The Root Cause of Nervous System Dysregulation: An Ayurvedic Perspective
By Dhivyaa Chelvan, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Coach

In today’s world, nervous system dysregulation—those moments when we find ourselves stuck in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn—is almost universal. But long before modern neuroscience, Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, offered profound insights into why this happens and how to restore balance.

At the heart of Ayurvedic understanding of the nervous system is Majja Dhatu—our body’s "nerve tissue." By exploring Majja Dhatu and the five great elements (Pancha Mahabhutas) that form it, we can begin to understand why we get stuck in survival responses—and how to return to a state of regulation, safety, and ease.

What is Majja Dhatu?

In Ayurveda, our physical and subtle body is formed by seven tissues (dhatus), and Majja Dhatu is the sixth of these. Traditionally translated as “marrow,” Majja Dhatu includes:

• The brain and spinal cord
• Nerve tissues and myelin sheath
• Bone marrow
  
  

Its primary function is communication—carrying impulses, sensations, and subtle messages throughout the body. It is also the seat of mental stability, sensory perception, and memory. A healthy Majja Dhatu means a calm mind, clear perception, and resilience. A depleted or vitiated Majja Dhatu makes us anxious, reactive, and emotionally fragile.

Elementally, Majja Dhatu is primarily made of water (jala) and space (akasha), giving it a lubricated, soft, and flowing quality. But all five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—must be in harmony for proper functioning.

A Regulated Nervous System = Elemental Balance

What does a regulated nervous system look like?

It feels calm yet responsive, grounded yet adaptable—you can meet life’s challenges with clarity, return to ease after stress, and feel safe, present, and connected in your body.When the five elements are balanced within Majja Dhatu, the nervous system is regulated. 

• Earth provides stability and groundedness
  
  
• Water offers nourishment, lubrication, and emotional softness
  
  
• Fire sharpens perception and gives healthy motivation
  
  
• Air allows quick response and adaptability
  
  
• Space ensures spaciousness and subtle awareness
  
  

When one or more elements become excessive or depleted, the nervous system shifts into survival states.

Ayurveda and the Four Survival Responses

Let’s explore how each survival response relates to the imbalance of elements:

Fight: Excess Fire (Pitta)

When fire (agni) overtakes Majja Dhatu, it overstimulates the system.

• How it feels: Irritability, anger, controlling behavior, hyper-reactivity.
  
  
• Why: Too much fire “heats” the nerve tissue, making us hyper-alert and quick to fight perceived threats.
  
  
• Ayurvedic support: Cooling practices—Sitkari or Sitali pranayama, rose water compress for eyes, coconut water, and moon exposure.
  
  

Flight: Excess Air (Vata)

When air (vayu) becomes excessive, the nervous system scatters.

• How it feels: Anxiety, restlessness, overthinking, urge to escape.
  
  
• Why: Air increases movement and instability in Majja Dhatu, causing scattered prana and hypersensitivity.
  
  
• Ayurvedic support: Grounding and containing air—warm oil abhyanga, slow restorative yoga, channeling energy into focused creative projects (becoming the alchemist).
  
  

Freeze: Excess Water & Earth, Depleted Fire (Kapha imbalance)

When water and earth dominate and fire is low, the system slows down excessively.

• How it feels: Numbness, withdrawal, heaviness, emotional shutdown.
  
  
• Why: The heavy, slow qualities of Kapha dull the nerve responses, leading to a protective freeze state.
  
  
• Ayurvedic support: Gently re-ignite fire and movement—gentle breathwork, warm spices (ginger tea), slow rhythmic movement, loving self-touch to stimulate flow.
  
  

Fawn: Excess Water, Low Fire and Air (Kapha imbalance)

The fawn response (people-pleasing, over-giving) arises when we seek safety through connection but lose our own boundaries.

• How it feels: Self-abandonment, over-nurturing others, difficulty saying “no.”
  
  
• Why: Excess water and earth create over-attachment, while low fire (tejas) and air (vayu) weaken boundaries and discernment.
  
  
• Ayurvedic support: Building inner fire and healthy air—breath of fire (Kapalabhati, when safe), mantra chanting for courage, journaling to reclaim personal truth.
  
  

Healing from the Inside Out

Nervous system regulation, according to Ayurveda, isn’t just about calming the mind—it’s about nourishing and balancing Majja Dhatu through food, herbs, lifestyle, and energy practices. Some universal supports include:

• Healthy fats (ghee, almonds, walnuts) to nourish nerve tissue
  
  
• Medhya Rasayanas (Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Ashwagandha) to strengthen mental resilience
  
  
• Daily abhyanga (oil massage) to ground Vata and soothe Majja
  
  
• Pranayama and meditation to balance prana flow
  
  

When we balance the five elements in our nerve tissue, we are not just calming symptoms—we are returning to our original state of safety, presence, and authentic power.

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