Majja Dhatu: The Nerves and Bone Marrow

Ayurveda recognises seven tissue layers known as the Dhatu's, which work together in harmony to create your physical structure and support your overall state of health and well-being. The sixth tissue in this system, after Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, Meda and Asthi is known as Majja Dhatu.

Majja Dhatu: To Feel and Respond

The word Majja means marrow, and refers to the soft organic material that fills the cavities of your bones that carries your RNA and DNA or our genetic code.

Your nerves are encased within the bone marrow and communicate your genetic code to all the cells of the body

These communications are done through electrical impulses and help to keep all of your many parts working together. You have two types of cells that make up the nervous system's primary functions:

• Neurons - are made of gray matter and transmit and receive electrical impulses from the cells

• Glial cells - are made of white matter and support the function of neurons from the brain to the spinal cord

These nervous system process keeps your mind and body working together as a team. It allows you to recognise sensations, such as 'I can smell that' or 'this is my arm,' and respond appropriately. It also gives you the ability to learn new information, remember things, and develop a knowledge base. It links you to the twelve cranial nerves behind the eyes, which govern all of our sensory and motor organ functions. Majja also nourishes the limbic brain where you store all of your memories and emotions.

Connection to the 13 Natural Urges

The nerves are intimately connected to your thirteen natural urges, to breathe, eat, drink, defecate, urinate, cry, belch, pass wind, sleep, sneeze, vomit, yawn, and orgasm.

The mind-body connection created by the nervous system allows us to respond to these urges, bringing us contentment and relief

Many of the natural urges that are considered socially unacceptable in our society like passing wind, are accepted in other cultures.

This is because it’s more readily acknowledged that these urges are, well, natural. Ayurveda agrees with this, believing that these natural urges need to be expressed, if we are to maintain optimal health, rather than being withheld or used in excess.

For example, if you hold in your stool because you are in a public environment, it is the opposite of the natural urge that is necessary to feel content. Eventually, this pattern gets stored in the psyche and creates a feeling of public shame, not to mention repetitive intestinal discomfort.

The nervous system communicates loudly through pain, feelings, and sensations

Often, these experiences become the symptoms that you are just not sure what to do with or don’t know how to change. Therefore, expressing your natural urges helps to keep your mind and body balanced.

In the Ayurvedic view of the dhatus, the lymph, blood, muscles, skin, and bone layers are all key to nourishing a healthy nervous system.

The first gateway to nerve health is through lymphatic flow, which feeds nutrients to the nerves and protects your genetic codes within your bone marrow.

When the nervous system is healthy and well, your entire system is able to feel and respond to your environment efficiently and you can translate thoughts into action with ease. You are more capable of sleeping soundly through the night and have a greater chance of remembering your dreams.

Emotionally, you are readily able to handle stress and can easily turn negative thoughts into positive ones

You have an increased capacity to connect to a 'witness consciousness', you take things less personally, and feel generally comfortable and relaxed in your surroundings. So how do you get there? The nervous system thrives when it is grounded, nourished, and supported. The following tips are great for all Doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

• Palmarosa Essential Oil: Rub four drops on your feet up to twice a day

• Sleep Sweet: Go to bed by 9 or 10 pm and wake up by 7

• Protect your evenings: Avoid screens and intense conversations or processing after 8 pm

• Relax: Take a bath, rest, meditate or breathe when you’re feeling stressed

• Hydrate: Drink plenty of warm water and sip throughout the day

• Shatavari Churna: This supplement rebuilds the myelin sheath around the nerves, take one tablespoon with food or blended with warm milk before bed

In addition, here are tips for recognising the signs of imbalanced Doshas in Majja Dhatu and supporting greater balance.

Vata in Majja Dhatu

Signs of Excess Vata: Sensations of numbness or tingling, shakiness in the limbs, feelings of panic, phobias, restless sleep, random thoughts, sensitivity to sound, prone to sensory overload

Finding Balance: Abhyanga Massage: Use warm Sesame Oil for a grounding self-massage, known as Abhyanga in Ayurveda

Nutrition: Favor warm and grounding foods, including broths, warm cows milk, basmati rice, fresh Medjool dates, root veggies, and runny egg yolks

Herbal Support: Nutritive and calming herbs like bala, licorice, ashwagandha, chyawanaprash

Pitta in Majja Dhatu

Signs of Excess Pitta: Burning or sharp sensations, excess heat, analytical or obsessive thoughts, irrationality, sensitivity to light, tendency to focus on perfection

Finding Balance:

Abhyanga Massage: Add neem oil to the sesame oil base, for a calming and relaxing effect

Nutrition: Enjoy cooling and nourishing foods, including coconut, dhal's, and ghee

Herbal Support: Cooling and nourishing herbs like aloe vera pulp (fresh), goto kolo, shatavari, triphala

Kapha in Majja Dhatu

Signs of Excess Kapha: Emotional heaviness, stagnation, dull sensations, fatigue, feelings of disconnection from society, excess sleep, sensitivity to change as well as taste and smell

Finding Balance:

Abhyanga: Give yourself an invigorating massage with mahanarayan oil

Nutrition: Favor light and cleansing foods, such as leafy greens, veggie broths, and spices

Herbal Support: Motivating and activating herbs— bhringaraj, bilva, tulsi, sitopoladi

In the context of Ayurvedic medicine, maintaining the balance and health of all the Dhatus is believed to be essential for overall well-being. Ayurvedic principles use holistic approaches, and always consider factors such as diet, lifestyle, and mental well-being to restore and maintain the balance of the 7 dhatus in the body.

With only one more Dhatu to go, I'm sure you'll be checking in again really soon!

Until then, Namaste and stay well.

Anji x