Ojas in Ayurveda and the GM of herbs

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(Dear list members there was an error in the last posting of this piece by Dr

Bhate, this is the correct version, thank you for your understanding.)

 

 

 

Earlier posts on genetic modification of ayurvedic herbs throw up certain

limitations in our understanding of ayurveda.

 

The moves for genetic modifications are in accordance with the prediction of

Charaka a millennium ago (Post # 12770). In this view, we look at the materia

medica only leaving out remaining living world including the self. While

ayurveda treats every individual as unique, requiring patient specific herbal

combinations, the GM experiments assume a unique spectrum of chemical make up to

have a unique healing property. However, Ayurveda truly integrates science and

spirituality. Man should try to modify his own genes first, so that he improves

his own immunity and his love towards others, rather than producing plants and

herbs which are immune to certain pests/reproducing faster/giving better yields.

 

Ayurveda is not just a few samhitas or texts containing disease definitions,

herbal properties and recommendations for their use as medicines. It is the

science of life, showing how all can live in health and happiness without

exploiting others. The genesis of ayurveda is not found in the laboratory but in

the spiritual vibrations perceived by the soul. This view is predominantly

brought out in several posts (#11452, 11511, 12502, 12617, 12695, 12770,

12925). In sharp contrast, allopathy is a laboratory based science, trying to

exploit and optimize nature for satisfying greed and making profits. It is this

motive that brings in the GM patented food, seeds and molecules. Why degrade the

divine science of ayurveda to a laboratory science driven by greed rather than

love and sacrifice? When we ingest any herb the affectionate sacrifice without

material benefit is already implied. In sharp contrast,when we ingest the sugar

coated tablet of modern science the thoughts which enter are " I want to kill

this virus/bacteria/fungus/mycoplasm with this medicine, so that I become

symptom free " . The idea of symptom is in the mind, not the disease root. We wish

to kill the organism and symptom caused by it. How can a thought of killing give

us health?

 

The basis of ayurveda's disease causation theories and healing forces, are ama

and ojas. When we use herbs, we borrow their ojas to repair our deficiencies.

Let us try to recapitulate what ojas actually is. Ojas is the by-product of a

healthy, efficient, contented physiology. It is the " juice " that remains after

food has been properly metabolized. When we are producing ojas, it means all our

organs have integrated vitality and we are receiving the nourishment our mind

and body need. Our whole being hums with good vibrations because we are

producing and feeling bliss, not pain. However, when our agni isn't working

properly, we do not produce ojas. Instead, our food, thoughts and feelings turn

into ama. Ama is the opposite of ojas. Ama creates the disease and ojas helps

heal that disease. Ojas is the subtle glue that cements the body, mind and

spirit together, integrating them into a perfectly functioning individual.

 

According to ayurveda, ojas is a refined substance which the body produces from

the most subtle level of proper digestion. Ojas brings strength, strong

immunity, happiness, and contentment. At the foundation of our immune system is

ojas, the body's vital essence. The glue of the universe, the quiet essence of

our digestive system. All living things can have and give ojas.

 

For instance, a wheat plant which begins life as a delicate green blade that

emerges from a seed, draws the vital energy from the five basic elements of

nature. This plant is able to transmute the essence of the five elements into a

form that we can eat, a form that allows us to gain strength. While mother

delivers the baby, she passes on part of her ojas to the baby through her milk.

When sperm and ovum unite, the ojas of respective parents is passed on to the

baby. Thus when we carry out modifications in genes, it is ojas we are

manipulating. Ojas is love manifested in nature. Through love, all life on our

planet is sustained. Drs Lad and Frawley, in their book " Yoga of herbs " , say

that ojas is the energy and love contained in a living system. The ojas of a

plant can be used to heal. However, to be effective the herbal remedy must be

prepared with love. That is the reason the fresh juices offer most powerful

cure.

 

Love is the bedrock of wellness.

 

Plants can transmit ojas when used with love. Remedies produced with love, even

when not " therapeutically sound " may work wonders. Love is the true healing

force, herbs and other means are merely vehicles. This was the essence of

earlier postings on magic and mysticism in herbs. Thinking on these lines will

clarify why fruits ripened on trees contain more nutrition, babies breast fed

for long time are healthier in body as well as mind.

 

In " Love, Medicine and Miracles " (N.Y., Harper Trade Books, 1986) Dr. Bernie, S.

Siegel cites a direct correlation between love and a patient's ability to heal.

The married patients he treats have a higher recovery rate than those who are

unmarried. They have a greater capacity for fighting off disease. His studies

also show that single elderly people who have a pet live longer. In effect, love

and companionship strengthen the immune system. In the body, love establishes

harmony by soothing and increasing the ojas.

 

According to ayurveda, ojas is the finest of all expressions, the seed of the

maternal essence of physiology. Ojas is the most powerful rejuvenator of the

heart, mind, body and spirit and is pure awareness or transcendence, which is

manifested in love. [Medical astrology treats the origin of love in the sign of

cancer, which represents a mother's love and the mother's milk available to the

child.] Perhaps this explains why a mother often remains in perfect health when

cold and flu epidemics are going around everywhere else.

 

The intense love and caring she gives out while healing her family, increases

her own strength and endurance. Is it possible to increase or decrease her

healing capacity by modifying her genes? Good health

which a vaidya enjoys also depends on his motherly love for every patient. In

post #4622 the author provides an example of a grandma aged 72 as an example

from real life.

 

When we think of genetic modification of ayurvedic herbs, we realize we are

modifying the genes of the mother in the form of the herb whose healing capacity

is hidden in their unique love producing genetic make up. If " Love " is God

according to every religion on earth, man is trying to become God while

modifying genes.

