DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY OF DHĀTU

The Sanskrit root dha means “to hold” or “to support.”

Dhātu refers to that which upholds and sustains the body, the structural and functional tissues.

There are seven classical Dhātus:

1. Rasa – Plasma, lymph

2. Rakta – Blood

3. Māṃsa – Muscle

4. Meda – Fat

5. Asthi – Bone

6. Majjā – Marrow, nerve tissue

7. Śukra – Reproductive tissue

KEY CONCEPTS COVERED

Dhātu Agni: The unique digestive fire of each tissue.

Supply vs Demand: Balancing nutrition with physical and energetic practices for optimal tissue health.

Nutritional links: What foods, minerals, and practices nourish each tissue best.

Impact of Digestion: Weak digestion can hinder tissue formation — leading to long-term imbalance.

TEXTUAL SOURCES

Classical Ayurveda texts such as the Charaka Saṃhitā and Ashtanga Hridayam outline the Saptadhātu system.

This teaching also underpins many Ayurvedic approaches to diagnosis, nutrition, and treatment.

PRACTICAL INTEGRATION

Eat for all 7 tissues — not just for energy but for structure, lubrication, clarity, and vitality.

Understand your symptoms not just as isolated problems, but as imbalances at the level of specific Dhātus.

Use a 40-day lens: the food you eat today affects your deepest tissues more than a month from now.

Embrace lifestyle rhythms like movement (for Rakta, Māṃsa), rest (for Majjā), and conscious intimacy or self-connection (for Śukra).

Revisit this episode alongside your Ayurvedic cooking journey or yoga practice to deepen your embodied understanding.