According to Ayurveda, bone health is fundamental to overall well-being. The system views bones not just as structural components but as integral parts of the body’s complex network of tissues and energies.
Bone Health - Ask Me Anything (AMA) session by Dr Nami
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The Ayurvedic View of Bone
Bone is asthi, which is derived from the word "stable". This reflects bone's primary function: providing stability and support to the body. According to Ayurveda, asthi is one of the seven dhatus or tissues that make up the body’s structure. These dhatus, formed in a specific order, are:
- Rasa (nutrition)
- Rakta (blood)
- Mamsa (muscle)
- Meda (fat)
- Asthi (bone)
- Majja (marrow)
- Shukra (reproductive fluids)
The formation and depletion of these tissues occur in a specific sequence. The quality of each dhatu affects the subsequent one. For instance, if rasa (nutrition) obtained from food is not proper, the rakta (blood) will be deficient, which in turn affects mamsa (muscle) and so on. This means that maintaining healthy bones starts with proper nutrition.
The Importance of Dhatu Formation
The body’s tissues are formed in a specific order, starting with rasa (nutrition) and culminating in shukra (reproductive fluids). The health of each dhatu is dependent on the preceding one. If nutrition is poor, then the blood, muscle, fat, and ultimately, the bone will all be affected. This highlights the crucial importance of a balanced diet for strong and healthy bones.
Bone Health and Ayurvedic Practice
Managing bone health involves a holistic approach that incorporates diet, lifestyle and treatments. Specific diet and lifestyle recommendations will depend on an individual's prakriti, or constitution. The focus is on maintaining the balance of the doshas. If all dhatus are in balance, then naturally bone health will also improve.
Questions and Answers
What is the Ayurvedic perspective on bone health?
Ayurveda views bones as part of the seven dhatus, essential tissues which form the structure of the body. The health of bones is dependent on the health of other tissues, particularly the quality of nutrition and blood.
Can you explain the term ‘asthi’?
Asthi is the Ayurvedic term for bone. The word comes from "stable," and reflects the function of bone to provide stability to the body.
Ayurveda's Holistic Approach
Ayurveda's approach to bone health extends beyond just looking at bones in isolation. It integrates diet, lifestyle, and treatment in a holistic approach to health, which takes into account individual prakriti, and the specific conditions a person is experiencing. The concept of dhatu formation highlights the importance of proper nutrition, starting from the first stage of digestion, for healthy bones.
The Ayurvedic understanding of bone health goes far beyond just calcium intake, focusing on the interplay between all bodily tissues and processes. By emphasizing a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle, and personalised treatments, Ayurveda offers a comprehensive approach for maintaining strong and healthy bones, and a path to overall wellbeing.