Balanced Doshas (humours), healthy Agni, a good state of tissues and their metabolic
end- products lead to a balanced state of the senses, mind and spirit, all of which
lead to health. Ayurvedic text books talk about two kinds of Eliminate or Waste
Materials. I Ahara mala or wastes from food (waste products derived from food) II
Dhatu mala or wastes from the tissues (waste products expelled from cells and tissues)
The ahara malas include feces (purisha), urine (mutra), and sweat (sveda). These
are the three main malas. The dhatu malas include the various secretions of the
nose, eyes, ears; lactic acid, carbon dioxide, and other metabolites of cellular
respiration, exfoliated hair, skin, and nails. Although these are all waste products,
they serve a role in maintaining health as long as they are normal in their quantity
(pramana), qualities (gunas), and function (karma). However, if the malas become
abnormal in some regard (i.e. increased or decreased) they become a factor in creating
disease. When the dhatus and malas become unbalanced they are called dushyas (soiled).
Ahara Mala:
Ayurveda believes we are not just what we eat – we are also what we digest! Digesting
and eliminating whatever we put in our bodies is referred to as Ahara Mala The three
primary malas being Purisa (faeces), Mutra (urine) and Sweda (sweat).
- Purish (stool)
Purish or Stool are human feces, a result of defecation. It is the waste product
of the human digestive system. It vary in appearance from person to person depending
on the state of the whole digestive system, influenced by diet and health. Normally
stools are semisolid, with a mucus coating. Any discrepancy caused in its normal
process of defecation can lead to constipation, diarrhea, flatulence, heaviness
or pain.
According to Ayurveda, Purisha or faeces are the elimination of Earth, and, Water
element. In a HEALTHY state, Purisha is described as semisolid, with a mucus coating.
Purisa is the waste left back after nutrients of digested food have been absorbed
in the small intestine. While water and salt are absorbed in the large intestine,the
residue now converted into solid faeces,leaves the body.The consistency of the faeces
depends both on gastrointestinal mobility and nature of diet.
The UNHEALTHY state of any entity can be examined when it is produced in EXCESS[VRIDDHI],
INSUFFICIENT[KSHAYA] or when its structure is different from normal.
- PURISH-VRIDDHI (Excess) “Purisha na kukshau adhmanan atopam gauravam vedana shakrut”
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE : Flatulence, Abdominal unrest, Abdominal pain, Heaviness
- PURISH-KSHAYA (Insufficient) “Purishe vayu antrani sashabdam veshtayan eva|kukshou
bhramati yati urdhwam hrit parshwe peedayan bhisham” SYMPTOMS INCLUDE : Abdominal
gases, Bloating, Pain in the back, Pain in the chest and heart region.
- The assessment of Purisha helps evaluate underlying disorders.
- Mutra (Urine)
Urine is another important excretion from the human body. It is actually a liquid
waste product of the body secreted by the kidneys through a phenomenon of filtration
from blood. In human body, it is excreted through the urethra. Any imbalance like
increased or decreased urine can lead to problems like urinary infections, kidney
stones, abdominal pain and various bladder disorders.
The Mutra is fluid, exhibiting the dominance of Jala and Agni Mahabhoota. It is
a clear fluid with a yellowish tinge to its colour. It is Lavana and Katu in Rasa
and also displays a typical foul odor. Urine (mutra) expels water and other solid
wastes from the body. To expel the waste material out of the body is the main function
of Mutra. The Mutra excretes all the bodily wastes formed as a result of various
metabolic processes going on the body, and thereby helps to keep the body clean.
The entire urinary system comprising the kidneys, the uterus, the urinary bladder
and the urethra takes part in the formation and removal of urine, thus regulating
the fluid balance in our body and also preserving the blood pressure at an optimum
level. It also performs the important function of regulating the proportion of Apa
Dhatu present in the body. The amount of urine obviously also depends on the amount
of fluid intake, the increase in fluid intake leads to formation of large amounts
of Mutra and vice-versa.
- MUTRA-VRIDDHI [Excess] “Mutra ñ Basti nistodam krute api akrutnangyatam” SYMPTOMS
INCLUDE : Pain in the bladder, Urge to urinate frequently, Increase can indicates
underlying causes like diabetes, bladder dysfunction
- MUTRA-KSHAY [Insufficient] “Mutra na mutre alpam mutrayet kricchrat vivarnan sa
asram eva va” SYMPTOMS INCLUDE : Difficulty in passing urine, Heavy colored urine
sometimes accompanied with blood, Its decrease can indicate syndromes like kidney
disorders and edema.
- Sweda (Sweat)
Sweating or Perspiration is known as Sweda in the terms of Ayurveda. It is basically
a fluid that comes out of skin pores and primarily consists of water as well as
various dissolved solids. It is basically a means of thermoregulation in human body.
Any imbalance in sweat production can lead to itching, skin infections, irritation,
burning sensation of body or reduced body temperature. The word Sweda literally
means the element expelled out of the body due to fomentation or heat treatments.
Sweda is formed as the Mala of Meda Dhatu and the main location of Sweda Vaha Srotas
are also described as Meda and ‘Romakupa’ or the small pores on the skin. The Sweda
is formed as an excretory by product of the digestion of Poshya Meda Dhatu by the
Meda Dhatwagni in the Meda Vaha Srotas. - Sveda or sweat is composed mainly of AAPAH[water].
Sweat (sweda) controls the body temperature by way of expelling excess water and
toxins, cools the body, moistens the skin and hair, carried excess fat from the
body, and purifies the blood.
- SVEDVRIDDHI [Excess] “sweda na atisweda daurgandhya kandu” SYMPTOMS INCLUDE : Excessive
perspiration, Foul odor from the body, Itching, Increase of Sveda can indicate underlying
syndromes like hormonal imbalances and cardiac disorders.
- In addition to these Malas Ayurveda has explained seven Malas of seven Dhatus. Each
Dhatus produces Upadhatu and Mala i.e waste product after action of Agni on them.
Dhatu Malas are the substances visible outside the body in various forms such as
nails which is Mala of Asthi Dhatu.
- SVEDKSHAY [Insufficient] “sweda na Swede romchyuti stabdha romata sfutanam twacha”
SYMPTOMS INCLUDE : Loss of body hair, Cracked skin, dry skin, Decrease of Sveda
can indicate immunological disorders, skin disorders. Structural malformation can
determine the toxic levels of the body and ORGAN FAILURES.
Dhatu mala or wastes from the tissues:
|
Dhatu
|
Dhatu- Mala
|
|
Rasa
|
Coating on tongue and mucosa of mouth
|
|
Rakta
|
Bile
|
|
Mamsa
|
Wax of ear
|
|
Meda
|
Sticky substances in nose, on teeth, arm pit and sexual part
|
|
Asthi
|
Nails
|
|
Majja
|
Sticky substance of eye
|
|
Shukra
|
Oilyness and acne
|
This is unique concept of Ayurvedic system of medicines which gives a different
dimensions to diagnosis and treatment of diseases.