Oja \ derived from the sansrkit root ‘ubja’ & ‘asun’, translates directly as strength, lustre & vigour on the physical level. Whereas, on an internal level it is responsible for nourishing & grounding the development of higher faculties which helps to uplift our life energies to a higher plane. Picture Ojas to be the sap of a tree, although invisible it pervades and nourishes all parts of the tree. It is what we are all after, the spring in our step and the sparkle in our eye, it is the essence of our immune system.
For the male sex, Oja is present in the sperm in its dormant form, whereas for the female sex, in the ovum. After conception it is manifested as the first body component within the womb. It is circulated all over the body via the rasa dhatu (plasma) & rakta dhatu (blood) through channels that originate from the heart. It is our underlying energy reserve, the foundation of our immunity & the basis for our happiness and contentment. There are two kinds of Ojas, Para & Apara, 8 drops of Para (supreme/absolute) Ojas reside in the heart, this is stable; Apara (secondary/lower) Ojas circulates throughout the body to all the tissues & is mobile.
In Ayurveda the understanding of assimilation of foods is likened to a staircase, Ojas is the substance produced after digestion, once all the tissues or the seven dhatus {Rakta - blood, Rasa - plasma & lymph, Mamsa - muscle, Medas - fat, Asti – bones, Majja – nervous system & Shukra – reproductive} are fed & nourished, it is the active & potent principle of the body that is responsible for vitality, vigour, luster, power, physical strength, energy in an individual as recognized by Ayurveda, it takes 27 – 30 days to build Ojas. In the transformation of food from rasa-dhātu to śukra-dhātu, ojas is released at every step. Ojas is an essence of all the dhātus, the substance of all hormonal secretions which support the auto-immune system. It means ‘that which invigorates’ and in medical terminology it is also referred to as ‘bala’ or the inner strength (immunity), which resists diseases. Perfect digestion gives rise to Ojas thereby resulting in a strong immune system
In modern medicine, Ojas is described as a patchwork of secretions of different peptides, neurotransmitters, hormones, neurochemicals, and other properties that exert their effect all over the body so we can remain in homeostasis, however modern scientists are still in search of the exact physiological component that can be termed as Oja.
Ojas can be diminished or weakened by many factors which primarily include diet, lifestyle, and state of the mind. Poorly digested foods cause Ama, which are the residue of foods that are overly processed or not digested. Ama weakens the immune system, then leaves the digestive system & relocates to weaker areas of the body creating disease. Anything which does not suit you physically, mentally, psychologically, or spiritually can lead to weakening of Ojas. When Ojas is deficient we experience fatigue, low moods, poor sleep and frequent colds and flus. Our spirit is weak, and we generally feel dull. If we choose to consume and digest foods that have natural intelligence (close to how they are created) then all the tissues are nourished.
Signs of good Ojas
You wake up with a spring in your step
Naturally glowing skin
A pink tongue & a clean mount
Light on your feet but firmly grounded
Relaxed state of being
Clarity of mind, intellect & heart
A strong immune system
Enthusiastic & creative
Quick healing
Happy & joyful
Signs of a deficient Ojas
Chronic disease state
Low energy & fatigue
Aches & pains
Low moods, anxiety & feeling of loneliness
Low immunity
Heaviness in body
Lack of mental clarity
Healing takes longer
Coated tongue
So, what can you do increase Ojas?
Balance you’re eating habits, by improving what, when how & why you eat. Fresh home cooked food prepared daily strengthens the Ojas.
Follow a regular daily routine
Get good quality sleep
Manage your stress & balance your nervous system
Gentle Yoga & exercise
Do things that make you more joyful, Ojas is depleted by negative emotions, meditation can help rectify this
Regular Self-Oil massage
Foods that help increase Ojas:
Indigenous A2 cow Ghee, saffron, honey, almonds, dates, cashews, raisins, whole grains, bananas, figs, sweet potatoes, bananas, leafy greens, moong dal, seasonal fruit, coconut milk and water. Oils such as coconut, sesame, almond.
Foods that deplete Ojas:
Dry, raw & uncooked foods, canned, frozen & fried food, stale food, alcohol, stimulants, refined sugar, refined flour, heavily processed food.
Herbs that help increase Ojas:
Amalaki, ashwagangha, ginger, guduchi, mulethi, brahmi, tulsi, shankhpushpi and the combination of herbs present in Chyawanprash.
Spices that help extract Ojas from food
Turmeric detoxifies & lends anti-inflammatory properties, mild anti-biotic and enhances the intelligence of the immune cells.
Cumin burns ama (toxins)
Black pepper clears channels so Ojas can reach deeper into tissues
Ginger improves immunity and is anti-inflammatory
Fennel Aids with digestion
Basil, Cardamom and Sage, decrease inflammation of the lungs, sinusitis, chronic rhinitis, and asthma
Natural Rosemary is an antimicrobial and antibiotic
Coriander is beneficial for the urinary track, digestion, and absorption.