The key to immunity and longevity: what is ojas and how to grow it

What is ojas?

The Ayurvedic concept of ojas is consistent with the modern Western concept of immunity, which includes the resilience of the body’s digestive, nervous, endocrine, and hematopoietic systems. It is a biological substance and energy principle that enables an individual’s body and mind to resist disease and grow in strength, love, and vitality.

In Ayurveda, Three doshas Or regulate the body’s energies; Vata, Pitta and Kapha are said to be derived from Five great elements Or Panchamahaphutas. Space, air, fire, water and earth. Vata consists of space and air, pitta of fire and water, and kapha of water and earth.

Ojas, along with tejas and prana, are said to be the essence of each of these doshas. Ojas is the subtle essence of Kapha dosha, in particular the water element while prana is associated with vata and tejas with pitta. So, we can think of the qualities of ojas as the purest form of kapha and the water element. Often, ojas is likened to ghee as a substance because it shares the same intensely nourishing and healing qualities.

Ojas functions

Why, when exposed to the same pathogens or the same pathogens, might one person get sick and another not? The answer, according to Ayurveda, is ojas. Whether the disease originates from within; For example from undigested thoughts, emotions or experiences crystallizing in the body’s tissues, or from the outside as with bacteria and viruses, the strength of the ojas will determine whether or not these fluctuations actually manifest and materialize as illness. If the strength of one’s ojas exceeds the strength of the disease, the disease will not appear. If the power of the disease is indeed greater than the power of Ojas, the disease; Whether acute or chronic, mild or severe, it will appear.

After all, the main function of ojas is to protect against imbalance and disease. Ojas also protect the body from aging and general decay and maintain the health and stability of the seven dhatus (body tissues), three malas (excretory ducts; feces, urine, and sweat), and Three doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha).

On a more subtle level, the ultra-fine type of ojas, of which each individual is said to have only 8 drops in the heart, is said to stabilize consciousness in the physical body. It helps keep the heart beating, and sustains it for life. Without ojas, there is no life.

However, one of the main symptoms of disturbance or depletion of ojas is often illness.

In the same way that cow’s milk has to go through various processes to become ghee, ojas is the product of the metabolism of Kapha dosha in the body.