UNIQUE JOURNAL OF AYURVEDIC AND HERBAL MEDICINES Available online: Review Article

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1 ISSN UNIQUE JOURNAL OF AYURVEDIC AND HERBAL MEDICINES Available online: Review Article A MULTIDIMENSIONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATION ON THE CONCEPT OF OJAS Kamath Nagaraj * Assistant Professor, Department of Shareera Kriya, Karnataka Ayurveda Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India Received ; Revised ; Accepted *Corresponding Author: Kamath Nagaraj Assistant Professor, Department of Shareera Kriya, Karnataka Ayurveda Medical College, Mangalore ; Karnataka, India ABSTRACT Ojas is another important entity which is necessary to maintain health, fight against various diseases and to improve the health status. Ojas has got a vital role not only in protection of health but also in achievement of positive health. There can be no life without Ojas. Ojas marks the beginning of the formation of Garbha. It sustains the life & is located in the heart and all over the body. By considering the concept of Vyadhi Kshamatva, physiologically Ojas can be understood in four dimensions - Dhatutejatmaka, Rasatmaka, Jivasonitatmaka, Prakrutha Sleshmatmaka. Dhatutejatmaka Ojas can be considered as the tissue macrophages and different defensive mechanism at the level of tissue or at higher level of organization. Rasatmaka Ojas can be considered as white blood cells and plasma proteins, which are flowing through out the body in the intravascular compartment. Prakrutha Sleshmatmaka Ojas can be related to defensive mechanism at the level of skin and mucous membrane. Jeevasonitatmaka Ojas can be related to defensive cellular components of the blood. The various hypersensitivity reactions that occur at the level of blood can be related to the defensive function of Jeevasonitatmaka Ojas. Keywords: Ojas, Dhatutejatmaka, Rasatmaka, Jivasonitatmaka, Prakrutha Sleshmatmaka. INTRODUCTION Combination of body, mind, soul and sense organs is called has Ayu 1. To attain Purusharthas an individual should be healthy and health is considered as the mula/ basis to attain this Purusharthas 2. Health is Prakriti i.e. Samya Avastha of Dosha, Dhatu And Mala 3. Dosha, Dathu, Mala together form the basis of the body 4. The balance of these entities represents the healthy state and imbalance will cause various diseases 5. Other than these three main entities, Ojas is another important entity which is necessary to maintain health, fight against various diseases and to improve the health status. Ojas has got a vital role not only in protection of health but also in achievement of positive health 6. The word Ojas is derived from Ubjate Dhatu means to express itself. Ojas is the first entity formed in the body 7. As the honey bees collect nectar from different flowers little by little has essence from them similarly Ojas is formed from the best qualities of all the Dhatus and considered as a Sresta Dravya 8. Ojas is that entity which is present in Dhatus just like the Sneha present in milk, like ghee in Sneha of milk and the same Ojas is bala of the body 9. Ojas is having Sarpirvarna, Madhu Rasa and Lajagandha 10. In another context it is mentioned that Ojas is having Shudda, Rakta Sapita colour 11. There can be no life without Ojas. Ojas marks the beginning of the formation of Garbha. It sustains the life & is located in the heart and all over the body 12. It constitutes the essence of all the tissue elements. Food is the principle factor which nourishes Ojas. There are two types of Ojas namely Para and Apara Ojas 13. Ojas is one among Dasha Pranayatanas 14. Pranayatanas are Ashraya for Prana. Ojas is supreme/ superior most Jeevitaspada. Aspada means place. When compared to other abodes such as Shira; Ojas is supreme / superior abode of Jeeva 15. Twenty Gurvadi Gunas explained in Ayurvedic classics are called as Shareerika Gunas. They form basis of application of Samanya Vishesha Siddhanta in Shareera. Among twenty Gunas ten Gunas such as Guru, Sheeta, Snigdha, Mrudu, Picchila, Manda, Sthira, Shlakshna, Sandra are Gunas of Ojas 16. Ojas is the first entity formed in the body. When male and female after doing purifactory therapies and following the rules and regimens for one month indulge themselves in sexual activity, during this, male ejaculates Shukra (male gamete) into vagina(yoni). Later this Shukra, with the help of Vayu Mahabuta moves upwards in the yoni and enters the Unique Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines, 04 (02), March-April

