What is Ojas? How To Increase Ojas During Health And Disease?

What is Ojus?

It is a concept explained in Ayurveda at the intersection of physical, mental and spiritual health.
Ojus is a quantifiable liquid in the body, responsible for overall health, energy and liveliness. It is both a mental and physical factor.
It is responsible for
– Health maintenance and health promotion
– Fight disease
– Prevent disease

Ojus is the essence part of all the body tissues.
Rasa – nutritious part of food that reaches blood from gut
Rakta – blood tissue
Mamsa – muscle tissue
Meda – fat tissue
Asthi – bone
Majja – bone marrow
Shukra – reproductive system
Sushruta Sutrasthana 22/19

Though it can be quantified, it can not be seen or compared to any elements in the body. Some compare Ojas to white blood cells. At the best, it can be said as a partial comparison.

Definition of Ojas as per Charaka – The one which dwells in the heart and is predominantly white, yellowish and reddish in color is known as Ojas of the body:pro
If the Ojas is destroyed, the human being will also perish. The form in which the Ojas is produced in the body of human beings for the first time has the color of ghee; taste of honey and smell of fried paddy (Laja).
As the bees collect honey from the fruits and flowers, similarly the Ojas is collected in the body, by the actions, qualities, habits and diet of human being. Reference: Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 17/76 

Heart, the Seat of Ojas

Reference:  Charaka Samhita Sutrasthana 30

The heart is indispensable for all the normal mental and physical activities. In the heart, resides Para Ojas – the superior Ojas, which controls the mind. This is why, the physicians have designated the heart as ‘Hridaya’, ‘Mahat’ and ‘Artha’

Qualities of Ojas

Snigdha – unctuous, oily
Somatmaka – watery
Shuddha – clear (transparent),
Ishat Lohita Peetakam – slight reddish yellow in colour;

10 qualities of Ojas:
Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 24/31
Guru – heaviness
Sita – cold
Mrudu – softness
Slaksna – smoothness
Bahala – density
Madhura – sweetness
Sthira – Stability
Prassanna – clearness or leisureliness
Picchila – Sliminess and
Snigdha – unctuousness

Examples

Say, someone has got pancreatitis. Doctor gives medicines and patient takes it. Ojas is that factor of the body that digests the medicines, takes it to the target organ, and does the healing, with the help of medicines.
A person with good quantity of Ojas is lesser prone to cold, cough, fever etc when compared to another, with lesser Ojas.

A person with good control of mind, who follows stringent Brahmacharya.
A person with good memory and concentration has more Ojas.
A person with spiritual beliefs and practice has more Ojas.
A person who eats in limited quantities, who has good control over anger, jealous etc has more Ojus.
A person who exercises and has a well built body has more ojas.

Symptoms of depletion of Ojas

Depletion of Ojas is explained in three stages: (su su 15/24)

Stage 1: Ojo Visramsa

Features are –
Sandhi Vishlesha – multiple joint pain, lack of strength in joints
Gatra Sada – fatigue, malaise
Dosha chyavana – increase of Doshas
Kriya Sannirodha – Lack of normal functioning of body

Stage 2: Ojavyapth

Sthabda gurugatrata – stiffness and heaviness of the body
Vatashopha – edema due to increase of Vata Dosha
Varna bheda – skin discolouration
Glani – fatigue
Tandra – malaise, improper functioning of sense organs.
Nidra – excess sleepiness

Stage 3: Ojokshaya

Murcha – unconsciousness
Mamsa kshaya – lack of muscle mass
Moha – delusion
Pralapa – irrelevant talk
Marana – death

How to increase Ojas? 

Regular intake of ghee, milk, and such other nutrition rich food.
Yoga, Pranayama, exercises, physical activities.
Mental exercises to improve concentration.
Prayer, Homa, Pooja and such other spiritual practices.
Being pious, righteous.
Medicines like Saraswatarishta

How to improve ojas in a kapha person?
There is a reference stating that Kapha in its normal state, itself acts as Bala (immune power). Kapha person is usually better nourished when compared to Vata or Pitta person. So, his overall body built, nourishment rates are relatively good. Best way for him to improve Ojas is to maintain his Kapha dosha in the right balance. As he is already Kapha body type, he tends to get more Kapha accumulated. He needs to control it. If it goes out of control, it may lead to Kapha disorders like over-nourishment, obesity, respiratory disorders etc. He can control it by
– regular exercise
– Limited diet / diet control.
– Active lifestyle
– Seasonal Vamana Panchakarma treatment (Emesis therapy)
– Use of Tulasi, Long pepper and such other Kapha balancing herbs, which he can choose in consultation with a doctor.

