The Philosophy of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, is an indigenous ancient medical science of India, which is more than 5000 years old.
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All things in the universe, both living and nonliving, are joined together. It is said that everything in the universe is actually made of the same five gross natural elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. Ayurveda is rooted in this belief.
“Ayurveda is a traditional healing system of India. Additionally, Ayurveda is believed to be the oldest-surviving complete medical system in the world. Ayurveda dates back approximately 5,000 years. Above all, Ayurveda embraces medical science, philosophy, psychology, alchemy and spiritual understanding. Moreover, this philosophy argues that wellness depends on a balance between the mind, body and spirit. Sanskrit is the root language of the word Ayurveda. ‘Ayur’ meaning ‘life’ and ‘veda’ meaning wisdom.”
Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical system that is based on the Vedas, a collection of sacred Sanskrit texts. The Vedas are the original source of Ayurveda's subject matter.
Ayurveda and yoga are ancient practices that complement each other to promote health and balance. Both originated in the Vedas and share a focus on harmony and balance in the body. Ayurveda can be considered the sister science of yoga, yoga the way of being and living, not just the physical aspect of the practice, but the philosophy of yoga.
Ayurveda teaches that three qualities, called doshas, form important characteristics of the prakruti, or constitution. These doshas are called vata, pitta, and kapha, and they all have a specific impact on bodily functions. Each Dosha represents characteristics derived from the five elements: space, air, fire, water and earth.
You can take a quiz to find out your specific constitution. We all have a prominent dosha, and we all have a little of each of the others. When these doshas are balanced we experience good health and vitality, when they are out of balance we experience, disharmony within which ripples into our realities. Knowing your prominent dosha helps you tailor your life for longevity, well-being and good health.
“Vedic knowledge is the ancient mantric science of the seers and yogis of India designed to show us the inner workings of the universe and of our own consciousness, leading us ultimately to the state of Self-realization and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.”
prakruti, an Ayurvedic concept:
Ayurvedic philosophy maintains that people are born with a specific constitution, which is called the prakruti. It's determined at conception, not at birth. The prakruti is viewed as a unique combination of physical and psychological characteristics that affect the way each person functions.
Prakruti is a person's nature, it's determined by the predominance of the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) in a person's body.
Throughout life, an individual's underlying prakruti remains the same. However, one's prakruti is constantly influenced by various internal, external and environmental factors like day and night, seasonal changes, diet, lifestyle choices, and more. Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention of illness, and recommends maintaining health through following daily and seasonal regimens which create balance.
“To know a person’s constitution is to know their tendencies. If a person knows their tendencies they can take the actions that keep their tendencies in check. A person who knows that they have a tendency to feel cold, easily avoids becoming too cold by wearing more clothing or drinking warm beverages. To know your constitutional tendencies is to be empowered with the knowledge needed to create balance in your life. Every living creature has all three doshas within them. We cannot exist without a certain amount of each. Kapha provides each of us with tissues, pitta provides metabolic action and vata allows us to move and express ourselves. Our constitution is best defined in terms of the percentage of each energy within a person’s constitution“
Like all holistic health systems, Ayurveda emphasizes the unshakable connections between the body, mind, and spirit. However, Ayurveda's connectedness extends far beyond the individual, reaching into the universal.
“There is a deep connection between the self and the environment.
We are all initially connected within ourselves, to people surrounding us, to our immediate environment, and to the universe. This balanced connectivity ensures good health.
This imbalance causes a lack of harmony, and makes us more susceptible to disease.
Human beings are responsible for their choices and actions. We can attain and maintain good health if we make balanced choices that promote connectivity and harmony.”
The Doshas:
Pitta is a term originating from the Sanskrit word pinj, meaning "to shine." This dosha, which is composed of the fire element, rules digestive, chemical, and metabolic function, and is associated with heat and oiliness. Its main seat is the small intestine, and it is the dosha believed to add luster to the eyes, hair, and skin. In a more figurative sense, pitta also governs our ability to "digest" not only the food stuff but also the concepts and information, which we then use to perceive our world.
Pitta-dominant people enjoy an efficient metabolism and hearty appetite. They are considered intelligent, aggressive achievers. Pitta people must be on guard against bleeding disorders, inflammations, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, and anger. To achieve Pitta dosha balance, Ayurveda advises avoiding extreme heat and eating less spicy food.
Vata is a term stemming from the Sanskrit word vayuu, meaning "that which moves." It is composed of the space and air elements, and is sometimes considered the most influential dosha because it is the moving force behind both pitta and kapha. From its main seat in the colon, vata is believed to promote a healthy balance between thought and emotion, and fuel creativity, activity, and clear comprehension.
A vata-dominant person is quick, alert, and restless. She/he may walk, talk, and think quickly. However, vatas tend toward nervousness, fear, and anxiety, and are more susceptible to diseases like arthritis, insomnia, flatulence, constipation, and nerve disorders. To balance vata, it is important to maintain calm and routine, avoid extreme temperatures, and get adequate rest. Vata in the body increases with age.
Kapha is a term that derives from the Sanskrit word "shlish," meaning "that which holds things together." From its main seat in the stomach, this dosha relates to mucous, lubrication, and carrying nutrients into the arterial system. Kapha also governs immunity; Ayurveda teaches that its energy promotes the ongoing processes of self-repair and healing. Composed of the water and earth elements, kapha is also thought to offer endurance and physical and psychological strength and stability, while also promoting positive emotions like love, compassion, empathy, understanding, forgiveness, loyalty, and patience.
Kapha-dominant people are considered strong but loving, tenacious but calm, and are blessed with wise tolerance. Kapha people are believed to be susceptible to weight gain, lethargy, excessive sleep, goiter, pulmonary congestion, allergies and asthma. To maintain balance, Kapha people are advised to frequently exercise, eat light meals, and avoid napping.
This approach seeks to create and maintain health and longevity within the individual. It emphasizes defining each person's prakturi (or constitution) and creating daily and periodic regimens to support that prakturi and keep it in balance.
These health routines focus on everything from diet and exercise to herbal therapies, massage, meditation and yoga, and social behavior and positive relationships.
The philosophy of Ayurveda placing importance on what we consume and how it interacts with our systems based on our doshas. This doesn’t just apply to what we eat and drink, but we consume from our environments, although nutrition is a vital component.
An example, most imbalanced Kaphas I know, do not eat light meals, or exercise regularly which causes a huge imbalance in their systems or feeds an already present imbalance. These dosha types are usually strong and sturdy and in some cases have a a stalkier build with broad shoulders and hips. They tend to gain weight easier. When there is an imbalance in their constitution, this type tends to eat more and move less. They are naturally calm, which can easily shift to complacency when they are experiencing an imbalance. It is suggested to listen to upbeat music for this dosha as they are prone to lethargy, and inertia; you can find a playlist specifically for Kapha Dosha here, if you’re interested. You can learn more about Kapha and other dosha types here.
Knowing what your constitute is will help offer the proper support your body needs during life transitions when stress and overwhelm are present. You will then have the awareness to know when you are experiencing the shifts into imbalance and can provide what it is the body needs to function optimally.
To get you started on the path of wellness, I have shared a nourishing recipe that supports ALL Dosha types, here. You can find other supportive recipes to encourage well-being and vitality for the body system as a remedy for depletion or to help prevent it, all on my Heart on Paper Journal page.