The second component of the body as defined by Ayurveda is mala. The malas are those substances which the body normally discharges in the process of creating and maintaining the dhatus. Mala includes everything which is expelled because it is neither necessary for the body’s support nor beneficial to it. As was mentioned previously, it also consists of any substances which are separated from the dhatus and eliminated when the body tries to correct imbalances. During a chest cold, for example, we expel mucus from the lungs as a by-product of the body’s attempt to fight infection.
Three Malas and their Functions
Purisha (Feces) – Eliminates Toxins in Solid Form through Colon.
Mutra (Urine) – Eliminates Toxins in Solid Form through Kidney
Sweda (Sweat) – Eliminates Toxins through Pores of Skin
Malas naturally arise as the unusable by-products of the digestive process associated with the formation of each of the seven dhatus. As will be explained later in the chapter, the action of the doshas separates this waste material from the dhatus at each stage of metabolism. They then get eliminated from the body in the form of fecal matter, sweat, urine, mucus, tears, saliva and carbon dioxide.
If the malas do not get separated from the body at the appropriate time and in the proper quantity, their accumulation causes an imbalance that damages the functioning of the dhatus. Everyone is familiar with the discomfort produced by constipation, a situation caused by an unhealthy retention of fecal matter in the body. If certain wastes are retained for too long, it could actually constitute a threat to life. For example, uremia is a condition that is caused by either an inability to urinate or a malfunction of the kidneys and can lead to death. Consequently, Ayurveda recommends that we never restrain any bodily urge to eliminate the malas.