Factors which decrease Ojas

Food and medicine that might decrease Ojas –
Anger, grief, negative attitude.
Excessively salty, pungent and bitter diet.
Ayurvedic medicines containing Kshara. Of course Kshara is required in some cases, but intake of such medicine over a long period of time would cause Ojas depletion. (reference: Ashtanga Hridayam)
One who takes very less quantity of food over a long period of time, will have depleted ojas. But that does not mean that over-eating will increase ojas. Proper quantity of food, that digests easily, neither more nor less, increases ojas.

When Vata and Kapha are decreased then, Pitta causes vitiation of Ojas, leading to Glani (debility), Indriya Daurbalya (weakness of sense organs), Trushna (excessive thirst), Murcha (fainting), Kriya kshayam – depleted body functions.-Charaka Sutrasthana 17

High Pitta causes burnout of body tissues -> depletion of body tissues -> ojas depletion

Sattvic food

Sattvic food is very important for building Ojas.
Yes. But it applies to a healthy person only. Sattvic refers to light. Tamasik refers to darkness. 
From a spiritual perspective, non veg, fish, garlic and onion are considered to be Tamasik. (opposite to Sattvik.) But in few diseases, non veg food / medicines with non veg ingredient, garlic, onion etc are used as medicine. In such a condition, for such a patient, these do help in improving their Ojas.

But, doesn’t sattvic food in general have a sweet vipaka?
Yes. many food that are Sattvic are sweet in nature.

If yes, will sweet vipaka affect blood sugar levels? If yes, do diabetics have no way of building up ojas?
If a food tends to increase ojas, it should always be understood that it does so, only when it is taken in a limited quantity.
It does not mean that the same food in higher quantities will improve Ojas. Any type of food in more quantity than required tends to vitiate Tridosha and the disease process. It becomes more a cause for disease, than a cause for health (or ojus).

In diabetes, which is a disease condition as per Ayurveda, herbs like Guduchi, Neem, Triphala etc are Sattvic. They help to improve Ojas. So, a diabetic person can improve ojas by taking any such herbs. Amla is another great food ingredient for diabetic people to increase Ojas. Many of the Ayurvedic formulations like Mehari Choornam, Nishamalaki Choornam etc contain Amla as the main ingredient. So, apart from promoting health and immunity, Amla also helps control blood sugar levels.

Like I said before, Ojas is the essence of all the body tissues. So, exercise would improve muscle and body strength and will also cause increase of Ojas.

Hence, exercise is an excellent means to improve Ojas for a diabetic patient.

Cause for decrease of Ojas 

Ojas undergoes decrease in quantity by anger, hunger (starvation), worry, grief, exertion.
Too much exercise
Fasting for long periods of time
Eating less quantities of food
Intake of alcoholic beverages which cause dryness,
Intake of mixture of good and bad foods,
Fear
Waking up at night, skipping night sleep,
Injury,
Assault by evil spirits; micro organisms like bacteria, virus etc,
Depletion of tissues such as by haemorrhage,
Too much elimination of Kapha, blood, semen and waste products,
Ingestion of  poison.

Increase of Ojas makes for contentment, nourishment of the body and increase of strength.

Symptoms of Ojas decrease

The person becomes fretful, fear complex,
debilitated, constant weakness,
Repeatedly worries without any reason, feels discomfort in sense organs, develops bad complexion, negative thoughts and dryness;
Vyathita Indriya – affliction of sense organs with pain,
Dushchaya – loss of complexion,
Durmana -cheerless, depressed mood,
Rooksha – dryness, roughness and
Kshaama – emaciation.

Another reader asks – Home remedy to improve ojas for Vata Pitta person?
For Vata Pitta person, there is nothing better than ghee to increase Ojas. As per Ayurveda, cow ghee balances Vata and Pitta and it also improves Ojas. So, for people with such body type, regular (but limited) use of ghee in diet is recommended. Amla is also good in controlling Vata and Pitta.

