Rasa Dhatu Disorders

The causes of rasa dhatu disorders include heavy food, cold food and drinks, overeating, oily or fried food, and leftover food. Excess sugar, salt, or pickles also disturb rasa dhatu. Hydrophilous substances such as yogurt, cheese, cucumber, watermelon, and sea salt contribute to rasa imbalance.

Beyond dietary factors, incompatible food combining (viruddha ahara) is a significant cause. Mental and emotional factors also play a role: too much thinking, worries, anxiety, and lack of faith all disturb rasa dhatu. Bacteria (krumi) and excess bodily ama (toxins) are additional causative factors.

Ice water is specifically identified as one of the causes of rasa dushti. Ice slows the movement of the srotas (channels), slows agni, and produces ama. Anything below body temperature is a shock to the system, particularly to the stomach and digestive fire.

Rasa dhatu disorders manifest in three categories. Rasa Vruddhi (increased rasa) presents with lymphatic and venous congestion, repeated colds, bronchial and sinus congestion, water retention and edema, excess salivation, feeling of heaviness in the heart, and pallor.

Rasa Kshaya (decreased rasa) manifests as anemia, dehydration, dizziness, dry skin, emaciation, excess thirst, fatigue, hypersensitivity to sound, palpitations, and shock.

Rasa Dushti (disturbed rasa) shows as lack of taste or perverted taste in the mouth, lack of faith, lack of clarity and perception, fatigue, nausea, stupor, generalized pain and body ache, and fever. A salty or sweet taste in the mouth indicates rasa dhatu is affected, since taste is a function of rasa dhatu.

Sexual debility is another disorder of rasa, as rasa nourishes shukra (reproductive tissue). Inferior rasa dhatu can create wrinkling of skin, emaciation, and weight loss, causing premature aging. Low rasa agni leads to cold hands and feet. If a person is irritated by loud noise, the rasa dhatu is affected.