Dosha, Dhathu and Mala form the roots of the body. They play a mutual role right from birth to death. The Dosha (Vata, pitta and kapha) helps for the various function of the body. The Dhathus (Rasa, Raktha,Mamsa, Medha, Asthi, Majja and Sukra) retain and nourish the body. Mala helps to excrete the wastes products from the body. The Doshas regulate the Dhathu and the Mala. When the Doshas are vitiated or disturbed, it affects Dhathu and Mala.
Mala are the waste products that need to be eliminated from the body periodically. It plays a major role in maintenance of health. Not only the feaces, urine and sweat, but also the hair, the nail, ear wax, nose deposite, semen are the waste products of our body. They are produced only when the health is normal. So, one can predict their health status on observation of their mala.
According to Ayurveda, there are two types of mala. They are Ahara mala and Dhatu mala. The food we consume will be broken down into two parts. They are Sara (essence) and Kitta (unwanted). Sara, the nutrients further developed into dhathu. Acharya Vaghbata has described that at the end of formation of each dhathu, they leave their mala. They are called as dhathu mala. These mala are the tool to understand the quality of the particular dhathu from which they are formed. The Dhathu mala are
· Rasa produces Kapha
· Raktha produce Pitta
· Mamsa produce Ear wax and Nose deposite
· Meda produce Sweat
· Asthi produces Nail and Hair
· Majja produce Eye deposite
· Sukra produce Ojas
Though dhathu produces the mala, Kitta part of the digested food are considered as actual mala. These are also known as the ahara mala and it is expelled as Purisha (Feaces), Mutra (Urine) and Sweda (Sweat). Each mala has their own function in the body. They are also called as Dushyas because they are affected by the doshas and produce diseases. The increase of Malas is observed by their non-elimination (too much of waste product accumulation leading to obstruction) and their decrease by too much of elimination in little quantities. Body being accustomed to accumulation of waste products (in intestines and bladder), the decrease of waste product formation is more troublesome than their increase. So, Let’s know the proper function and affects of each mala.
Purisha are the feaces. Its main function is to maintain the strength of the body. When it is increased, it causes distension of abdomen, gurgling noise and feeling of heaviness in the body. Decrease of faeces gives rise to gurgling noise in the intestines and bloating, vata moves in upward direction in the intestine causing discomfort and pain in the region of the heart and flanks.
Mutra (urine) helps to eliminate the moisture from the body. When there is increased micturition, it produces severe pain in the bladder and increases the tendency to urinate frequently. Discolouration of urine and blood mixed urine indicates decreased amount of urine.
Sweda (Sweat) regulates the process of elimination of moisture content from the body. Sweat when increased produces excess of perspiration, foul smell and itching. Decrease of sweat leads to falling of hair, stiffness of hair and cracking of the skin.
The mala are the combination of the tridoshas. Pitta is situated in sweat, kapha in other mala. Vata helps to expel them. When there is increase in nutrition, the increased doshas increases the mala and further it increases the kapha. Whereas the decreased Mala is due to loss of nutrition and later it increases Vata. So, increased kapha should be treated by reducing therapy and for vata, it should be with nourishing therapy.
-Dr.Manasa Suneel krishnan