srotas), and artava/raja –menstrual fluid (flows through Artavavaha srotas in women). Rasa is so important because it is the first dhatu to be fed. And because it feeds the other dhatus in line, the health of the other dhatus depend on the health of rasa. Again, because the other 6 dhatu layers are formed from the mature completion of the previous one, taking care of rasa is critical to good health and so it is worthy of study.
Signs of Depleted Rasa Dhatu
Those with vata or pitta constitutions naturally will have a lower amount of rasa dhatu and will be more susceptible to depletion, with pitta having tending to have a little more rasa than those with a vata nature, as pitta dosha naturally contains some water.
When rasa dhatu is depleted, the qualities of kapha along with water, diminish. With poor quality or depleted rasa dhatu, things start to get dry. One will notice their skin may be more rough or dry, their bowel movements aren’t coming with ease, and mucous membranes may be dry, a perfect place for breeding infections. One may have early greying of hair, anemia, anorexia, or tremors. A breast feeding mother may find she is not producing enough milk, or one’s menstrual flow may be scanty. These are all indications that rasa dhatu needs attention, one’s diet and lifestyle needs to be adjusted. Low rasa dhatu can also effect the mind as rasa is closely linked to emotions, making one feel like nothing seems right. There is growing dissatisfaction that can’t be easily satiated by changes in the environment.
Imbalanced vata and pitta dosha are the cause of depleted rasa dhatu. Vata, being the energy within the body made of air and ether (space), enters rasa dhatu and dries it out. That is the qaulity of vata - dry and too much of it can create poor quality tissue. Pitta, being primarily fire, burns rasa dhatu up when it enters in, so one must really bring both pitta and vata back into their balanced places unique to the individual so the body can feel well again. Pitta is easily increased when we lack patience in life, are prone to anger, as well as when we eat too many fermented and spicy foods.
With depleted rasa one will notice an increase in restlessness, intolerance of loud noises, heart palpitations and what modern medicine calls adrenal fatigue or chronic fatigue - exhaustion with even slightest exertion.
Rasa is reduced by the same diet and lifestyle that increase vata and pitta doshas. For vata, this would be excess travel, talking too much and not creating the time and space for reflection. A diet that lacks sufficient water in foods and drink can also greatly affect rasa. Pitta dosha will become imbalanced by a life that is too focused without pleasure, lots of competition in the mind, lots of intensity in emotions, and again, a diet that consumes a lot of fermented and spicy hot foods.
“A diet and lifestyle that has increased vata and pitta results in depleted rasa dhatu leading to dryness in the body and dissatisfaction in life.”
Signs of Excess Rasa Dhatu
There is more tendency towards excess rasa dhatu being formed in those who have kapha dominance in their constitutions, making depletion less likely and excess more likely. Excess salivation, excess mucous, nausea, moist skin, lethargy, swelling, edema, dullness, heavy menstrual fluid, increased menstrual bleeding/excessive bleeding/longer periods, fatigue, endometriosis, oily skin, water retention, and bloating.
“With excess rasa, the mind lacks clarity and vibrancy, instead becoming dull and sluggish.”
One may feel lazy, unproductive, uncreative, and lacking zeal. The mind may seem happy but it could also be superficial, dependent on obtaining certain foods or purchases to retain satisfaction. Imbalanced kapha dosha causes excess rasa dhatu and excess rasa dhatu increases kapha dosha. Treatment will be in balancing kapha so that rasa will reduce to its proper amount. Working with an ayurvedic professional can assist an individual in balancing kapha dosha without further aggravating vata and pitta dosha, so that one can feel their absolute best.
Treatment - Replenishing Proper Amounts of Rasa Dhatu
The quality of rasa dhatu relies heavily on the quality of nutrition. Dhatus are created from food or saara, the primary source of creation (the superior food portion that is filtered out by jaathari agni from the complete ahara that is consumed.
Kapha tends to go out of balance because of other issues going on, like vitiated vata. We look at the symptoms of the body and mind to see if there is vata and/or pitta imbalance. If there is vata and pitta imbalance as well, treatment will begin with balancing vata, being the dosha that controls all movement of the body. Working with an ayurvedic professional, at least in the beginning, will be important to understand the direction needed for healing.
