Ojas: Enhancing immunity

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Ojas is the honey of all our tissues

Today I’d like to introduce the topic of ojas. We’ve spoken before about the three doshas. There’s also a subtle essence related to each dosha. Ojas is the subtle form of kapha dosha in general, and of the water element in particular.

Ojas is the essence related to vitality and immunity. It’s like honey. As bees collect the minute molecules of the essence of hundreds of flowers and accumulate them in the honeycomb, in the same way, ojas, the pure essence of all bodily tissues, circulates via the heart and through the body to maintain the natural resistance of the bodily tissues. Ojas fights against aging, decay and disease. A person who has good ojas rarely becomes sick.

It’s always important to protect ojas, since low ojas can lead to fatigue and low libido, as well as to frequent illnesses like recurrent colds and ‘flu. But if course, in the face of the Pandemic, maintaining healthy ojas is even more crucial.

Here are a few tips for maintaining healthy ojas:

  • Rest and relax. Do shivasana daily.

  •   Cultivate cheerfulness and enjoy the company of positive people.

  • Make sure you are keeping a pace that is appropriate for you. If you overdo it, overwork, over-endeavour, you will burn out ojas.

  • An appropriate pace changes as you age. I have found a good rule to be—don’t work after your workday. Keep that time for exercise, meditation, supper and family time.

  •   Follow a vāta pacifying diet and lifestyle.

  • Eat ojas promoting foods such as almonds, cashews, pistachios, ghee, and chicken broth.

  • Take yummy building recipes like almond and rice dessert.

  • Kindle your agni and support digestion with spices like ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, coriander and fennel.

  • Eat ten soaked and peeled almonds with a teaspoon of ghee, a teaspoon of date sugar, and a pinch of cardamom.

  • Eat one ghee-soaked date each morning. To make ghee dates, take fifteen dates, cut in half and remove the seeds, Now melt a cup of ghee and pour over the dates.  Let it sit at room temperature for fifteen days.

  • One teaspoon each of ghee and honey will increase ojas when taken daily

  • Do gentle yoga and prānāyāma or gentle chi gong.

  • If you tolerate dairy, cow’s milk has a special property of enhancing ojas.

  • Enjoy an ojas drink prepared from warm milk and soaked peeled almonds seasoned with ghee, saffron, cardamon and black pepper.

  • If you don’t take dairy, make an ojas drink using soaked almonds, soaked raisins, saffron, cardamon and black pepper.

For a full assessment of your ojas and to receive guidance tailored specifically for your needs, see an Ayurvedic Doctor.

  Alakananda Ma M.B., B.S. (Lond.) is an Ayurvedic Doctor (NAMA) and graduate of a top London medical school. She is co-founder of Alandi Ayurveda Clinic and Alandi Ayurveda Gurukula in Boulder Colorado, as well as a spiritual mother, teacher, flower essence maker and storyteller. Alakananda is a well known and highly respected practitioner in the Ayurveda community both nationally and internationally.

Enliven your holistic health! Visit Alakananda Ma in Alandi Ashram’s ayurvedic clinic to support the overall rejuvenation of your body, mind, and spirit. In-person and virtual appointments available. Book now!