2 third Avartha where Garbhashaya is situated. There it combines with Sonita/ Artava(female gamete) and the union of male and female gametes takes place. Agneya Guna of Artava results in the transformation of this combination of Shukra and Shonita into a main entity namely Garbha(fetus) and the substrate Ojas 17. Two types of Ojas mentioned by different Acharyas, namely Para and Apara. Para is Pradhana (important), since it does the Jeeva Dharana and it is situated in Hrudaya, Pramana is of Asta Bindu. Apara Ojas is present throughout the body and is of Ardhanjali Pramana. Clarification to above mentioned sentence can be given as follows The union of Shukra, Sonita and Jeeva in Kukshi results in formation of Garbha 19. Among these three entities, Shukra is considered as Jeevadisthana. Union of Shukra and Sonita results in the formation of Ojas and Garbha as told earlier. This Ojas is the one which holds Jeeva in the Garbha. It is mentioned that Garbhatma/ Antaratma itself is the Jeeva 20. Ojas which does the Dharana of Jeeva/Antaratma after the formation of Hrudaya enters the Hrudaya and gets situated there along with the Jeeva and continues the function of Jeeva Dharana Since it is the one which is responsible for Jeeva Dharana/Chetana Anuvrutti it is called as Para Ojas. Kshaya of Para Ojas leads to death mentioned by the Acharyas also support the above mentioned interpretation. The quantity of Para Ojas is mentioned as Ishat, to which commentators opine it has eight/six Bindu. The Ojas which is formed from the Sara of each Dhatu and circulates throughout the body having similar property to that of Ahara Rasa, of quantity Ardhanjali is called as Apara Ojas 21. The four dimensional understanding of Ojas is mentioned as Dhatutejatmaka, Rasatmaka, Jivasonitatmaka, Prakrutha Sleshmatmaka 22. The skin and mucous membranes of the body are the first line of defense against pathogens. These structures provide both physical and chemical barriers that discourage pathogens and foreign substances from penetrating the body and causing disease. With its many layers of closely packed, keratinized cells, the outer epithelial layer of the skin the epidermis provides a formidable physical barrier to the entrance of microbes. In addition, periodic shedding of epidermal cells helps remove microbes at the skin surface. Bacteria rarely penetrate the intact surface of healthy epidermis. If this surface is broken by cuts, burns, or punctures, however, pathogens can penetrate the epidermis and invade adjacent tissues or circulate in the blood to other parts of the body. The epithelial layer of mucous membranes, which line body cavities, secretes a fluid called mucus that lubricates and moistens the cavity surface. Because mucus is slightly viscous, it traps many microbes and foreign substances. The mucous membrane of the nose has mucus-coated hairs that trap and filter microbes, dust, and pollutants from inhaled air. The mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract contains cilia, microscopic hair like projections on the surface of the epithelial cells. The waving action of cilia propels inhaled dust and microbes that have become trapped in mucus toward the throat. Coughing and sneezing accelerate movement of mucus and its entrapped pathogens out of the body 23. Lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses produce proteins called interferons or IFNs. Once Kamath Nagaraj. UJAHM 2016, 04 (02): Page released by virus-infected cells, IFNs diffuse to uninfected neighboring cells, where they induce synthesis of antiviral proteins that interfere with viral replication. Although IFNs do not prevent viruses from attaching to and penetrating host cells, they do stop replication. Viruses can cause disease only if they can replicate within body cells. IFNs are an important defense against infection by many different viruses. The three types of interferon are alpha-, beta-, and gamma-ifn. A group of normally inactive proteins in blood plasma and on plasma membranes makes up the complement system. When activated, these proteins complement or enhance certain immune reaction. The complement system causes cytolysis (bursting) of microbes, promotes phagocytosis, and contributes to inflammation. Iron-binding proteins inhibit the growth of certain bacteria by reducing the amount of available iron. Examples include transferrin (found in blood and tissue fluids), lactoferrin (found in milk, saliva, and mucus), ferretin (found in the liver, spleen, and red bone marrow), and hemoglobin (found in red blood cells). Antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) are short peptides that have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Examples of AMPs are dermicidin (produced by sweat glands), defensins and cathelicidins (produced by neutrophils, macrophages, and epithelia), and thrombocidin (produced by platelets). Besides killing a wide range of microbes, AMPs can attract dendritic cells and mast cells, which