cellular degeneration in either neuropeptide Y / agouti-gene-related transcript or pro-opiomelanocortin neurons , and impair energy homeostasis , resulting in pathologies such as obesity and type-2 diabetes . 21
N-acetyl-glycer-aldehyde auto-oxidation , poly-ol and hexose-amine routes are all produced by NADPH ( nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ) oxidases . Obesity causes oxidative stress due to poor antioxidant defence , chronic inflammation , and post-prandial reactive oxygen species generation . 22-26 This paper discusses the role of Ama in low quality Dhatu formation , focusing on Meda Dhatu .
Materials and Methods
Literature on Ama ( free radicals ), Sthaulya ( obesity ), and Meda Dhatu Poshana ( adipose tissue nourishment and replenishment ) was gathered from various Ayurvedic Compendia . Current literature and recent research publications were also searched online from scientific sites such as PubMed , Google Scholar , and Medline using keywords such as Ama , free radicals in Ayurveda , Meda dhatu , and Sthaulya . These collected data were then analysed to determine the applicability and relevance of Dhatu Poshana ( nourishment at each level of bodily tissues through metabolic transformation and transport of substances through cell membrane ) dysfunction in Sthaulya .
Results
Ayurveda ' s core principle is to keep Dosha ( bodily humours or energy centres ), Dhatu ( layer , stratum , constituent part , ingredient , element , primitive matter ) in Ayurveda , the seven fundamental principles ( elements ) that support the basic structure ( and functioning ) of the body , and Mala ( waste products of the body ) in balance . Dosha , Dhatu and Mala are originally nourished by the potency of each Jatharagni , and then productive nutrients ( Ahara Rasa ) are passed into each level of Dhatu ( body tissues ). Ahara
Figure 1 . Ahara Rasa and Dhatu Poshana
Ahara ( food )
Ahara comes in contact with digestive fire ( Jatharagni ) - Gut Microbiota
Ahara is converted into Ahara Rasa ( essence of food or productive and nutritive part of food is achieved while kitta bhaga or the part that has no nutrients is separated )
This Ahara Rasa becomes a single pool of absorbable form of food which provides nutrition to the different levels of tissues and its formation - this process is known as " Dhatu Poshana "
Rasa provides all the nutrients required for tissue creation and growth in the form of a stream that penetrates each type of Dhatus ( plasma , blood , muscle , fat , bone , bone marrow and reproductive fluid ). In Ayurveda , these are called Sapta Dhatus - Rasa , Rakta , Mamsa , Meda , Asthi , Majja and Sukhra . 27 The concept of Dhatu Poshana is described in detail in Figure 1 .
Among the three Upasthambhas - Ahara , Nidra , Bramhacharya ( subpillars of existence - food , sleep , and lifestyle , including sexual health ), Ahara is the most important . Traditional texts explain that the body usually follows three laws by which this Ahara Rasa is transferred to different Dhatus and fulfils the nutritional needs of the body ( Ksheera Dadhi Nyaya – transformation of nutrients , Khale Kapota Nyaya - selective uptake of nutrients , Kedari Kulya Nyaya – transportation of nutrients via channels ) but in obesity such a mechanism is deeply affected .
Kshira Dadhi Nyaya ( metabolic transformation of nutrients ) Kshira ( milk ) is distinct from Dadhi ( curd ). Milk undergoes a complete change before becoming curd .
According to this hypothesis , a certain tissue undergoes differentiation into subsequent tissues . Rasa Dhatu , like milk , transforms into Rakta Dhatu in accordance with this law . Similarly , Mamsa and Meda , Asthi and Majja and Shukra are generated . 28-29
Khale Kapota Nyaya ( selective uptake of nutrients ) After harvesting , the grain is stored in the Khale ( granary or bran ) and Kapot is a pigeon or bird symbol . Pigeons , for example , visit a pile of grain to gather what they require and return to their nests . Energy is used in this procedure by Kapotas to meet their needs . As with pigeons ( Kapotas ), the Rasa Dhatu contains the nutrient components for all the Dhatus in the body , just like the Rasa Dhatu contains the grains for the
28 , 30 , 31 subsequent Dhatus .
Kedar iKulya Nyaya ( transportation of nutrients via channel ) In this context , Kulya refers to a little waterway in a paddy field called Kedari ( Kyari ). Water from the reservoir is delivered to tiny fields ( Kedari ) via canals as part of the irrigation process . Water moves in Kulya ( canals ) in the direction of gravitational pull . The water reaches the first section of the field ( Kedari ) and
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