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Ojas Disturbance and Case Study

Immunity-Enhancing Suggestions

If you don’t think your anxiety, depression, sadness and stress impact your physical health, think again. All of these emotions trigger chemical reactions in your body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days.

– Kris Carr

Potential causes of ojas disturbance, which is considered an abnormality in quantity and quality to ojas, include overworking or trauma to the mind or body, malnourishment or weak metabolism or hunger, and emotions like anger or grief (Palakurthi, 2026). Ojas disturbances grow until it becomes chronic, at which point death could ensue. The first stage is when a person is in an immune-compromised state because localization is involved, blocking the inner intelligence to self-heal (Palakurthi, 2026). My dad was diagnosed with PMR, which is an immune-compromised state led by inflammation, localizing in the shoulder and sometimes the entire body’s joints. Steroids alone helped him at this time, and he suffered from fatigue and joint aches due to the vitiated doshas in his body. His body was not functioning, leading to anxiety. The next stage of ojas disturbance is a full-on auto-immune disease, meaning there is deterioration involved and a decline to intelligence that is now impure (Palakurthi, 2026). Symptoms involve unstable swelling via Vata vitiation, drowsiness, and a stiff body – all symptoms from the fourth stage of disease according to Ayurveda texts (Palakurthi, 2026). The final stage of ojas disturbance is an immune-deficiency disease, which means ojas is depleted, and the client suffers from chronicity, fainting, confusion and eventually death (Palakurthi, 2026). In the pulse, this would be felt as emptiness or lacking.

To enhance the immunity of a 35-year-old male professor with Pitta prakriti and vikriti who works too hard, I would suggest Pitta pacifying foods that are easy to digest, such as fresh, organic, well-cooked foods that also include cucumbers, leafy greens, coconut water, rice, oats, barley, sweet fruits and organic dairies like cooling lassi and ghee, taking into consideration the time, season and state of agni (Maharishi Ayurveda, 2025). These foods should be eaten slowly, and he should eat three times a day, not right before bedtime. Depending on the client’s finances and goals, I might also recommend PK – over the summer or winter break so as to not add stress during the professional work seasons. I would also suggest the client slows down and meditates, practices pranayama and yoga, and take slow walks when the Sun is not highest in the sky nor too heating. I would also recommend Ravintsara, diffused, to help up his ojas and immunity (Maharishi University of Management, 2020). All of these suggestions will help the client’s stress to decrease, immunity to increase and digestion to have more balance so that the suggested herbs will be more effective.

To enhance his immunity, I would recommend to this busy professor Bio Immune because it contains an array of herbs that help cells communicate better, balance the liver and nourish mindbody and psychoneuroimmunity response (Maharishi University of Management, 2020). While it is hard to recommend herbs fairly without having a pulse reading or background information, I suggest this herb concoction because the synergy will help bring balance to the Pitta that potentially could impact the liber. Since this client is under a lot of stress from overworking, his ojas is lower than it could be, and his mind needs attention (ashwagandha and holy basil will help). Client could benefit from guduchi alone or paired with ginger, due to his pitta, and both herbs are in Bio Immune, reaching all fronts (Maharishi Ayurveda, 2025). I personally take Amrit Kalash to boost my immunity, but I need stress hormones addressed, alongside my digestion. This could be a potential option down the road for client, depending on goals and needs.

References

Maharishi Ayurveda. (2025, February 12). Top Ayurvedic tips to boost your immunity naturally. https://maharishiayurvedaindia.com/blogs/wellness-need/boost-your-immunity-naturally

Maharishi University of Management. (2020). Immune System General Pathology and Prevention. [PDF]. MS in Maharishi AyurVeda and Integrative Medicine.

Palakurthi, M. (2026). Ama and Ojas, Part 2. [Video]. Maharishi International University. Retrieved from MS in Maharishi AyurVeda.