participate in immune responses. [24] When microbes penetrate the skin and mucous membranes or bypass the antimicrobial substances in blood, the next nonspecific defense consists of natural killer cells and phagocytes. About 5 10% of lymphocytes in the blood are natural killer(nk) cells. They are also present in the spleen, lymph nodes, and red bone marrow. NK cells lack the membrane molecules that identify B and T cells, but they have the ability to kill a wide variety of infected body cells and certain tumor cells. NK cells attack any body cells that display abnormal or unusual plasma membrane proteins. The binding of NK cells to a target cell, such as an infected human cell, causes the release of granules containing toxic substances from NK cells. Some granules contain a protein called perforin that inserts into the plasma membrane of the target cell and creates channels (perforations) in the membrane. As a result, extracellular fluid flows into the target cell and the cell bursts, a process called cytolysis. Other granules of NK cells release granzymes, which are protein-digesting enzymes that induce the target cell to undergo apoptosis, or self-destruction. This type of attack kills infected cells, but not the microbes inside the cells; the released microbes, which may or may not be intact, can be destroyed by phagocytes. Phagocytes are specialized cells that perform phagocytosis, the ingestion of microbes or other particles such as cellular debris. The two major types of phagocytes are neutrophils and macrophages. When an infection occurs, neutrophils and monocytes migrate to the infected area. During this migration, the monocytes enlarge and develop into actively phagocytic macrophages called wandering macrophages. Other macrophages, called fixed macrophages, stand guard in specific tissues. Among the fixed macrophages are histiocytes Unique Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines, 04 (02), March-April

3 (connective tissue macrophages), stellate reticuloendothelial cells (Kupffer cells) in the liver, alveolar macrophages in the lungs, microglia in the nervous system, and tissue macrophages in the spleen, lymph nodes, and red bone marrow 25. The general function of white blood cells is to combat them by phagocytosis or immune responses. To accomplish these tasks, many WBCs leave the bloodstream and collect at sites of pathogen invasion or inflammation. Once granular leukocytes and monocytes leave the bloodstream to fight injury or infection, they never return to it. Lymphocytes, on the other hand, continually recirculate from blood to interstitial spaces of tissues to lymphatic fluid and back to blood. Only 2% of the total lymphocyte population is circulating in the blood at any given time; the rest are in lymphatic fluid and organs such as the skin, lungs, lymph nodes, and spleen. Neutrophils and macrophages are active in phagocytosis; they can ingest bacteria and dispose of dead matter. Among WBCs, neutrophils respond most quickly to tissue destruction by bacteria. Monocytes take longer to reach a site of infection than neutrophils, but they arrive in larger numbers and destroy more microbes. Upon their arrival monocytes enlarge and differentiate into wandering macrophages, which clean up cellular debris and microbes by phagocytosis after an infection. Eosinophils leave the capillaries and enter tissue fluid. They are believed to release enzymes, such as histaminase, that combat the effects of histamine and other substances involved in inflammation during allergic reactions. Eosinophils also phagocytize antigen antibody complexes and are effective against certain parasitic worms. A high eosinophil count often indicates an allergic condition or a parasitic infection. [26] Lymphocytes are the major soldiers in immune system battles. Most lymphocytes continually move among lymphoid tissues, lymph, and blood, spending only a few hours at a time in blood. Thus, only a small proportion of the total lymphocytes are present in the blood at any given time. Three main types of lymphocytes are B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. B cells are particularly effective in destroying bacteria and inactivating their toxins. T cells attack viruses, fungi, transplanted cells, cancer cells, and some bacteria, and are responsible for transfusion reactions, allergies, and the rejection of transplanted organs. Immune responses carried out by both B cells and T cells help combat infection and provide protection against some diseases. Natural killer cells attack a wide variety of infectious microbes and certain spontaneously arising tumor cells. Gamma globulins play an important role in the defense mechanism of the body by acting as antibodies (immune substances). These proteins are