Overview
Ayurvedic medicine, also called Ayurveda, originated in India several thousand years ago. The term “Ayurveda” combines the Sanskrit words ayu (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda means “the science of life.”
Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic system that seeks to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit. This balance is believed to lead to happiness and health, and to help prevent illness. Ayurvedic medicine also treats specific physical and mental health problems, by seeking to correct the underlying root causes that have led to the development of these problems.
Principles
Connection with Nature. Ayurvedic medicine believes that each person is connected to and should live in harmony with the rhythms of nature, e.g. seasons.
All things in the universe (both living and nonliving) are joined together.
Every human being contains elements which can be found in the universe.
Health will be good if one’s mind and body are in harmony, and one’s interaction with the universe is in tune with nature.
Disease arises when a person is out of harmony with the universe. Disruptions can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or a combination of these.
Constitution (prakriti). Constitution refers to the unique body type an individual is born with. To determine your body type, you can complete the Ayurvedic body type quiz on our website at www.doctorakil.com/ayurvedicbodytypequiz The prakriti is a person’s unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics and patterns, tendencies, and weaknesses. The prakriti is believed to be unchanged over a person’s lifetime, and is determined at the moment of conception. The goal in Ayurvedic treatment is to correct imbalances and achieve a harmonized, well functioning physiology that is as close as possible to one’s prakriti.
Life forces (doshas). Each person’s physiology is governed by the three life forces or energies called doshas. These control all the activities of the body.
Each dosha is made up of two of five basic elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.
Each person is born with a unique combination of the three doshas, although one dosha is usually prominent. Doshas are constantly being formed and reformed by food, activity, and bodily processes. The goal is not to get equal amounts of all 3, but to maintain your original constitution or unique combination of the doshas.
Each dosha has its own physical and psychological characteristics.
An imbalance of a dosha will produce symptoms that are unique to that dosha. Imbalances may be caused by a person’s age, unhealthy lifestyle, or diet; too much or too little mental and physical exertion; the seasons; or inadequate protection from the weather, chemicals, or microbes.
Life forces (doshas).
The doshas are known by their Sanskrit names: vata, pitta, and kapha. Ayurveda is a qualitative science and each dosha is associated with specific qualities.
The vata dosha combines the elements space and air. You can think if it simply as like “wind”, and it has the qualities of wind–light, cold, and dry. It is considered the most powerful dosha because it controls very basic body processes such as cell division, the heartbeat, breathing, discharge of waste, and the mind. Vata can be aggravated by, for example, fear, grief, staying up late at night, eating excessively dry cold foods, or eating before the previous meal is digested. People with vata as their main dosha are thought to be especially susceptible to skin and neurological conditions, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, anxiety, and insomnia.
The pitta dosha represents the elements fire and water. You can think of it simply as fire and it has similar qualities–hot, sharp, and penetrating. Pitta controls hormones and the digestive system. A person with a pitta imbalance may experience negative emotions such as anger and may have physical symptoms such as heartburn, rashes, or inflammation. Pitta is upset by, for example, eating spicy or sour food, excessive stress, or spending too much time in the sun. People with a predominantly pitta constitution are thought to be susceptible to hypertension, heart disease, infectious diseases, and digestive conditions.
The kapha dosha combines the elements water and earth. You can think of it as like “mud” and it has comparable qualities–thick, slow, heavy, and cool. Kapha helps to maintain strength and immunity and to control growth. An imbalance of the kapha dosha may cause excessive sleepiness, obesity, problems with blood sugar, or nausea immediately after eating. Kapha is aggravated by, for example, greed, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet foods, eating after one is full, and eating and drinking foods and beverages with too much salt and water (especially in the springtime). Those with a predominant kapha dosha are thought to be vulnerable to diabetes, obesity, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
Each person’s dominant dosha has a tendency to become excessive–and so the recommended diet and herbal regimen typically has the opposite qualities of that dosha.