Sapta Dhatu

Sapta Dhatu in Ayurveda (Seven Types of Tissues)

The structural and supporting units of the body are called Dhatu in Ayurveda. In modern science, it related to tissues. So, Dhatu meaning in English is tissue. In ayurveda science, there are seven basic tissues that make the body and these tissues are collectively called Sapta Dhatu in Ayurveda.

Rasa Dhatu	Body fluids
Rakta Dhatu	Blood
Mamsa Dhatu	Muscular tissue
Meda Dhatu	Adipose tissue
Asthi Dhatu	Bony tissue
Majja Dhatu	Bone marrow and nervous tissue
Shukra Dhatu	Generative tissue (including semen and ovum constituents, stem cells)

DHATU AGNI

According to Ayurvedic Principles, each Dhatu has its own specific Agni. This is called Dhatu-Agni. This Agni relates to specific enzymes, chemicals and processes in the body that help to convert Dhatu to higher Dhatu or Upadhatu (sub-tissue or secondary tissue). These metabolic processes also give rise to waste products, which are called Mala in Ayurveda. These include nail, hairs, saliva, tear, ear wax, stool, urine, sweat etc.

 

PRECURSOR OF SAPTA DHATU

The food is the precursor of all tissues. The waste products of food are stool and urine.

 

SAPTA DHATU

Let’s review a brief detail of each Dhatu:

 Rasa Dhatu

Rasa Dhatu relates to body fluids in the body. It includes intracellular and extracellular fluids, plasma in the blood and fluid in the lymphatic system. It also includes all nutrients absorbed in the intestine.

Dosha	Kapha Dosha
Upadhatu	Stanya (breastmilk), Raja (menstrual fluid/blood)
Mala (Waste Product)	Sweat, Tears, and Saliva

Rasa Dhatu is responsible for providing nutrition to all cells, tissues, and organs in the body.

 

Rakta Dhatu

 

Rakta Dhatu relates to blood components (RBCs) except plasma in the blood. Rakta is derived from nutrients present in the Rasa.

Dosha	Pitta Dosha
Upadhatu	Shira (Blood Vessels), Kandara (Fascia)
Mala (Waste Product)	–

Rakta Dhatu supplies oxygen to all structures in the body. It is also responsible for maintaining strength, health, and happiness. It supports the functions of skin and sense organs.

 

Mamsa Dhatu

 

Mamsa Dhatu relates to muscular tissues in the body. Mamsa tissue is derived from nutrient in the Rakta in addition to Rasa.

Dosha	Kapha Dosha
Upadhatu	Muscle, Fat and Skin
Mala (Waste Product)	Earwax, crusts in the nose, and tartar of teeth

The main function of Mamsa Dhatu is to provide strength to the body and protecting internal organs.

 

Meda Dhatu

Meda Dhatu relates to adipose tissues in the body. It is derived from nutrients in Mamsa Dhatu in addition to Rasa, and Rakta.

Dosha	Kapha Dosha
Upadhatu	Snayu (tendons), Sandhi (joints), Shira (lymphatic vessels), and Sweat (Sharangadhara Samhita)
Mala (Waste Product)	Sweat, Smegma of the prepuce

Meda Dhatu is responsible for lubrication and providing strength and nutrition to the bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.

Asthi Dhatu

Asthi Dhatu relates to bony and skeletal tissues in the body. It is derived from nutrients in Meda Dhatu in addition to Rasa, Rakta, and Mamsa.

Dosha	Vata Dosha
Upadhatu	Teeth
Mala (Waste Product)	Nails and Hair

The main function of Asthi Dhatu is to protect delicate nervous tissue, brain, spinal cord and support bone marrow.

Majja Dhatu

Majja Dhatu relates to the Bone marrow and nervous tissue in the body. It is derived from nutrients in the Asthi Dhatu in addition to Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, and Meda.

Dosha	Kapha Dosha
Upadhatu	Hair (according to Sharangadhara Samhita)
Mala (Waste Product)	Oily secretions of skin – include secretions of sebaceous gland

Majja Dhatu is responsible for proving nourishment to Shukra Dhatu. All functions of bone marrow, brain, and nervous tissue represent the functions of Majja Dhatu.

Shukra Dhatu

Shukra Dhatu relates to the generative tissue in the body. It is derived from nutrients in the Majja Dhatu in addition to Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda, and Asthi.

Dosha	Kapha Dosha
Upadhatu	–
Mala (Waste Product)	– (beard? Some believes)

Shukra Dhatu is not only constituents of semen or ovum. It also includes all generative tissues and stem cells in the body, which are responsible for cellular regeneration and reproduction.