Dhatu: the seven tissues in Ayurveda
Dhatus are the body’s seven tissues in Ayurveda, each nourished from the one before.
Dhatus (Sanskrit for “that which supports”) are the seven body tissues described in Ayurveda: plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and reproductive tissue. Ayurveda says each is nourished in sequence from the one before. Dhatu is a traditional concept, not a medical measurement.
Sanskrit: Dhātu
The seven dhatus, in order
| Dhatu | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. Rasa | Plasma and nutrient fluid |
| 2. Rakta | Blood |
| 3. Mamsa | Muscle |
| 4. Meda | Fat |
| 5. Asthi | Bone |
| 6. Majja | Marrow and nervous tissue |
| 7. Shukra | Reproductive tissue. In women, often discussed alongside Artava |
Nourishment in sequence
Ayurveda describes food becoming rasa dhatu first, which then nourishes the next dhatu, and so on. Strong digestion (Agni) is said to be the starting point.
Dhatus and AAVIE
AAVIE does not measure dhatus. They are background to how a Vaidya thinks about nourishment, digestion and the reproductive system. See also Artava.
Common questions
Are dhatus the same as body tissues in modern medicine?
Only roughly. Dhatus are a traditional Ayurvedic concept and do not map exactly onto modern anatomy.
Does AAVIE test my dhatus?
No.
Related pages
Rasa
In Ayurveda, taste is not just flavour. Every herb and food is described by its rasa.
Agni
Agni is the Ayurvedic idea of your digestive and metabolic fire. It is central to how AAVIE looks at you.
Artava
Artava is the Ayurvedic word for menstrual fluid and the reproductive tissue behind your cycle. Here is how Ayurveda describes a healthy period, the three phases of the cycle and the patterns it watches for.
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