Ojas

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

This email may be for Brendan ( due to his Ayurvedic experience) , yet wondered

if anyone canadd some insight on Ojas and Aswangada + the Graha that lords Ojas

( I will assume it is Venus , due to itsmost refined nature, and owner of semen)

According to Ayurveda, there are seven tissues in the body resembling enzymatic

and anabolicprocesses of the body. The seventh and most refined tissue of the

body is called "Ojas" which governs the reproduction and immunity of the body.

These are two of the most highly specialized functions of the body that are

essential to keep the species ongoing. Ashwagandha is one of a very few herbs

that increase the Ojas of the body and therefore support these essential

functions.

 

Additional reading if interested

ASHWAGANDHA

by: Dr. John Douillard

In a world where eighty percent of all disease can be attributed to stress, it

is not surprising that we are attracted to the Ayurvedic herb, According to

Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwagandha balances both

the Nervous System (vata = air) and the Musculo-SkeletalSystem (kapha = earth,

water) simultaneously while itincreases heat (pitta) in the body. In chronic

conditions itis common to see Vata-Kapha imbalances that are usually long

standing and difficult to treat. A classic example of such a condition is

arthritis, which involves painful, dry joints (a vata condition) along with

swollen and inflamed joints (a kapha condition). Ashwagandha would be the

medicine of choice in such a condition as it balances both the vata and kapha

aspects of this imbalance. Ashwagandha is also indicated in many other

conditions that combine vata and kapha imbalances.

Traditionally, Ashwagandha was used to treat: generaldebility, arthritis,

depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depressed immunity, sexual

debility, infertility, memory loss, breathing difficulties, hormonal imbalances

and more. Because of it's powerful status as a rasayana it can stand on its own

for any of the conditions mentioned above.

It is used very effectively for insomnia, but not as a sedative. Its

rejuvenative and nervous system restorative properties provide the body with

the energy (prana) which is needed by the body to settle itself down and sleep.

In this way its adaptogenic properties help the body deal with a stress-related

condition rather than mask it with a sedative.

In Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is considered a sweet root. Inancient times herbs were

classified by their taste. The sweet taste allows the herb to penetrate into

the deeper tissues of the body. The sweet taste would open the tissues rather

than constrict them. Very bitter roots would constrict and cleanse, but not

deeply access and rejuvenate the body like Ashwagandha. Its secondary taste of

bitter and astringent would stimulate a deep tissue cleansing and rejuvenation

that would not be possible with an aggressive bitter herb. Also because of its

sweet taste, Ashwagandha is considered a heavy herb and it may be necessary to

take it with meals or with ginger to effectively digest it. A typical dose is

250 mg TID. Toxicity is not usually encountered with Ashwagandha. The LD-50 is

1076 mg/kg.7

Ashwagandha. Winter cherry, in English, Withania somnifera is sometimes referred

to as Indian Ginseng, making reference to its nervous system rejuvenative and

tonic actions. Numerous studies have exhibited its anti-stress adaptogenic

properties, many of which demonstrated superior adaptogenic properties than

that of Ginseng. It is quickly becoming well known as an herb for energy,

endurance and stress.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/2002 10:24:32 AM Eastern Standard Time,

fschmidt writes:

 

Jaya Jagganath

 

Namaste Frank,

 

Ojas is not to be confused with Shukra dhatu. I will answer more on this

tomorrow.

 

Thanks for John Douillard's great article on Ashwaghanda and there are other

ways to build Ojas but you are right, Ashwaghanda is great for that. More

tomorrow.

 

Regards,

Brendan

 

 

> Namaste,

>

> This email may be for Brendan ( due to his Ayurvedic experience) , yet

> wondered if anyone can

> add some insight on Ojas and Aswangada + the Graha that lords Ojas ( I

> will assume it is Venus , due to its

> most refined nature, and owner of semen)

>

> According to Ayurveda, there are seven tissues in the body resembling

> enzymatic and anabolic

> processes of the body. The seventh and most refined tissue of the body

> is called "Ojas" which governs the reproduction and immunity of the

> body. These are two of the most highly specialized functions of the body

> that are essential to keep the species ongoing. Ashwagandha is one of a

> very few herbs that increase the Ojas of the body and therefore support

> these essential functions.

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/15/2002 10:24:32 AM Eastern Standard Time,

fschmidt writes:

 

Om Krishna Guru

 

Dear Frank,

 

Ojas maintains the very health of the body and is to be found in all the

dhatus/tissues. It gives the body its immunity to disease and when ojas is

strong the individual will rarely have problems with health. Like ghee is the

essence of milk, ojas is the essence of the dhatus. It is the end product of

digestion.

 

The product of digestion in the digestive tract is referred to as ahara rasa

and this provides nutrition for all the dhatus. Ahara rasa is transformed by

the special agni of each dhatu and the dhatu by products and waste products

are produced and Ojas is also created in the process. Tejas of the dhatu agni

is involved in this creation of ojas. So we can see that healthy ojas is

intimately realted to Jathar Agni and dhatu Agni, the digestive fire

throughout the body.

 

This transformation goes on in each dhatu and hence we have rasa ojas, rakta

ojas, etc, for the seven dhatus. See my SJVC article (nov 2001) on "Jyotish &

Ayurveda" for further understanding of the dhatus and grahas, etc.

 

Ojas then is the essence of all the dhatus and all physiological biological

processes. Now if ojas is deficient in any one of the dhatus, then it means

that the health of that dhatu or bodily system will be impaired.

 

To give Ashwaghanda to increase ojas is not enough. You must always address

Agni first in treating disease. This is the first consideration, for to give

rejuvenative herbs to rebuild the dhatus will not bring the results if all

the Agnis are ignored. This is the essence of Ayurveda in practice... restore

Agni in the digestive tract and in the dhatus. Ashwaghanda would be wasted if

Agni is not restored first.

 

Ojas gives peace, happiness, insight and a sense of spiritual well being and

even bliss when in balance.

 

Yes, over indulgence in sexual activity will deplete ojas but so will poor

eating habits, wrong thinking, lack of happiness, emotional suppression, etc.

Moderation is the key as well as the proper understanding about the true

purpose of human life.

 

Now, how should we look at this in a chart? What are the factors that bring

about Oja dushti? Is there one factor or is it a priority of factors? In my

view, Venus is not the most important factor.

 

Regards,

Brendan

 

> Namaste,

>

> This email may be for Brendan ( due to his Ayurvedic experience) , yet

> wondered if anyone can

> add some insight on Ojas and Aswangada + the Graha that lords Ojas ( I

> will assume it is Venus , due to its

> most refined nature, and owner of semen)

>

> According to Ayurveda, there are seven tissues in the body resembling

> enzymatic and anabolic

> processes of the body. The seventh and most refined tissue of the body

> is called "Ojas" which governs the reproduction and immunity of the

> body. These are two of the most highly specialized functions of the body

> that are essential to keep the species ongoing. Ashwagandha is one of a

> very few herbs that increase the Ojas of the body and therefore support

> these essential functions.

>

>