 

Is it necessary for God to alter his own creation?

 

Ojas is made in the body when digestion is optimal. We are more efficient in

producing ojas, when we meditate or pray. When we are involved in such

practices, we achieve a state of pure awareness. Health and happiness are

by-products of an independent and unbound mind. Osho calls this a " no mind "

situation. The receptivity of our awareness kindled by meditation or prayer

allows healing forces to enter our body. The meditator becomes both the healer

and the healed, just as a mother is both the nurturer and nurtured one. As

Maharshi Mahesh yogi once said, " All love is directed towards the self " .

 

Dr Lad calls Ojas the subtle energetic part of Kapha. Ojas deals with

reproduction, the most unrefined of endocrine secretions, since the endocrine

fluid is created from the reproductive fluid. Ojas also

governs energy reserves and is found in the testes, ovaries and adrenals.

Without knowing it, the modern scientists have already corrupted the ojas by

disturbing the hormones of the present generation. Precocious puberty, obesity,

PCOS, ovarian drilling, C-sections, diabetes, adrenal exhaustion, CFS, ...the

list is endless.

 

Ojas is the innate capacity of the immune system, its tool box and energy

supply, to come back into balance. The most destructive influence of a disturbed

ojas is on the immune system.

 

In " Yoga of herbs " Drs Vasant Lad and Frawley opine that the semen or

reproductive tissue is the essence of all bodily tissues and contains within

itself not only the power of reproduction but also that of

rejuvenation. The essence of the body, the cream of the semen, is called ojas,

meaning " that which invigorates " . Ojas is thus the essence of the body, the

substance of all hormonal secretions and it totally supports the auto-immune

system. By corrupting the ojas, we have given rise to several auto-immune

disorders and a long list of chronic diseases. Most of these disease conditions

are caused by candida, fungus or mycoplasms whose seat of residence in the body

is close to the sites where ojas operates (reproductive tissues).

 

Several ayurvedic texts have vividly described the factor of immunity in terms

of 'vyadhiksamatva' which is considered the natural or acquired biological power

of an individual and which protects him/her from all disease. This defensive

power is attributed to the presence of a biological factor called ojas.

According to ayurveda, loss or corruption of ojas is responsible for

progressively wasting disorders. Ojas, the creamy by-product of the shukra

dhatu, is ultimate strength of the body. Debility, wastage, fear, depression, a

feeling of wretchedness, loss of coordination in sense and motor organs

(Parkinson's, M.S., etc) are all signs of damage to ojas.

 

One type of shukra dhatu (probably related to steroidal sex hormones) is present

all over the body and is responsible for strength, vitality and glow while

another type, beej-shukra, is responsible for sperm or ovum production. Shukra

dhatu develops only after complete formation of majja dhatu (bone marrow). In

Post #7104 author identifies ojas with bio-energy stored in the chakras.

Energy-depleted cells become malignant cells, while revitalizing the patient

with energy from nature and anti-oxidants builds his immunity and obtain the

cure. When ojas is strong tumors become dormant.

 

Ayurveda also describes a number of methods to promote ojas and vyadhiksamatva.

The entire Rasayana tantra of Ayurveda is closely related to this context. All

foods with sweet vipaka including milk, ghee, raw sugar, dates, sweet fruits,

herbs such as aswagandha, shatawari, vidarikanda, Medha Rasayanas such as

shilajit, brahmi, shankhpushpi, amala are useful to build ojas. Vegetarian food

is considered a good source for building ojas.

 

It needs to be noted that a person who lives a life in harmony with nature can

build ojas using yoga, breathing, meditation and simple food. It is not

essential that he must take the Rasyanas. His metabolism will convert even the

simplest diet into high energy ojas, as driven by lifestyle. The cow converts

grass into ojas, does not need any Vajikaran rasayanas. That one needs highly

dense nutrient rich food for longevity is a myth.

 

Instead of modifying herbs to increase their healing power we should build ojas

using not only herbs and food but also meditation, pranayama etc. By boosting

ojas, one can avoid many chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes, CAD, etc.

 

A simple powerful rejuvenator is the large size Haritaki, used after removing

its seed and powdering the dried fruit. 5 Grams powder should be taken after

dinner. It should be mixed with equal weight of other substances which depends

on the season. In Varsha rutu rock salt, in Sharad rutu crystal sugar, in Hemant

rutu dry ginger powder, in Shishir rutu long peeper, in Vasant honey and in

Grishma jaggery or raw sugar are recommended. Hemant rutu has started and will

last another seven weeks.

 

Whenever we wish to enrich ayurveda by taking a cue from modern science, one

guiding principle should be kept in mind. Recent research indicates that most

personality traits, sexual orientation, anti-social behaviour and states of

health, are to a great extent determined during fetal life.

 

It is time to cease contrasting genetic and environmental factors. We now

understand that the expression of our genes is influenced by early -

particularly prenatal and perinatal - environmental factors. We may find critics

in west when ayurveda proposes pusavan procedure around 10th week of pregnancy.

However, on one hand, the role of genetic factors in sexual orientation is well

researched and on the other hand there is accumulation of data confirming that

the sexualisation of the brain is to a great extent determined during fetal

life. Ayurveda was already aware of these forces and hence has proposed several

guidelines on the environment and lifestyle of a pregnant woman. Modern science

merely confirms what ayurveda knew centuries ago. This higher spiritual science

should not be tampered with unless modern science has also accumulated centuries

of experience and understanding on the subject, to authorize such a revision.

 

Editing help from Jane MacRoss is gratefully acknowledged.

 

Dr Bhate

 

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