Ojas and its importance

It is the Ojas which keeps all the living beings nourished and refreshed.
There can be no life without Ojas.
Ojas marks the beginning of the formation of embryo. It is the nourishing fluid from the embryo. It enters the heart right at the stage of the embryo’s initial formation.
Loss of Ojas amounts to the loss of life itself.
It sustains the life and is located in the heart.
It constitutes the essence of all the Dhatus (tissues).
The Elan Vital owes its existence to it. But all this action of Ojas manifests itself in different ways, by flowing through the 10 vessels (channels) attached to it. Hence, these 10 channels attached to the heart is also very important.

Tips for preservation of Ojas

Those who want to preserve Ojas and maintain heart and the vessels in good condition, should avoid such factors that lead to unhappiness (worries, stress).
Diets and medicine which are conducive to the heart (Hrudya) should be taken.
The herbs that maintain good health of Srotas (body channels) should be taken.

Healthy Kapha = Ojas

• Kapha in its natural state promotes strength in the form of Ojas.
• When in morbid condition, it takes the form of excreta and causes misery. –
• Charaka Sutrasthana 17/117

Kapha Dosha qualities that are similar to Ojas 

• Cushioning
• Structure
• Stability
• Compactness
• Heaviness
• Shleshma – Shlish Alingane – which binds, hugs, which brings stability
• Nourishing
• Bulk of the body is formed due to Kapha Dosha.

Place of Ojas and place of Kapha

• Heart is the place of Ojas.
• Ura sthana – heart and lungs area is said to be the place of Kapha.
• Avalambaka type of Kapha resides in heart. It keeps the heart stable despite the continuous and heavy workload of the heart.
• Kapha forms the stratum or base upon which Vata does division and movements and Pitta carries out metabolism.

Heart is the place of Ojas
The heart is indispensable for all the normal mental and physical activities. In the heart, resides Para Ojas – the superior Ojas, which controls the mind. This is why, the physicians have designated the heart as ‘Hridaya’, ‘Mahat’ and ‘Artha – Charaka Sutrasthana 30/6-7

Types of Ojas

अर्धाञ्जलिपरिमितस्यौजसो धमन्य एव हृदयाश्रिताः स्थानम्| तथा प्रमेहेऽर्धाञ्जलिपरिमितमेवौजः क्षीयते नाष्टबिन्दुकम्,
Chakrapani Teeka on Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 30/6-7

• Ojas is said to be of two types.

Para Ojas

• greater importance, life is dependent on it
• stable component
• 8 drops in quantity
• Resides in heart

Apara Ojas

• Lesser importance, health is dependent on it
• Mobile component
• Ardha Anjali  Pramana – volume of a fist ( 10 -15ml)
• Circulates all over the body

Formation of Ojas

The one which dwells in the heart and is predominantly white, yellowish and reddish in color is known as Ojas of the body:
If the Ojas is destroyed, the human being will also perish.
Ojas is the first thing formed in the body. Charaka Sutra 30/74-75

Ojus has
–color of ghee;
–taste of honey and
–smell of fried paddy (Laja).

Simile for Ojus formation
As the bees collect honey from the fruits and flowers, similarly the Ojas is collected in the body, by the actions, qualities, habits and diet of human being. Cha. Su. 30

Ojas and its importance

• It is the Ojas which keeps all the living begins nourished and refreshed.
  There can be no life without Ojas.
  Ojas marks the beginning of the formation of embryo.
• It is the nourishing fluid from the embryo. It enters the heart right at the stage of the embryo’s initial formation.
• Loss of Ojas amounts to the loss of life itself.
  It sustains the life and is located in the heart.
  It constitutes the essence of all the Dhatus (tissues).
• The Prana – vital energy owes its existence to Ojas.
• Action of Ojas manifests itself in different ways, by flowing through the 10 vessels (channels) attached to heart. – Cha. su. 30

Factors responsible for Ojas

Factors responsible for Ojas

Food

1. Food -प्राणिनां पुनर्मूलमाहारो बलवर्णौजसां च |Su.Su.1
Food is the root cause for
–Bala – strength, immunity
–Varna – skin complexion, aura
–Ojas
Food is the reason for well being of all body tissues.
Ojas = essence of all body tissues.
Inadequate food or low quality food = low body tissues = low Ojas

Shukra Dhatu

2. Shukra dhatu = reproductive system + hormones, semen, ovum
Some authors consider Ojas as Upadhatu (sub product of Shukra Dhatu).
Hence, Brahmacharya, disciplined lifestyle leads to better concentration, better utilization of energy -> better quality of Ojas.

