OJAS, THE VITAL ENERGY OF THE BODY

Ojas is a Sanskrit word which literally means "vigor".

According to Ayurveda, it is the essential energy of the body which can be equated with the "fluid of life". It is said that ojas is the sap of one's life energy which can be equated with immunity. But when ojas is deficient, it results in weakness, fatigue and ultimately disease like cancer, HIV, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Ojas is refined result of metabolism of food at cellular level. Its primary location is the heart, from where it circulates in entire body.

According to Charak, during embryogenesis ojas appear in body. If a pregnant lady follows garbhini masanumasik paricharya, baby becomes healthy with good amount of ojas in body.

Ojas is said to be of two types:

1. Para Ojas exists in a quantity of eight drops and is located in the heart. Its loss leads to death.
2. Apara Ojas, is distributed throughout the body.

Causes of decrease in ojas

• Excessive injury and mental traumas will derange vata, leads to early aging and less Ojas. 
• Vomiting, diarrhea, heavy bleeding and too much sweating will cause reduction in fluid and ultimately, reduces ojas.
• Overexertion increases vata, accelerates aging process and reduces ojas.
• Excessive anger will derange pitta, resulting in disturbance of metabolism and decreases production of ojas.
• Excessive grief aggravates vata, disturbs sleep and reduces ojas.
• Undue worries and anxiety aggravates vata inside the brain causes dryness of ojas.
• Excessive hunger, fasting or dieting will reduce ojas.

Symptoms of low ojas

• Poor stamina
• Mood fluctuations and irritability of mind
• Mental and physical stress as well
• Increased sensitivity to minor environmental or social factors
• Poorly developed sexual organs
• Muscular weakness
• Suicidal tendencies in rare cases when ojas is extremely low

Factors which can enhance ojas in body

1. Aachaar Rasayana – It is our good behavior which can raise levels of ojas in our body. Truth, love, devotion, helpful nature, non violence, peaceful mind accelerates the positivity in the body and enhances ojas.
2. Rasayanas and vajikarna - Intake of nutritious food and herbs like amlaki, shilajit, ashwaganda, tulsi, giloy and  satavar  increases vitality – the ojas.
3. Sattvic diet and lifestyle - As satva guna possesses positive energy, induces spiritualism and energizes an individual. We should prefer to consume sattvic diet preferably vegetarian food items, ghee, almonds, dates, sweet fruits, fresh vegetables and rice.
4. Healthy digestion or metabolism should be maintained as it will produce more rasa to nourish body.
5. Eliminating Ama with the help of Panchkarma or by consuming castor oil or triphala at bedtime enhances ojas (flow of positive energy) in body.
6. Devotion or bhakti yoga - Unconditional faith in God or Super consciousness enhances a flow of positivity in individuals and re-energies our body.
7. Yoga postures and pranayama keeps our body fit and induces flow of divine energy (prana) in body.
8. Balanced diet – A diet having all nutrients in balanced state and provides full energy to body. It greatly contributes to maintain the immunity too.
9. Avoid negativity like excess grief, anger, envy and jealousy as they may decrease ojas.
10. Avoid excess fasting or dieting as it may put the body on physical stress as well as mental stress and decreases ojas.
11. Avoid over exertion as this creates unwanted pressure on the body and disturbs harmony among various systems and decrease the ojas.
12. Preserving sexual energy – Always try to preserve the shukra dhatu as it is the ultimate energy in the body. Do not indulge in excess sexual relationships. Ayurveda advises to go for regular sexual activity, but within limit.
13. Control over senses – Good amount of energy is dissipated through eyes, ear and mouth. We should limit the use of senses as this may deplete the ojas from body. For example - excessive talking dissipates lots of energy.
14. Proper sleep pattern – One should have adequate sleep. Go for regular sleep pattern. Avoid intermittent naps during the day.
15. Reverse the aging – Since aging process goes on, wear and tear of tissues increases and ojas declines. Include anti- aging herbs like ashwagandha, giloy and satavari to boost vitality. 
16. Maintain proper physical activity - Go for regular physical activities as it will maintain the flow of ojas in body and energies the body.
17. Sufficient physical or mental rest - Helps to regain lost ojas due to excessive workout.
18. Visualize nature in a calm and soothing environment. It helps to preserve age in body.
19. Good knowledge of self because it will help you know about your mind, body and constitution. It will inspire the one to follow eating habits or lifestyle that preserves ojas.
20. Meditation preserves ojas as it will give a pause to continuous usage of our senses.
21. BEFORE BIRTH, healthy uterus of mother nourishes a baby and provide with good ojas.
22. AFTER BIRTH, adequate or timely balanced nutrition in infancy helps in developing ojas
23. Positive thinking in mind enhances ojas.
24. According to Hinduism, good karma leads to good health and builds up ojas. 
25. If we follow dincharya and ritucharya properly, we can enhance ojas in body.