Introduction to Ayurvedic Medicine
The 5 Elements
The 3 Doshas
Prakriti
Vikriti
What is Health
Diagnosis
Introduction to Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurvedic medicine is also called Ayurveda. It is a system of
medicine that originated in India more than 5,000 years ago.
Ayurveda is the most comprehensive holistic healing practice in the world and the precursor to all healing systems including Aromatherapy, Naturopathy and Western Medicine. The term Ayurveda combines two Sanskrit words - ayus, which means life, and veda, which means science or knowledge. To know about life is Ayurveda. In the philosophy of Ayurveda, life is a combination of mind, body and Soul and are considered
equally important and worthy of nurturing.
Ayurveda is a system that helps maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual into harmony with one's True Self. In essence Ayurveda has been in existence since the beginning of time because nature's laws have always governed us.
Beliefs in Ayurveda
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All things in the universe (both living and nonliving) are joined together.
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Every human being contains elements that are found in the universe.
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All people are born in a state of balance within themselves and in relation to the universe.
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This state of balance is disrupted by the processes of life. Disruptions can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or a combination. Imbalances weaken the body and make the person susceptible to disease.
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Health will be good if one's interaction with the immediate environment is effective and wholesome.
The 5 Elements
In Ayurveda, a person is viewed as a unique individual made up of five primary elements. These elements are: Ether (space), Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. To understand the body we must understand theses five elements. Ayurveda explains that all matter in the universe is made up of five elemental, cosmic energies or building blocks. These elements are representative of states of matter. This concept of the five elements lies at the very heart of Ayurvedic science.
These five elements, as well as in nature, are present within each individual, and since any of these elements are present in the environment, they will in turn have an influence on us. The foods we eat and the weather are just two examples of the presence of these elements.
Ether (space) is the energy field that is simultaneously the source of all matter (pure consciousness) and the space in which it exists. Simplified, it is the space between all things. 
Air is representative of the subtle movement of ether.
The movement of ether particles makes friction which creates heat. As particles of heat-energy combine, intense light is formed and from this light the fire element is born.
From the heat of the fire, certain ethereal elements are dissolved and liquefied, bringing about water. As these molecules solidify, the earth element is formed.
In the body, the five elements appear as the individual constitution or personal make-up, which is determined at the moment of conception depending on the predominant combination of the elements.
While the structural aspect of the human body is made up of the five elements, the functional aspect of the body is governed by the three biological dosha, a distinct combination of elements called vata dosha, pitta dosha, and kapha dosha. Each of us is a unique combination of these three dosha.
The 3 Doshas
In biological systems, the five elements function as the three doshas.
Vata Dosha
Vata is a combination of the elements space and air. It is dry, light, cold, mobile, active, clear, astringent, and its energy is dispersing. Vata governs the principle of movement and can therefore be seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination. Thus, Vata controls some of the basic body processes such as cell division, the heart, breathing, nervous system and the mind.
Due to the light quality of vata, a person with this constitution is likely to have a slim body frame, slim muscles, and little or no fat. Because of the cold quality of this dosha, Vata types will tend towards poor circulation evident in cold hands and cold feet. There may be an aversion towards anything cold and a strong attraction to warmth and love. The mobile quality of Vata makes these individuals quite active, fast-speaking, fast-moving, creative and energetic. When Vata is balanced, they are creative, enthusiastic and inspiring and make excellent artists and healers.
Vata can be thrown out of balance during the fall and winter seasons, and by, for example, staying up late at night, moving or traveling, multi-tasking, or eating too many dry and cold foods. A person with an excess in Vata will most likely experience dry hair, dry skin, irregular digestion, constipation, cracking or popping joints, anxiety, or insomnia. Vata-predominant types tend to be especially susceptible to neurological, muscular, or mental diseases.
Pitta Dosha
Pitta represents the elements of fire and water. It has evolved from the functions of fire in nature. As fire cooks, digests or destroys everything that it comes across according to its strength; similarly, Pitta is the basic energy-generating constituent necessary for all the metabolic operations of the body. The transformation of foods into nutrients that our body assimilates is an example of a Pitta function. It is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems as well as cellular metabolism. Pitta is hot, sharp, light, liquid, sour, oily, and its energy has spreading quality. Pitta types have a medium frame and good muscle tone. They are most likely intense, energetic, dynamic, perfectionist and focused individuals. When Pitta is in balance, these types make great teachers, leaders, and guides.
Pitta can be brought out of balance during summer, and by, for example, eating too much spicy, sour, or salty food; anger, competitive sports, excessive heat, or unfair acts of others. When pitta is out of balance, a person may experience emotions such as hostility, impatience, jealousy and be overly critical and have physical symptoms such as inflammation, heartburn, nausea or hyperacidity. If an individual has an excess of pitta in the body, they will have a strong appetite and have lots of heat in the body. A pitta person can sweat at a fifty degree temperature (whereas a vata person may not perspire at all even at a much higher temperature). People with a predominantly Pitta constitution are likely more susceptible to heart disease and stomach ulcers.
Kapha Dosha
Kapha dosha combines the elements water and earth. It has heavy, slow, cool, oily, liquid, dense, thick, static, and cloudy qualities. Kapha means the adhesive material which in the body acts as the assembling constituent. The gel like substance between our joints can be considered as Kapha for understanding purpose. Kapha is responsible for growth, immunity, strength and offers protection, for example cerebral-spinal fluid protects the brain and spinal column and is a type of Kapha found in the body.
