Rakta Vruddhi: Ayurvedic Treatment, Causes & Natural Remedies

Rakta vruddhi (increased rakta dhatu) is an acute disorder where excess blood tissue produces pitta-type symptoms. The primary signs include bleeding from any natural opening, fullness of blood vessels, red warm hands and feet, red eyes, and skin conditions such as rash, urticaria, acne, dermatitis, eczema, and erysipelas.

Additional symptoms include hypertension, enlarged liver or spleen (hepatomegaly and splenomegaly), and a sudden aversion to meat. A meat eater who suddenly develops nausea toward meat may have increased rakta affecting the liver. Increased rakta dhatu may also create undue anger and hate.

Polycythemia is considered a classic picture of increased rakta dhatu, with flushed hands and cheeks. Increased tejas can burn immunity, potentially leading to autoimmune diseases such as lupus, where ojas is depleted through the cascade of high pitta leading to high tejas.

Rakta dhatu is affected by a wide range of dietary, environmental, and emotional factors:

• Dietary causes: Hot, spicy food; excess sugar and salt; sour foods such as yogurt, cheese, pickles, and fermented foods; oily or fried food; incompatible food combining
• Substances: Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs
• Physical factors: Loss of blood; deficiency of iron or vitamin B12; excessive exposure to the sun; working near fire or in hot conditions; exposure to radiation
• Emotional factors: Repressed anger, hate, envy, and aggressiveness
• Other causes: Bacteria (krumi); liver and spleen diseases

Consuming meat three times a day will make rakta hot and heavy. Anger, hate, and envy are described as hot and sharp emotions that directly affect ranjaka pitta within rakta dhatu.