Plasma Channel
The first dhatu channel carrying plasma, serum, and lymph, rooted in the right chamber of the heart and the ten great vessels.
Rasa Vaha Srotas: The Channel for Plasma
Rasa vaha srotas is the first dhatu channel, carrying plasma. The mula (root) is the right chamber of the heart and the ten great vessels. The marga (passage) is the venous and lymphatic systems. The mukha (opening) is the arteriole-venous junction in the capillaries.
Veins carry deoxygenated blood to the right chamber of the heart, from where it goes to the lungs for oxygenation. All oxygenated blood then goes to the left chamber through the arteries. The left chamber connects to prana vaha srotas while the right chamber connects to rasa vaha srotas.
Rasa vaha srotas is made up of rasa dhatu, so it includes plasma, serum, the cardiovascular system, and the lymphatic system. The doshic subtypes associated with this srotas are kledaka kapha, bodhaka kapha, avalambaka kapha, tarpaka kapha, prana vayu, vyana vayu, and sadhaka pitta.
Source: Textbook of Ayurveda: Fundamental Principles, Chapter Seven: Srotamsi, The Bodily Channels and Systems
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