People with a predominantly Kapha constitution tend to have larger bones, thicker muscles and fat, thick, wavy hair and big, attractive eyes. They tend to put on weight, have a slow metabolism and digestion, may have cool, clammy skin, and can work without food. Kapha types are slow-moving and slow-talking, and do often not like to jog or exercise too much. When in balance, they are consistent, dedicated, loyal, have unconditional love, calm, nurturing, devoted, forgiving, loving, generous, and compassionate people. They make the best friends and make wonderful caretakers and supporters.
An imbalance in the Kapha dosha may cause congestion, excess mucus, lethargy, weight gain, depression, over-attachment, and resistance to healthy change. Kapha is aggravated during spring and by, for example, sleeping during the daytime, eating too many sweet, sour, or salty foods; eating after one is full, excessive water intake, fatty and oily foods, and lack of movement.
Those with a predominant Kapha dosha are vulnerable to water retention, diabetes, gallbladder problems, and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis.
Prakriti 
The word Prakriti means natural or original form and source. Pra can be translated as the beginning or source of origin, and kriti means composition or creation. Thus, Prakriti refers to the innate constitution of the human body.
The five elements and the three dosha constitute Prakriti and is determined at the moment of conception depending on the predominant combination of the elements. Every person is born with a basic Prakriti which determines body type, personality and tendency to illness. While the basic Prakriti does not change over a person's lifetime except rare circumstances, aspects thereof change with age, seasons and geo-climatic conditions. By understanding our Prakriti, we can anticipate our disease tendencies and patterns and learn how to cope with them in order to prevent becoming sick.
Superficially it may appear that some Prakriti are better than others. However, each type has its positive and negative aspects. There is no "wrong" Prakriti type, and we should not desire to be of a different one. We need to start from wherever we are. This means that we need to understand where we stand and accept it. Then we need to plan intelligently to attain the healthiest state by realizing our potential. The Ayurvedic understanding of Prakriti provides a way to do this - to analyze and assess where we stand and to provide guidance to attain perfect health. Every living being has an inherent tendency to move in the direction of self-healing and balance.
The backbone of Ayurveda is the principle that our health is directly dependant on the balance of Prakriti, and there is great emphasis on examining Prakriti of each individual, because it allows the Ayurvedic practitioner to achieve the understanding of the imbalances that the client is suffering from and how health is restored. Thus, diagnosing Prakriti is a guide for intelligent action to tell us in which direction we should move and how we should act to improve our physical and mental well-being.
Vikriti
Vikriti refers to the current imbalance or altered state of doshas in the body and mind representing a deviation from Prakriti. If our present state is the same as our Prakriti then we are balanced and healthy, but it is most likely that there will be a difference since Vikriti reflects any aspects of lifestyle, diet, environment, emotions etc. that are not in harmony with one's Prakriti. For example, environmental influences such as climate, choice of career; personal relationships; unhealthy lifestyle or diet; too much or too little mental and physical exertion; or not being properly protected from the weather, chemicals, or germs contribute to Vikriti.
According to Ayurveda, if one lives a natural, simple, and clean life, there will always be more momentum in the direction of health than towards disease. There is an inherent tendency in nature to move from Vikriti to Prakriti and systems of medicine are merely strategies to assist this gentle, yet inexorable, self-healing progression.
No matter what the constitution, it is possible to achieve optimal health through proper diet, lifestyle, and attitude towards life that specifically suits each individual.
What is Health
The Ayurvedic definition of health is that state in which the structure and function of a particular individual is operating optimally and the individual is in a state of physical, mental, and spiritual equilibrium.
The Ayurvedic state of health is elegantly described in the great texts by Charaka and Vagbhata:
- All three doshas are in equilibrium with regard to the individual Prakriti.
- All seven tissues (dhatus) are in the proper state of strength and integrity.
- The digestive fires (agnis) are balanced resulting in proper appetite, digestion, and assimilation.
- The waste materials (malas) are being produced and eliminated in a regular manner.
- The sense organs are functioning normally and the mind is undisturbed.
- The individual is experiencing happiness and contentment.
Diagnosis
The Ayurvedic diagnosis is always done of a client as a whole. A careful note is taken of internal physiological characteristics and mental disposition. Other factors such as the affected doshas, dhatus, the site at which the disease is located, the stage of clinical conditions, vitality, daily routine, dietary habits, condition of digestion and details of personal, social, economic and environmental situations. The diagnosis also involves the following examinations: general physical assessment including skin, body build, nails, face, tongue, and pulse.
Ayurveda has developed a very vivid analytical description of the stages and events that take place since the causative factors commence to operate till the final manifestation of disease. This gives Ayurveda an additional advantage of knowing the possible onset of disease much before the latent symptoms become apparent. This enhances the preventive role by making it possible to take proper and effective steps in advance, to arrest further progress in pathogenesis and to take suitable therapeutic measures to curb the disease in its earliest stage of onset.
In order to complete her training in Ayurveda, Heidi is currently seeking clients for her practice. There is no charge for appointments, however, donations are gladly accepted.
To schedule and appointment, call 303-678-7657 or click here.