Rasa's nature is oily, heavy, stable and cool - therefore foods, herbs and practices that have these qualities build rasa. Foods that contain healthy fats are especially satisfying to rasa dhatu formation. Foods with sweet and salty taste are ideal for improving the quality of rasa as both are building and hydrating. Foods that build earth and water elements also nourish rasa. Therefore anything that is either building (increases weight gain) or juicy is going to benefit rasa.
Good quality fats like ghee, avocado and coconut oil nourish rasa's oiliness. Rich dairy products such as whole milk and whole yogurt also feed the oily quality of rasa dhatu (not to be taken cold as this weakens jathara agni greatly leading to indigestion and poor quality tissue formation). Complex carbohydrates like root vegetables and whole grains like basmati rice build rasa's sweetness. Sticky demulcent foods like tapioca pudding (freshly made) are especially nourishing, as are demulcent herbs like licorice and marshmallow roots (these form a film over mucous membranes in turn reducing pain, inflammation, and irritation). Hearty proteins such as nuts are earthy, building and heavy, and build rasa's element of earth. Juicy and sweet fruits (fresh), seaweed, mineral (pink) salt, and coconut all build the water element in rasa. Dehydration is especially depleting to rasa.
Chyavanprash herbal jam and single Ayurvedic herbs such as shatavari are great for building rasa dhatu. Self-care is especially imporant to building rasa as well and one would do good to keep a stable schedule that includes proper rest, gentle exercise and weekly oil massages (abhyanga). The moon is considered cooling and is also great for supporting the lymph and in turn nourishing rasa, if one can rest under moon light.
Kapha and rasa need healing. It is kapha dosha that increases the rasa dhatu, and the rasa dhatu that increases kapha dosha. The two are inseparable. It is the water element that feeds both of them. Again, kapha dosha increases when a person becomes too lazy or quiet and when the diet is too moist and heavy.
Healing rasa dhatu requires restoring the proper quantity and quality of water and that is determined by one’s activity level and constitution. On average, a person should be consuming about 5-6 cups of pure water daily, in addition to water that is in food (foods should be moist) and additional water upon breaking sweat during any form of exercise. We are not seeking excess water here, this may wash minerals too quickly out of the body. We want the right balance of water.
The health of rasa dhatu, being fluid, is dependent on the fluid intake of an individual. Water is essential to building rasa but used alone as treatment is not enough. Rasa is the water that carries dissolved nutrients, salt (necessary for retaining water for the body), and sugar (glucose necessary for bodily functions). To replenish or build rasa dhatu, juices are the best way to do this. Think your unsweetened herbal teas are “healthy?” Consider this - rasa is best replenished through sap-type fluids, such as pure maple syrup. Sweetening herbal teas with these substances are much better than the water alone used for making the tea, if one is seeking to build rasa dhatu.
Jathara Agni
When considering any kind of healing using ayurvedic medicine, one must always remember agni. And if you are a student of ayurveda or teacher, you may be tired of hearing about it, but it truly is where healing is going to happen. So let us be reminded that the quality of our rasa dhatu is dependent upon the health of agni, specifically here jathara agni or our digestive fire. Rasa dhatu is produced from the digestion of food and liquid and if this digestion is impaired because of poor jathara agni, rasa dhatu will not be of high quality.
Every dhatu in the body has an agni or the transformative fire that makes it all happen. Rasa dhatu has an agni - rasagni. Again, the agni we are speaking of here is of course jathari agni, the strength and fire of our digestion but also it affects the agni that exists within each of our dhatus. When the rasagni is low, transformation will also be low. So, rasa will tend to increase but is actually poor quality rasa, which makes the formation of the subsequent dhatus poor quality. Poor quality rasa produces excess mala, or waste, and remember this is how kapha dosha is created, so therefore, excess kapha dosha will increase.
