What is Ayurveda? (Au-yur-vay'-duh)

Ayurveda was developed in India about 4,000 years ago and is one of the oldest documented health care systems. It is a "life-science", emphasizing health by integrating ayurvedic herbal supplements, diet, exercise, massage and life style. In Sanskrit (the equivalent language to Latin in India) the word Ayurveda literally means science of life (Ayur=life, Veda=science).

Ayurvedic philosophy indicates that everything in the universe is made up of 5 elements; fire, air, water, earth and space. Air represents all that is gaseous, earth represents matter that is solid, all liquids are represented by water, fire represents any matter that can transform itself from a liquid to a solid to gas and back.

In our bodies, as in nature, these 5 elements co-exist in a way that is by and large harmonious and where no one element dominates another perpetually. The relationships exist between elements define how they pair together to help form the characteristics of all living things. These relationship are governed by 3 "forces" or "energies", known as Doshas. The Doshas represent the "subtle energy" that combines and balances the characteristics of the two elements it influences. This force has to often combine and balance seemingly contrary forces such as Fire and Water under Pitta. Vata manages the relationship between air and space while Kapha brings water and earth together. In addition to our bodies, everything around us has these Doshas; plants, pets, fruits, vegetables can all be classified using the same principle.

In our bodies Vata is the force behind movement; hence anything that moves or helps create movement is the responsibility of Vata. Pitta is responsible for digestion and metabolism; right from food we eat, and transforming it into their most basic form for absorption by the entire body as nutrient. Kapha is responsible for the fluids that act as the lubrication for movement, and as the glue that helps hold things together.

Every individual needs all the three Doshas to exist since they each play a role in our body and mind. Yet we normally exhibit greater characteristics of 1 or 2 of the Doshas .This unique combination of Doshas defines the person's unique body type (or Dosha). The combinations could be Vata/Pitta, Vata/Kapha, Pitta/Kapha; for a total of 6 different combinations of these Doshas. Most people are a combination of 2; it is possible but unusual to have all three in equal proportions; or to be completely of 1 Dosha. This combination of our Dosha known as Prakruti, is determined at birth and remains constant, by and large throughout the lifetime. When at their natural state of balance, our Doshas provide the strength our bodies need to prevent the conditions that may allow disease. When out of balance, the body's loss of homeostasis permits health conditions and diseases to develop. You can learn more about each Dosha by visiting the pages for Vata, Pitta and Kapha

Doshas, Our Body and Disease

When the natural proportion, or balance of our Doshas is disrupted, illness can occur. Our Doshas can go out of balance due to toxin accumulation, stress, improper diet, poor habits and even the weather. Ayurvedic medicine's philosophy emphasizes moderation rather than denial. We can be healthy by practising moderation within the realms of our body type. Denial can be just as unhealthy as indulgence.

Our predominant Doshas will determine the imbalances we are prone to. Vata predominance when imbalanced, will experience conditions relating movement or of parts that help move us around. Pitta imbalances will lead to disruptions of metabolic and digestive systems and also lead to inflammatory diseases. Kapha imbalances lead to obesity and related conditions; fluid retentions, pneumonia, etc.

If you would like to learn more about Ayurveda, please refer to the "Sugg. Reading" page in this website for a list of books. If you would like to locate an Ayurvedic practitioner or find out about seminars Nature's Formulary may be presenting in your area, please visit the "Ayurveda+InfoLink page