Rasa Dhatu

3. Rasa Dhatu – nutritive part of food that enters blood stream from digestive tract.
Rasa dhatu further nourishes all the other Dhatus.
If Rasa Dhatu is of bad quality, then all the other Dhatus will be hampered.
Low quality Dhatus (tissues) =low quality ojas.

Rakta Dhatu

4. Rakta –blood is known as Jeeva – cause for life.
The function of Rakta is told as Jeevana – living.
It forms the base for white blood cells, which are the back bone for immunity.

Medo Dhatu

5. Medo Dhatu
The flow of nutrition across Dhatus –
Rasa -> rakta(blood) -> mamsa (muscle tissue) -> Meda (fat) -> Asthi (bone) ->Majja (bone marrow) -> Shukra(reproductive system).
If Medodhatu is over nourished, then there will be obstruction to the flow of nutrition to successive Dhatus.
This will lead to low quality bone, marrow and shukra -> low quality Ojas.

The flow of nutrition across Dhatus –
Rasa -> rakta(blood) -> mamsa (muscle tissue) -> Meda (fat) -> Asthi (bone) ->Majja (bone marrow) -> Shukra(reproductive system).
If Medodhatu is over nourished, then there will be obstruction to the flow of nutrition to successive Dhatus.
This will lead to low quality bone, marrow and shukra -> low quality Ojas.

Agni

6. Agni – digestion strength and Pitta
Proper agni -> proper digestion and effective extraction and absorption of nutrition from food by the body.
-> good nourishment of all the body tissues
-> good ojas.
Hence, regular use of turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, etc spices is very useful.

Vata Dosha

7. Vata Dosha:
Pranavata – good respiration – good amount of oxygen supply-> good quality of organs
Apana Vata – good excretion process –good healthy maintenance of body organs. = good ojas.

Mamsa Dhatu

8. Mamsa – muscle tissue
Good quality muscle maintenance with good exercise and healthy food choices -> good controlled fat tissue -> uniform distribution of nutrition across all Dhatus
Hence, regular exercise also contributes to good Ojas.
Excessive exercise is not healthy, as only the muscle tissue will be over nourished, depriving nutrition to the other tissues.

Qualities of substances that promote Ojas

1. Ushna – hotness
Useful when there is low digestion and metabolism (Low agni).
Low Agni = low quality dhatu = low quality ojas
Hence, spices in moderate quantities lead to good ojas.

2. Heaviness and bulkiness –
Suggests toward strong and sturdy body tissues
Hence, good amounts of ghee, fats and oils promote ojas.

3. Mind calming substances and activities
Prasanna is a quality of Ojas.
Pranayama, Yoga
Loving relationship
Disciplined life and relationship
Control and restraint over excessive sexual urge
Compassion towards fellow living beings (may all be happy and prosperous)
Positive attitude
All these are very necessary for good immunity.
Worrying, negative mindset, depression -> lack of ojas -> lack of immunity

Ayurvedic medicines to increase Ojas

Ayurvedic medicines to increase Ojas:
Rasayana – rejuvenating, anti ageing medicines
Their main purpose is to restore proper utilization of nutrition from body tissues. Chyawanprash
Improves Agni – digestion strength
Has wide range of herbs to support all body tissues.
Brahma Rasayana, Amalaka rasayana
Guduchi – Giloy – Tinospora cordifolia,
Amla – Indian gooseberry
Ashwagandha – Indian ginseng – Withania somnifera,
Shatavari – Asparagus racemosus
Triphala

Vata balancing, nerve strengthening medicines
Ashwagandharishta
Balarishta
Ashwagandhadi lehyam
Ksheerabala taila
Balaswagandhadi taila
Maharaja Prasarini taila

Aphrodisiacs – Shukra Dhatu promoting
Shilajit
Ashwagandharishta
Mahakalyanaka ghrita
Bhringarajasava
Kaunch Pak

Mind calming medicines, anti depressants
Maha Kalyanaka Ghrita, Brahmi Ghrita
Saraswata Churna, Saraswatarishta
Brahmi Vati, Manasamitra vatakam

Fat reducing medicines (anti obesity medicines)
Ayaskriti, Medohara Guggulu,
Navaka Guggulu
Triphala Guggulu
Disease specific treatment and medicines
Restores normalcy of Dhatus = restoration of ojas.

