Fat Tissue

🧈 Understanding Meda Dhatu: The Body's Lubricating Tissue

Meda Dhatu, associated with the Earth element and Kapha dosha, provides essential lubrication, warmth, and protection to the body. It supports organ stability, enhances cold tolerance, and contributes to the formation of ligaments and joints. Imbalances can manifest as either excessive adiposity with respiratory issues or inadequate fat tissue causing joint pain and reduced cold tolerance. Treatment approaches include specialized massages, dosha-specific diets, and customized Panchakarma therapies to restore proper balance.

What is Meda Dhatu?

Meda Dhatu provides warmth, lubrication, and oiliness to the body.¹ It is the fourth tissue layer in Ayurveda's seven-dhatu system.

• Associated Element: Earth (Prithvi)²
• Primary Dosha: Kapha²

✨ Key Functions of Meda Dhatu

• Protects the body from external factors
• Provides cold tolerance to the body²
• Lends strength, sturdiness, and stability to the organs
• Nourishes Asthi dhatu (bone tissue)
• Helps in production of sub-dhatus²:
  • Ligaments (Snayu)
  • Joints (Sandhi)

🔺 Symptoms of Increased Meda Dhatu

Most symptoms mirror those of increased Kapha or decreased Vata²

• Excessive oiliness in the body
• Goiter
• Development of belly (abdominal obesity)
• Respiratory issues:
  • Cough
  • Bronchitis
  • Breathlessness
• Physical changes:
  • Flabbiness
  • Sagging of buttocks, breasts, and waist
  • Increased body odor
• Lethargy²
• Mucous accumulation²
• Unwanted growths (e.g., lipomas) - softer compared to those caused by increased Mamsa²
• Obstructions in channels caused by unwanted growths²
• Healthy cravings for bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes²

🔻 Symptoms of Decreased Meda Dhatu

Most symptoms mirror those of decreased Kapha or increased Vata²

• Pain and feeling of emptiness in the joints
• Dull and sleepy eyes
• Dryness in the skin and hair
• Blocking of ears
• Fatigue
• Thin and lean body and stomach
• Enlargement of spleen
• Prickling pain in bones and joints
• Weakness of blood vessels
• Stiffness in movements²
• Reduced tolerance of cold²
• Healthy cravings for sweet, salty, and sour tastes²

🩺 Medaja Roga (Diseases from Vitiated Meda Dhatu)

Sensory Symptoms

• Sweet taste in mouth
• Burning sensation in the limbs
• Burning sensation and numbness in the body
• Dry mouth, throat, and palate
• Excessive thirst

Physical Symptoms

• Tangling of hair
• Lethargy
• Increased secretion from skin pores

💊 Treatment Approaches

Localized Therapies²

• For unwanted growths: Surgical removal (may not be needed for minor issues)
• For tissue deficiency: Bolus bag massage with Navara rice or even meat

Dietary & Lifestyle Adjustments²

• For increased Meda Dhatu: Follow Kapha-pacifying diet
• For decreased Meda Dhatu: Follow Vata-pacifying diet

Panchakarma Treatments²

After proper Oleation and Sudation

• For increased Meda Dhatu:
  • Emesis therapy
  • Udvartana (a type of sudation) may be especially helpful
• For decreased Meda Dhatu: Enema therapy

References

Primary Source: Acharya Balakrishna - A Practical Approach to The Science of Ayurveda - A Comprehensive Guide for Healthy Living

1. Susruta Samhita
2. School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma - Lectures and Notes