Saptadhatu – The Seven Bodily Tissues
Sapta means seven and dhatu means that which bears or supports.
Ayurveda identifies seven vital tissues that provide nourishment, growth, and
structure to the entire body.
These tissues are called dhatus which are in many ways similar to the major
tissues identified by modern science.

The Sapta(seven) Dhatus (tissues) elements form the pillars of the body
that form the means of nourishment and growth while providing support to the body as well as the mind.

Rasa (fluid)Dhatu – This dhatu is a transporter of the body-plasma fluids and
provides nourishment to all the other dhatus and is analogous to the plasma.Its made up of water element.Rasa means to move.The Rasa dhatu is supported by the kapha dosha

When rasa dhatu is depleted skin becomes dry, and hard, person is dull, lean,
tired, and intolerant to loud speech and noise.
When rasa dhatu is in excess loss of appetite, excessive salivation, nausea
laziness, feeling of heaviness, coldness, cough and excess of sleep is felt.

Functions:
It makes the person cheerful, happy and leaves the skin glowing and nourishes
Rakta dhatu.

Rakta (blood) Dhatu - It can be compared with formed elements of blood like
Red Blood Cells(RBC), White Blood Cells(WBC), and Platelets etc.Its made up
of fire element.

Functions:
It takes care of our complexion, nourishes Mamsa dhatu and is governed by
pitta dosha.
When rakta dhatu is depleted, the qualities of pitta dosha and fire diminish. A
person feels cold, the skin loses its luster becoming pale or dusty gray, and
coldness .In the mind, depletion of the rakta dhatu leads to dullness, and
difficulty processing and understanding new information. This often leads to
confusion and misunderstandings.
When the rakta dhatu is in excess, the qualities of pitta dosha and fire increase. A person feels warmer.

Mamsa Dhatu – The muscle tissue, its main function is to provide physical
strength and support for the meda dhatu.Its made up of earth element.
Functions:
Strengthens the body, builds good muscle tissue in neck shoulder and thigh
area. Nourishes meda dhatu and is governed by kapha dosha and earth element.
When mamsa dhatu is depleted then it causes debility of sense organs,
emaciation of cheeks, buttocks, pain in joints.
When mamsa dhatu is in excess then produces enlargement of lymph glands,
tumors, increase in size of cheeks, thighs, abdomen etc.
Meda (fat)Dhatu – This dhatu collects the energies and stores it to provide
strength to the body. The adipose tissue also stores fat as a means of body
lubrication and a support to bones. The Medha dhatu is supported by the kapha dosha

Functions:
Well lubricates system, with oily and soft hair, skin and efficient eyes.
Nourishes Asthi dhatu and is governed by Kapha.
When medas dhatu is depleted then it leads to spleen enlargement, difficult joint movements, emaciation at abdomen, desire to consume fatty food.
When medas dhatu is in excess then person gets tired, fat increases at abdomen, thighs, neck etc, and foul smell in sweat, shortness of breath etc.
Asthi Dhatu – This dhatu includes all the bones and cartilages and gives shape
to the body. It also supports the Mamsa dhatu. The Asthi dhatu is supported by
the vata dosha.Its made up of air and space elements.

Functions:
Supports the body. Gives good structure and stability with hard working
capacity to the body. Nourishes Majja dhatu. Asthi dhatu is governed by vata
dosha.
When asthi dhatu is depleted then there is pricking pain in bones, falling of
teeth, nail and hairs.Bones become porous, get easily fractured.
Increase in asthi dhatu lead to excessive growth of bones. Bones and teeth are
developed over one another
 
Majja Dhatu– This dhatu refers to bone marrow. It nourishes the body and
helps maintain its functions. Majja dhatu strengthens the body, fills the bones
and nourishes the Shukra dhatu. The Majja dhatu is supported by the kapha
dosha

Functions:
Imparts sharp, clear mind with good intellect and memory. Strong joints.Govern by kapha dosha.
When majja dhatu is depleted then bones get weak, joint pain, vertigo, giddiness occur and shukra dhatu is also depleted.
When majja dhatu is in excess then heaviness in eyes, and whole body occurs.

Shukra Dhatu – This dhatu nourishes the reproductive strengths of an
individual. It includes sperm and ovum. The Shukra dhatu is supported by the
kapha dosha.

Functions:
Has patience, enjoys life and body strength. Reproductive needs are concern.
Govern by kapha dosha.
In case of shukra dhatu depletion ejaculation is delayed, bloody ejaculation
occurs, pain in testicles, body is weak and thirst occurs.
When there is excess of shukra dhatu desire of excess coitus is there and stone
in the shukravaha strotas may occur with pain.

All the seven dhatus are inter-connected; the malfunctioning of a single
dhatu can have an impact on all the other dhatus. The dhatus are composed of
the five mahabhutas or elements. Thus, the doshas, which are also made up of
the five elements help manage the balance of the dhatus. A system of well-
balanced doshas helps balance the dhatus, thus leading to the proper functioning of the entire system of the body.

Ojas is the ultimate “essence” of each dhatu. The most effective way to
improve the health of the dhatus is to increase ojas.

Improper diet and digestion, on the other hand, will lead to ama formation in
each tissue layer.

                                           The Trayodosa Agni

Agni therefore covers a whole sequences of chemical
interactions and changes in the body and mind.The biological fire that
governs metabolism,agni encompasses all the changes in the body
and mind including the digestion and absorption of food, cellular
transformations, assimilation of sensory perceptions and mental and
emotional experiences
Agni therefore covers whole sequences of chemical interactions
and changes in the body and mind. Digestive abilities being related to
the strength of agni
Agni is present in every tissue and cell and is necessary to
maintain the nutrition and auto-immune mechanism.
A balanced agni therefore is vital for health and the disturbances
of Agni are usually the chief causes of diseases. The strength of the
body to resist disease and also its physical strength are directly related
to its heat energy determining the metabolic processes of the body.
Agni and pitta are closely connected. While both are hot and
light,agni is subtle and dry.The heat energy to help digestion
contained by pitta is agni.Pitta is therefore the container and agni the
content.Agni is acidic in nature and stimulates digestion.

Ayurveda identifies thirteen types of Agni in the body. The most
important of them is the Jatharagni. the gastric fire, responsible for
digestion of food eaten by correlating hydrochloric acid in the
stomach and the digestive enzymes and juices secreted into the
stomach, duodenum and the small intestines. If digestive agni is low
and the capacity is impaired, one may experience pain, discomfort,
feeling of heaviness or gases gurgling, constipation or loose stools.
Other types of Agni consist of SaptaDhatvagni and
PanchaBhutagni which maintain the metabolic functions at tissue and
cellular level.