Introduction to Ayurveda

Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest holistic healing systems. It is said to be over 5,000 years old. In Ayurveda it is believed that health and wellness is dependent on a balance between the body, mind and soul. Leveraging the basic principles of Ayurveda, it relates to the 3 major elements also called doshas - vata dosha (space and air), pitta dosha (fire and water) and kapha dosha (water and earth). It is believed that every human body is formed with a unique mix of these three doshas or energies. But one is usually stronger than the others and determining the primary dosha is the first step towards finding the optimal state of balanced natural health.Ayurveda aims at preventive care and treatment of diseases and promotes good health. This ancient medicine eliminates accumulated toxins from the body and returns the doshas to their proper state.

What Is Ayurveda?

The term "Ayurveda" is derived from Sanskrit "Ayuh" meaning "Life" and "Veda" meaning "Knowledge". Ayurveda is the "Knowledge of life". It aims at balancing the three principle energies of the body - vata, pitta and kapha. Vatta is the energy of movement; pitta is the energy of digestion or metabolism and kapha is the energy of structure and lubrication. In Ayurveda, the cause of a disease is viewed as a lack of proper cellular functioning due to lack or excess of either of the three doshas and the presence of toxins in the body.

Ayurveda can help us:

  • Sync up with our truest inner nature
  • Honor and develop our strengths
  • Hone in on our challenge areas
  • Redirect detrimental tendencies
  • Maintain balance in the face of adversity

In other words, Ayurveda works towards maintaining a balance between mind, body and consciousness. It involves use of herbal medicines, physiotherapy, diet and external preparations. In Ayurveda, therapeutic and preventive measures are adapted to the personal requirements of each individual. 

Ayurveda: A Brief History?

In Hindu mythology, Ayurveda is attributed to Dhanvantri, the physician to the gods. The earliest concepts of Ayurveda were set out in the vedas, popularly known as Atharvaveda. The vedas have the secret of magical practices for the treatment of diseases. The preventive and curative aspects of Ayurveda emphasize on the strict code of personal and social hygiene, which depends on climatic, environmental and individual needs. Yoga, herbal preparations and bodily exercises form an important part of remedial measures.

Ayurveda's Definition of Health

The Sanskrit word for health, Svastha, is a state in which the mind, soul, and senses interact harmoniously to experience a feeling of self, wellness, and even bliss. Achieving this may seem like a lofty goal, but Ayurveda provides a treasure chest of elegant and insightful tools to help us get there.

Ayurvedic Principles

Before you learn how Ayurveda can help you, you must first learn how to see yourself from an Ayurvedic perspective. The first step is to understand some key Ayurvedic principles, lenses through which Ayurveda views the universe.

These Ayurveda basics are foundational tools for:

  • Interpreting the laws of nature
  • Identifying various states of health or imbalance
  • Charting a course toward improved well-being

Examining these core principles will also help illustrate what makes Ayurveda such a timeless art and science.

The Five Elements

Ayurveda recognizes five elements as the fundamental building blocks of nature:

Earth

Water

Fire

Air

Ether (Space)

Every substance contains all five of these elements. That said, in a given substance, one or two elements are typically predominant over the others.

The Doshas

Vata - The Energy of Movement

Vata is an extremely vital part of good health and involves an essential motion for all bodily processes. A person with a predominant Vata is blessed with a quick mind and flexibility. These people are very active, think, walk and talk fast but are also easily fatigued. When Vata is unbalanced, these types may become anxious, nervous, and fearful. Vata people are more susceptible to diseases involving the air principle. Vata tends to increase with age.

Guidelines for balancing Vata in the body:

  • Keep warm 
  • Keep calm
  • Avoid cold, frozen or raw foods & extreme cold
  • Eat warm food and spices
  • Keep a regular routine & get plenty of rest

Pitta - The Energy of Digestion and Metabolism

The Pitta body type has many qualities of fire. These people have warm bodies and sharp intelligence. When Pitta dosha is out of balance these people become agitated and short-tempered. Those with predominant Pitta have good digestion, strong metabolism, and appetites. These people tend to have inflammatory diseases involving the principle of fire.

General guidelines for balancing pitta:

  • Avoid excessive heat & oil
  • Avoid excessive steam
  • Limit salt intake
  • Eat cooling, non-spicy foods
  • Exercise during the cooler part of the day

Kapha - The Energy of Lubrication and Structure

These types are blessed with stamina and strength. Physically, kapha people may easily gain weight and have low metabolism. These people are likely to have diseases connected with the principle of water. People with predominant Kapha have higher water retention during the full moon. 

General guidelines for balancing Kapha:

  • Get plenty of exercise & stay active
  • Avoid heavy foods & dairy products
  • Avoid iced foods or drinks, fatty & oily foods
  • Vary your routine
  • Eat light, dry food & avoid day-time naps

Each person is a combination of these three doshas in our bodies at any given time. There is a combination of doshas we are born with, called our constitution, AYURVEDIC BODY TYPE, or PRAKRITI in Sanskrit.