Kshaya

Kshaya is a Sanskrit term meaning decline, depletion, or wasting away. In Ayurvedic and classical Sanskrit literature, it refers to the progressive diminution of bodily tissues or systemic strength, and it is used for both tissue-specific depletions (dhatu kshaya) and broader states of debility. Etymologically, it stems from the root ksh- meaning to perish or diminish.

In Ayurveda, kshaya most often denotes dhatu kshaya, the wasting of one or more of the seven bodily tissues: rasa, rakta, mamsa, meda, asthi, majja, and shukra. It is viewed as the outcome of chronic disease, prolonged improper eating, poor digestion (agni kshaya), accumulation of ama, or persistent doshic imbalance. Clinically, it presents as progressive weakness, reduced appetite, weight loss, and decreased function, with tissue-specific signs such as pallor in rasa/rakta kshaya, loss of muscle mass in mamsa kshaya, thinning of subcutaneous fat in meda kshaya, or brittle bones in asthi kshaya. General symptoms may include fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, and susceptibility to infections. Diagnosis relies on history, clinical examination, and assessment of digestion and nourishment, with attention to the underlying etiologies.

Management in Ayurveda centers on halting progression and restoring tissue nourishment through correcting digestion (deepana-pachana), nourishing diets and lifestyles, and using rasayana (rejuvenative) therapies alongside disease-specific treatments. Modern interpretations often equate dhatu kshaya with wasting syndromes or cachexia seen in chronic illness, underlining the continuity between traditional concepts and contemporary clinical concerns. See also: dhatu, agni, rasayana, cachexia.