FAQs

As I understood, Ojas is not physical part that resides in body? not visible? how modern medicine called ojas?
Ojas does exist within the body but it has not been correlated as per modern terms. It is related to immunity.
So, as per modern medicine, there is no one thing, which can be totally compared to ojas.
But healthy nutrition, good state of mind and good state of immunity – all contribute to ojas.

What is the impact of someone having gastric bypass to deal with obesity..is ojas improved or diminished?
In obese persons – only fat tissue sucks up all the nutrition and deprives nutrition to other tissues (Dhatu) -> depleted tissues -> depleted Ojas.
Even after gastric bypass, there is still a threat of stomach regaining its large shape.
To eat healthy, good amount of exercise -> good Ojas
Any treatment / surgery / medicine – that restores health and boosts immunity -> promotes ojas.

When u say sweet is required to increase ojas, what  sweets its mean?
Like sugar or jaggery or honey or other sweets?
Sweetness is a quality of Ojas. (1 among 10 qualities).
Hence, the food that are sweet, such as sugar candy, jaggery, honey, ghee, milk – all these contribute to good ojas in a healthy individual
Sweet has nourishing quality – nourishes all tissues – > good ojas.

Contributed by Dr Raghuram:

Ojus is a dhatu or upadhatu?

Ojus is the essence of all the dhatus and is formed after the Shukra. Ojus having all the essential ingredients and essence of all the tissues embedded in it represents the gross immunity of an individual. If all the dhatus are balanced in terms of quality and quantity, the ojas too will be formed and balanced in a good way. The salient features like vigor, vitality, charm and intelligence of an individual are based on this ojus.

Being primarily located in the hridaya or heart, it is spread out all over the body through circulation and maintains the health and integrity of the body. If ojus is stable we live and if it is unstable it leads to death.

Ojus is not a dhatu because though it satisfies the criteria of shareera dharana (formation and maintenance of the body), it doesn’t nourish any other dhatu (which is fulfilled by all the dhatus).

Ojus is also not an upadhatu because it is not nourished by any single dhatu (as happens in all upadhatus). In fact, ojus is the essence or extract of all the dhatus and carries in it traces of all the dhatus. It is a sum average of all the dhatus. Some authors though have considered ojus as a sub-tissue or upadhatu of shukra or semen.

Ojas as per Late. Dr L Mahadevan

तत्र रसादीनां शुक्रान्तानां धातूनां यत् परं तेजस्तत् खल्वोजस्तदेव बलमित्युच्यते, Sushruta Samhita Sutrasthana 15/19
Ojas has tejas – fire element

ओजः सोमात्मकं स्निग्धं शुक्लं शीतं स्थिरं सरम् | विविक्तं मृदु मृत्स्नं च प्राणायतनमुत्तमम् ||२१|| देहः सावयवस्तेन व्याप्तो भवति देहिनः | तदभावाच्च शीर्यन्ते शरीराणि शरीरिणाम् ||२२|| Sushruta Sutrasthana 15/21-22

Ojas is somatmaka – It has water or cooling qualities as well.
Man has prolactin, FSH. When prolactin increases, it causes gynecomastia.
Woman has Testosterone. When testosterone increases, it causes PCOS.
So, in all human beings, the cooling and heating elements exist in balance.

Ojas is represented as Agni. But this agni has sheeta (coolant) and Snigdha – unctuous qualities. The heat component is kept under check due to the coolant property.

The entire world is made of heating and cooling components. सौम्याग्नेयत्वाज्जगतः – Sushruta Sutrasthana 36/5

In the context of ghee and Agni
स्नेहमेव परं विद्याद्दुर्बलानलदीपनम्||६८|| Ashtanga Hrudayam Chikitsa Sthana 10/68
Sneha (oil or ghee) is best to improve weakened agni (digestive fire).

व्याधिमुक्तस्य मन्देऽग्नौ सर्पिरेव तु दीपनम् | Ashtanga Hrudayam Chikitsa Sthana 10/74
In dysentery, once the patient is relieved of the disease, but has mandagni (weak digestion strength), then Agni should be kindled by consuming ghee.
Ghee is unctuous, cold, hence decreases Pitta but it increases Agni (digestion strength).

In the context of Winter,
Hemanta is cold and unctuous (Sheeta, Snigdha) but agni is high.