The Essence of Immunity
Low immunity is caused by excessive stress, psychological imbalance, negative emotions, body contamination, metabolic disorders, inappropriate diet, and unhealthy lifestyle. All this fundamentally affects the formation of the essential life-force called Ojas, which is the pure essence of Kapha dosha and represents the deepest principle of the immune system in the form of mental and physical health. It is being formed during proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients. When the strength of the digestive fire (agni) is inadequate, the excessive accumulation of toxins weakens the formation of this essence and thus reduces the resistance of the immune system.
Ojas - the Essential Substance of Immunity
Ojas is a biological substance produced during biosynthesis in each of the seven bodily tissues. It forms the basic energy reserve of the whole body and is responsible for its overall vitality, strength, resistance and immunity. It provides active protection against viruses, bacteria and infections. The decreased level of ojas may cause chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness, dehydration, muscular atrophy, osteoporosis and oncology diseases. One of the factors leading to its depletion is excessive activity of intimate life, mental exhaustion or intense frustration. The natural development of ojas is enhanced by meditation, which takes place in conjunction with conscious breathing and vigilant concentration on the presence of life energy in the heart chakra. Such peace of mind without judgement, desire and stress brings mental stability, energises the body and awakens the power of the soul.
Read more about the deep principle of human immunity in the article The Ayurvedic Secret of Healthy Immunity - Ojas.
Tejas - Inner Radiance
Tejas is the pure essence of Pitta dosha and represents the inner radiance, the outer emanation of the personality and the principle of the biological intelligence of each cell of all bodily tissues. On the external level, it represents the warmth and glow of the Sun, on the internal level the burning flame of the inner light, heat, digestion, metabolism, cellular intelligence, motion and the dynamic energy of our lives. The body thus has its own intelligence and healing power. It knows how to recover itself in case of illness and what defensive mechanisms to run in a critical situation. Therefore, it is necessary to learn how to listen to our body properly. Tejas is an energy substance of cooked food, which is softer, lighter and easily processed by the digestive fire. Hot water has a cleansing and detoxifying effect on digestion. Cold water creates toxins and weakens the digestion. For this reason, it is much more difficult to obtain the three essential life-forces (ojas, tejas and prana) from raw food alone.
Prana - the Life Force
Prana is the pure essence of the Vata dosha and represents the primary life-force responsible for the activity of the respiratory and circulatory system along with the motor and sensory functions of the body. It is the driving force of higher brain activity, the cardiovascular system and oxygenation of bodily tissues and individual cells. Breathing affects the harmonious consonance between rational male and intuitive female energy, in the form of inhalation and exhalation by the right (male) and left (female) nostril. Regular and calm rhythm of breathing is therefore an important tool for conscious control of our emotions and thoughts and for deepening our spiritual awareness.
The Doshas and Three Life Forces
All three substances (prana, tejas, ojas) reside in the heart chakra, but at the same time they penetrate the whole body and mind. In case Vata dosha begins to dry out the ojas too much, it may result in weight loss and the development of chronic fatigue syndrome. Highly aggravated Pitta dosha may cause a serious increase of tejas that literally burns the immune system and may cause the development of autoimmune diseases when the body cells begin to produce antibodies destroying healthy cells. This is the case of Bechterew's or Crohn's disease, gout, rheumatic fever, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, dermatitis, or Reynaud's syndrome. Highly accumulated Kapha dosha leads to blockage of ojas flow resulting in feelings of dyspnoea, heavy limbs, joint oedema or lipoma, development of diabetes, obesity, increased cholesterol and high blood pressure. It may also cause glaucoma to occur. The best way how to replenish the three life substances (ojas, tejas, prana) is by regular consumption of Chyawanprash, milk, ghee, honey, saffron, rice, almonds, raisins, or asparagus.