also called immunoglobulins. Antibodies react with antigens of various microorganisms, which cause diseases like diphtheria, typhoid, streptococcal infections, mumps, influenza, measles, hepatitis, rubella, polio myelitis, etc 27. DISCUSSION The four dimensional understanding of Ojas is mentioned as Dhatutejatmaka, Rasatmaka, Jivasonitatmaka, Prakrutha Kamath Nagaraj. UJAHM 2016, 04 (02): Page Sleshmatmaka. Ojas is an important entity in the body which is responsible for Vyadhi Kshamatva (to prevent the disease formation & to fight against the formed disease). Considering this physiological function different aspect of Ojas should be understood. Dhatutejatmaka Ojas can be considered as the tissue macrophages and different defensive mechanism at the level of tissue or higher. In relation to tissue macrophages - Monocytes enlarge and develop into actively phagocytic macrophages called wandering macrophages. Other macrophages, called fixed macrophages, stand guard in specific tissues. Among the fixed macrophages are histiocytes (connective tissue macrophages), stellate reticuloendothelial cells (Kupffer cells) in the liver, alveolar macrophages in the lungs, microglia in the nervous system, and tissue macrophages in the spleen, lymph nodes, and red bone marrow. Different defensive mechanism - Tears contain lysozyme, an enzyme capable of breaking down the cell walls of certain bacteria. Besides tears, lysozyme is present in saliva, perspiration, nasal secretions, and tissue fluids. Vaginal secretions likewise move microbes out of the body in females. Defecation and vomiting also expel microbes. Rasatmaka Ojas can be considered as white blood cells and plasma proteins, which are flowing throughout the body in the intravascular compartment. Gamma globulins play an important role in the defense mechanism of the body by acting as antibodies (immune substances). These proteins are also called immunoglobulins. Antibodies react with antigens of various microorganisms, which cause diseases like diphtheria, typhoid, streptococcal infections, mumps, influenza, measles, hepatitis, rubella, polio myelitis, etc. Considering Rakta as Red blood cell and rasa as rest of the components of the blood then white blood cells are also defensive in action which flow in intravascular compartment and can be considered under Rasatmaka Ojas. Prakrutha Sleshmatmaka Ojas can be related to defensive mechanism at the level of skin and mucous membrane. The skin and mucous membranes of the body are the first line of defense against pathogens. These structures provide both physical and chemical barriers that discourage pathogens and foreign substances from penetrating the body and causing disease. With its many layers of closely packed, keratinized cells, the outer epithelial layer of the skin the epidermis provides a formidable physical barrier to the entrance of microbes. The epithelial layer of mucous membranes, which line body cavities, secretes a fluid called mucus that lubricates and moistens the cavity surface. Because mucus is slightly viscous, it traps many microbes and foreign substances. The mucous membrane of the nose has mucus-coated hairs that trap and filter microbes, dust, and pollutants from inhaled air. The mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract contains cilia, microscopic hair like projections on the surface of the epithelial cells. The waving action of cilia propels inhaled dust and microbes that have become trapped in mucus toward the throat. Coughing and sneezing accelerate movement of mucus and its entrapped pathogens out of the body. Jeevasonitatmaka Ojas can be related to defensive cellular components of the blood. The general function of white blood cells is to combat them by phagocytosis or immune responses. Unique Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines, 04 (02), March-April

4 Once granular leukocytes and monocytes leave the bloodstream to fight injury or infection, they never return to it. Lymphocytes, on the other hand, continually recirculate from blood to interstitial spaces of tissues to lymphatic fluid and back to blood. Neutrophils and macrophages are active in phagocytosis; they can ingest bacteria and dispose of dead matter. Monocytes enlarge and differentiate into wandering macrophages, which clean up cellular debris and microbes by phagocytosis after an infection. Eosinophils also phagocytize antigen antibody complexes and are effective against certain parasitic worms. The various hypersensitivity reactions that occur at the level of blood can be related to the defensive function of Jeevasonitatmaka Ojas. CONCLUSION Ojas is that entity which is present in Dhatus just like the Sneha present in milk, like ghee in Sneha of milk and the same Ojas is bala of the