Ayurveda Codex›Dhatu›Rakta

Last verified: April 2026

Dhatu 2: Rakta — Blood

रक्त — Rakta Dhatu — Dhatu 2 of seven

Rakta Dhatu is the second of the seven classical body tissues — formed from Rasa Dhatu through the action of Rakta Dhatvagni. Its primary function is jivana (life-sustaining), varna (complexion).

Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 28 — Dhatu 2
Rakta Dhatu: Karma — Jivana (life-sustaining), Varna (complexion). Seat — Liver and Spleen. Upadhatu — Pitta. Mala — Pitta — excess Pitta from Rakta metabolism is expelled via bile.

Classical documentation

Rakta Dhatu is the blood — specifically the functional, living component of blood that gives it its red colour (Ranjaka Pitta resides in Rakta) and its life-sustaining quality. Charaka Samhita documents the Yakrit (liver) and Pleeha (spleen) as the primary seats of Raktavaha Srotas — the classical understanding that the liver is central to blood quality and quantity maps precisely to modern hepatology. Conditions of Rakta Vriddhi (excess) produce Pitta-dominated inflammatory conditions; Rakta Kshaya (deficiency) produces anaemia-type conditions.

Elements
Agni
Primary seat
Liver and Spleen
Primary karma
Jivana (life-sustaining), Varna (complexion)
Channel
Blood channels — Raktavaha Srotas
Upadhatu
Pitta
Mala
Pitta — excess Pitta from Rakta metabolism is expelled via bile

Signs of imbalance

Vriddhi (excess): Inflammatory skin conditions, redness, bleeding disorders, liver enlargement, burning sensation, abscess formation

Kshaya (deficiency): Pallor, fatigue, dryness of skin and mucous membranes, fainting, loss of vigour

Dhatvagni — the tissue fire
Rakta Dhatvagni — impaired in chronic Pitta conditions and by excess alcohol. When Dhatvagni is impaired — by Ama, improper diet, or Dosha aggravation — the tissue cannot properly form the next Dhatu in the chain. This is why classical treatment of tissue deficiency begins not with tissue-building herbs but with Deepana (kindling the Dhatvagni) and Pachana (digesting the Ama that impairs it).
Rasayana for this Dhatu
Manjistha, Amalaki, Guduchi, Punarnava — Pittahara, blood-quality improving herbs. The classical Rasayana approach to Rakta Dhatu: nourish the Dhatvagni first, then provide the specific Dhatu-building raw material through appropriate Rasayana preparations.
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