Lets consider high rasagni. Being higher, it converts ahara rasa (the food we eat becomes ahara rasa), but being high, it also burns some of the rasa dhatu up, that is trying to be produced. This means, a smaller amount of rasa dhatu is actually being produced, making rasa deficient. There will also be minimal waste and that means less kapha dosha is being made. As you can see, we don’t want rasagni too low or too high. We also don’t want too high or too low of kapha dosha. In ayurveda, we want them balanced, that which is right for he individual.
Determining the Quality of Your Rasa Dhatu
The rasa dhatu can be observed by evaluating the state of the mucous membranes of the body as well as the quantity and quality of any breast milk or menstrual fluid produced and sexual fluid for the male and female.
One can observe inside the mouth, lips, and eyes to look for dry, red, or any inflammation, cracked lips, etc. If so, rasa dhatu is depleted. Looking at one’s skin will also tell us about rasa - is there dryness, lack of luster? If so, pay attention to building quality rasa through diet and lifestlye. Sweating is also decreased when rasa dhatu is diminished, and skin becomes cracked, itchy, and dry.
With high rasagni, one can think of qualities like that of excess pitta - excess heat in the body will show signs such as burning or redness in the membranes. Yet, if depletion is caused by vata dosha, it will be because one has an insufficient intake of fluids along with an unstable jathara agni caused by diet and lifesyle factors. If there is not enough fluid provided to the body, there will not be adequate rasa dhatu.
With low rasagni, kapha dosha will be in excess and can be seen by excess moisture in the membranes or on the skin in the form of sweat or heavy periods or excess breast milk production. Spices such as cumin seeds, black peppercorns (cooked with or put into chai), and ginger should be taken. Mineral salt should be cooked into food and sweets should be reduced, which increases rasagni but with reduced quality.
Kapha tends to go in excess wherever there is foods going into the body that are of the same quality of that dosha - here being heavy, harder to digest foods like meats, refined oils, or an excess intake of nuts. Foods should be cooked in agni strengthening ghee and greens should be increased in the diet for the bitter taste to balance the body (and as long as rasa dhatu is not already depleted, in which the drying nature of bitters would further reduce rasa). These foods are classified as having a sweet taste and include many nuts, fish, and chicken (eaten in small amounts and only occasionally). Remember, if we want to increase rasa, we need to reduce rasa agni and we can do this through the intake of bitters.
Main Things that cause Rasa Dhatu to become Imbalanced.
Noticeable and common imbalances of rasa include dry skin, dehydration, heavy menses, oily skin, and acne. Sexual fluids are a very refined form of rasa or plasma fluid and therefore excess orgasms can deplete rasa dhatu.
Any imbalance of rasa resulting in excess or diminished rasa dhatu is caused from poor digestion caused by a weakened agni. Of course eating leftovers, too much exercise and mental activity, excess amounts of caffeine or raw bitters, heavy and cold foods, alcohol, overeating, daytime napping, excess sun exposure during the most sensitive times of the day 10am to 2pm and excessive amounts of poor quality salt and sugar all contribute to forming poor rasa dhatu as does poor quality sleep.
Five ways to take care of rasa dhatu
The health of rasa is dependent on the health of the digestion system, what ayurveda considers a strong agni. Rasa is fed by the food we eat and the way we digest it. Following the general guidelines of ayurveda will protect rasa from getting depleted and for making it balanced and of good quality. Below are 5 things you can incorporate today for healthy rasa dhatu:
Eat 3 meals a day, without snacking in between, leaving a minimum of 4 hours between meals, ideally 5
Make sure not to over eat in any one sitting
Chew your food well
Avoid eating before bed
AND... Because rasa dhatu is associated with emotions... find ways to just let go in life and let God. Accept what is. Live within contentment each moment. Have faith for tomorrow.
Nourishing rasa dhatu through diet and lifestyle adjustments is one of the best ways to bring more mental clarity so that we can focus on what matters in life rather than being bogged down with the uncertainty that comes when we don’t properly care for ourselves. We will find ourselves given to genuine and authentic love and compassion towards others and self. We can feel good in our body. If you would like to learn more ways to incorporate Ayurveda and natural living in your life, book a free consultation today and let’s get you feeling great.
Journeying together,
Kari