Blood

🔥 Understanding Rakta Dhatu: The Life-Sustaining Blood Tissue

Rakta Dhatu, associated with the Fire element and Pitta dosha, is essential for sustaining life. It governs oxygenation, enhances complexion, enables sensory perception, and nourishes other tissues. Imbalances can manifest as skin disorders, blood conditions, and various other ailments. Treatment includes blood purification, specific dietary regimens based on individual constitution, and targeted Panchakarma therapies to restore balance.

What is Rakta Dhatu?

Rakta Dhatu is a life-promoting substance in Ayurveda. It is responsible for sustaining the life-force within the body.

• Associated Element: Fire (Agni)¹
• Primary Dosha: Pitta¹

✨ Key Functions of Rakta Dhatu

• Governs oxygenation in all tissues and vital organs
• Improves skin glow and complexion
• Makes perception possible in the sense organs
• Contains nutritive elements of all dhatus
• Replenishes Mamsa dhatu (muscular tissue)
• Helps in production of sub-dhatus¹:
  • Tendons (Kandara)
  • Blood vessels (Sira)

🔺 Symptoms of Increased Rakta Dhatu

• Redness in eyes
• Redness in complexion
• High blood pressure
• Healthy cravings for sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes¹

🔻 Symptoms of Decreased Rakta Dhatu

• Weakening of blood vessels and veins
• Weakening of digestive fire
• Provocation of Vata or Kapha
• Rough, dry, dull, and hard skin
• Reduced sweating
• Common cravings: red meat, mud, unwashed root vegetables, food cooked in iron pans¹
• Healthy cravings for salty, sour, and pungent tastes¹

🩺 Raktaja Roga (Diseases from Vitiated Rakta Dhatu)

Skin Conditions

• Leprosy, itching, eczema, ringworm
• Blemishes, pimples, corns

Blood Disorders

• Blood cancer
• Bleeding (intrinsic hemorrhage)
• Bleeding through external body channels
• Anemia¹

Other Conditions

• Pseudo tumors
• Mouth ulcers and gingivitis
• Jaundice
• Redness in urine
• Autoimmune disorders

💊 Treatment Approaches

Purification & Localized Therapies

• Blood purification (through purgation, nourishment, etc.)
• Localized treatments like bloodletting

Dietary & Lifestyle Adjustments¹

• For increased Rakta Dhatu: Follow Pitta-pacifying diet
• For decreased Rakta Dhatu with darkening and dry skin: Follow Vata-pacifying diet
• For decreased Rakta Dhatu with pale skin: Follow Kapha-pacifying diet

Panchakarma Treatments¹

After proper Oleation and Sudation

• For increased Rakta Dhatu: Purgation therapy
• For decreased Rakta Dhatu with increased Kapha: Emesis therapy
• For decreased Rakta Dhatu with increased Vata: Enema therapy

References

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

1. School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma - Lectures and Notes