body. By considering the concept of vyadhi Kshamatva, physiologically Ojas can be understood in four dimensions - Dhatutejatmaka, Rasatmaka, Jivasonitatmaka, Prakrutha Sleshmatmaka. Dhatutejatmaka Ojas can be considered as the tissue macrophages and different defensive mechanism at the level of tissue or higher. Rasatmaka Ojas can be considered as white blood cells and plasma proteins, which are flowing throughout the body in the intravascular compartment. Prakrutha sleshmatmaka Ojas can be related to defensive mechanism at the level of skin and mucous membrane. Jeevasonitatmaka Ojas can be related to defensive cellular components of the blood. The various hypersensitivity reactions that occur at the level of blood can be related to the defensive function of Jeevasonitatmaka Ojas. REFERENCES 1. Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita with Ayurveda Dipika commentary of Chakrapani Datta, sootrasthana; dirgamjivitiyam adhyayam: chapter 1, verse 42. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007;8. 2. Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta, sootrasthana; dirgamjivitiyam adhyayam: chapter 1, verse 15. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta,sootrasthana; kuddaka chatuspadam adyayam:chapter 9, verse 4. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Susrutha Samhita with Nibandhasangraha commentary of Dalhana, vignaniyam adhyayam: chapter 15, verse 3. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Orientalia, 2010; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita with Ayurveda Dipika commentary of Chakrapani Datta, sootrasthana; kuddaka chatuspadam adyayam:chapter 9, verse 4. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta, sootrasthana; vividha asitapitiya adyayam: chapter 28, verse 7. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita chapter 17, verse 75. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan,2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita chapter 17, verse 4. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007;1. 9. Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Susrutha Samhita with Banumati commentary of Chakrapani Datta, vignaniyam adhyayam: chapter 15, verse 22. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Orientalia, 2010; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita chapter 17, verse 75. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan,2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita chapter 17, verse 74. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Paradakara HSS, editor, 9 th ed. Ashtanga Hrudaya sootrasthana; dosadivignaniyam adhyayam:chapter 11,verse 37. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2005; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita chapter 17, verse Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan,2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta, sootrasthana; dasapranayatanam adyayam: chapter 30, verse 3. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Susrutha Samhita with Nibandhasangraha commentary of Dalhana, vignaniyam adhyayam: chapter 15, verse 3. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Orientalia,2010; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta, chikitsasthana; madatyaya chikitsa adhyayam: chapter 24, verse 31. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007;584. Unique Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines, 04 (02), March-April

5 17. Paradakara HSS, editor, 9 th ed. Ashtanga Hrudaya Orientalia; 2005; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta, shareerasthana; mahati garbha vakranti adhyayam: chapter 4, verse 5. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Acharya JT, editor, Reprint ed. Charaka Samhita Datta, shareerasthana; kudaka garbha vakranti adhyayam: chapter 3, verse 8. Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Prakashan, 2007; Paradakara HSS, editor, 9 th ed. Ashtanga Hrudaya Orientalia; 2005; Paradakara HSS, editor, 9 th ed. Ashtanga Hrudaya 11, verse Varanasi (India): Chaukambha Orientalia; 2005; Paradakara HSS, editor, 9 th ed. Ashtanga Hrudaya sootrasthana; dosadivignaniyam adhyayam:chapter Orientalia; 2005; Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of anatomy and wiley & sons.inc; 2007, Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of anatomy and wiley & sons.inc;2007, Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of anatomy and wiley & sons.inc; 2007, Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of anatomy and wiley & sons.inc;2007, Toratora GJ, Derickson B. Principles of anatomy and wiley & sons.inc;2007,701. Source of support: Nil, Conflict of interest: None Declared Unique Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicines, 04 (02), March-April