Dhātus (dhä·tōōs), n.pl. ( from Sanskrit धातु dhātu - layer, stratum, constituent part, ingredient, element, primitive matter[1] ) in Ayurveda, the seven fundamental principles (elements) that support the basic structure (and functioning) of the body.[2]
They consist of:[3]
- Rasa dhatu (lymph)[3]
- Rakta dhatu (blood)[3]
- Mamsa dhatu (muscles)[3]
- Medha dhatu (fat)[3]
- Asthi dhatu (bone)[3]
- Majja dhatu (marrow (bone and spinal))[3]
- Shukra dhatu (semen)[3]
Traditional texts often refer to these as the Seven Dhātus (Saptadhātus). Ojas, meaning vigour or vitality, is known as the eighth Dhātu, or Mahādhātu (superior, or great dhātu).[4]
See also[edit | edit source]
Dhātu (disambiguation) - a Buddhist technical term or a stupa, Pāli thūpa.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
- ↑ Jonas: Mosby's Dictionary of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. (c) 2005, Elsevier.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Seven Dhatus of Ayurveda
- ↑ Dhātus http://www.ayurveda-recipes.com/dhatus.html Archived 2018-12-25 at the Wayback Machine