Equilibrium Of Dhatus In Ayurveda

The aim of Ayurveda is to restore and maintain the equilibrium
of dhatus (the constituents) for health and happiness. Dhatus are the products
of the five elements and form the material basis of the body. The
disequilibrium of dhatus or ill health (physical and mental) is caused, in the ultimate
analysis, by their non-use, excessive use or misuse of time, intellect and
sense objects. Therapeutics seek to lower or raise the levels of constituents
and restore the equilibrium by administering measures with opposite properties.
Transformation of food to balance the dhatus is brought about by agents such as
fire which digests, vata which evaporates, moisture that loosens, fat which
softens, time which matures and, lastly, proper application. The products may
be assimilated (aharadhatus) or harmful (waste or maladhatus). Perturbation of
vata, pitta, and kapha (doshavaishamya) corresponds to dhatuvaishamya, because
doshas are also dhatus.

Equilibrium of dhatus is not achieved by merely balancing
the seven dhatus of the body, but also by balancing the three doshas of the body,
and the two qualities of the mind, rajas and tamas. Among the doshas, vata is
the most powerful. It exists in both perturbed and unperturbed forms, within
and outside the body. Vata supports body parts and organs, causes movements,
directs the mind, and regulates body functions. Pitta contains agni and stabilizes
or destabilizes the equilibrium of the doshas. Soma (water) which underlies kapha
is responsible for good and bad effects depending on its state. Another point
to be noted with regard to the constructive and destructive operations of the doshas
is that they are independent agents which work is unison with a man’s karma
(action) and mind. The operations of the mind and the body run parallel to each
other; both follow the order of human karma, but neither of them is determined
by the other, though they correspond to each other closely. The psycho-physical
parallelism is suggested through Charaka’s system.