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What is Ayurveda

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Ayurvedic Body Types: Determining The Real ‘YOU’

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Ayurveda is an interesting science of life guiding us to learn more about ourselves. It throws light into our unique system and aids us in exploring who we are, what suits us the best and how to live a holistic and comprehensive life?

Ayurveda trusts that the entire Universe inclusive of the human body is made up of 5 predominant elements known as Devanagari, popularly known as ‘Panch Booth’, where Panch indicates 5 and Booth stands for the chief elements of the universe namely:

  1. Water called as Jala
  2. Earth called as Prthvi
  3. Air known as Vayu
  4. Sky called as Akasa
  5. Fire known as Agni

According to Ayurveda the human body constitutes of 7 primary elements known as ‘Saptadhatu’ and they are:

  1. Rasa dhatu defines Plasma or Chyle
  2. Rakta dhatu indicates Blood
  3. Mamsa dhatu means Flesh
  4. Medha dhatu stands for Fat
  5. Asthi dhatu means Bone
  6. Majja dhatu stands for Marrow
  7. Sukra dhatu denotes female reproductive tissue or semen

Based upon these elements and its constituents, human body is classified and expressed as the equilibrium of 3 fundamental energies (Dosha) also known as humors or principles of mind and body. Ayurveda uses the 5 primary elements of the Universe to define human body types as a combination of these five elements namely air, water, fire, ether and earth in different proportions within the humors. The Ayurvedic science says that every individual is made up of a unique combination of 3 body and mind principles, creating our explicit physical and mental personality. The 3 major Doshas are:

Vata Dosha: Vata Dosha is a representative of wind and is a combination of air and space (ether) where air dominates. It can be called as the controlling authority of the power vested with our body and it directs the other two doshas. This humor regulates the circulation, function of the nervous system, and the movements of our body along with emotional and bodily development.

Predominant characteristics: When an individual has a chief composition of Vata, he/she will look lean, act faster and stay flexible while being creative, conversational, visionary, artistic and fervent with full of energy. Imbalance of this energy can cause loss of memory, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, fear, dry skin, bloating and few other digestive disorders like indigestion, intestinal gas and constipation.

Pitta Dosha: Pitta Dosha is a blend of fire and water and it signifies bile. With fire being the superior element, Pitta is responsible for all kinds of corporeal actions concerning heat like digestion, creation of energy with the help of hormones and takes care of metabolism, body temperature and absorption.

Predominant characteristics: A proper balance of Pitta upholds intelligence, confidence, competitiveness, glowing complexion and leadership capabilities with a sizzling temper. Pitta disparity can cause jealously, anger, annoyance, disgust and other bodily problems like ulcer, high blood pressure, skin irritation, heartburn and soreness.

Kapha Dosha: With water as the overriding element, Kapha or phlegm is an arrangement of water and earth responsible for connecting bones, tissues, muscles and tendons. It is wholly in charge for the structure of the body by supplying fluid strength to all parts of the body while maintaining consistency, stability, solidity, skin health and proper lubrication of joints.

Predominant characteristics: Kapha balance aids in exhibiting tranquil, trustworthy, lovable and compassionate personalities, generally with hefty body structure. The unevenness of this type will lead to obesity, congestion, lethargic attitude and slow digestion.

Ayurvedic discipline states that the human body is said to be healthy when it strikes a balance between these 3 energy elements and when there is discrepancy, the body tends to become unwholesome and turns detrimental.

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda by Wikipedia
  2. Ayurvedic Body Type: Find Your Dosha by The Dr.OZ Show
  3. Ayurvedic Principles For Mind-Body Balance by Ayurvedic Talk

What is Ayurveda? All You Need To Know About Ayurveda

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What is Ayurveda? There are thousands of definitions to this ancient science and even if you are confused and thinking ‘Why am I focusing on this historical healing methodology, when the world is going digital and moving at a rapid pace while leaving its impact in every passing micro second?’ There are plenty of historical books, modern writings, journals, publishing; research studies and millions of websites that compete with each other in explaining Ayurveda and its impact on mankind. Most of the books and websites forget about one essential factor that ‘Not all of us knew Sanskrit’. Yes! The ancient Ayurvedic texts have originally been written in Sanskrit and have its roots deeply vested with the Indian mythology. Let’s explore what Ayurveda is actually about and why this age-old healing practice has gained so much of importance in the west in recent times?

The ancient wisdom of healing:

Ayurveda is the primordial system of treating human illness and aims at absolute human wellness. Think, if something is not working as it is said or is just an eye wash, can it survive even for a year? Decisively a big NO! Right???? Then think of Ayurveda in these terms. This spiritual science of healing has been in existence for a huge number of 5000 successful years. Yes! This is the power that makes me blindly trust that Ayurveda is the real knowledge of life meant to live a hale, hearty and a meaningful life in the pink. It is considered as an integral part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Why is it called as a holistic treatment?

When someone says holistic, they mean everything. Since Ayurveda has realistic remedies for all kinds of human illnesses, it is rightly known as the holistic remedy and the mother of all healing sciences. It respects human beings as individuals and not just as a mere assembly of organs with a soul in it. Ayurveda understands the individual constitution by means of the unique combination of the five essential elements of life, namely earth, water, air, space and fire. This helps in knowing what is good for our individual body type ranging from your food to your daily exercises.

With this thorough understanding, Ayurvedic treatment has a strong reason to justify that a particular disease has resulted due to your discord with nature. Ayurveda never stops with just treating your physical illness but looks beyond it and treats you psychologically, emotionally and spiritually to breathe the air of liberal health. Dr. Vasant Lad, the celebrated Ayurvedic Physician rightly said in his ‘Textbook of Ayurveda’ that ‘Ayurveda treats the whole person, not just the organ or system involved’.

What does Ayurveda actually do to you?

You will be astounded to know that Ayurveda acts as a relationship bridge between Mother Nature and its children, none other than human beings. Many a times when adverse health effects hit us, this realistic science helps us realize that we or our habits have moved away from the natural rhythm. With its natural medications like herbs, Ayurvedic essential oils, surgical treatments and other comprehensive branches of Ayurvedic treatment along with Ayurvedic massage therapy, meditation, good eating habits, yoga, doable physical exercises and an energizing Ayurvedic routine, Ayurveda supports you in reconnecting with nature, which means it guides you to a healthy state of living.

Not just an aid for treatment but a ubiquitous lead for betterment:

Ayurveda can be called as an all-in-one or a one-best-solution for all your health concerns throughout the journey of your life from your first stay in your mother’s womb till the end of your life. It is not like your contemporary treatment that gives you an injection and prescribes antibiotics to treat your fever and wait till these medications fight against the harmful organisms or recall you for a second visit to treat the illness. Whereas an Ayurvedic therapy doesn’t stop with treating your sickness but helps you lead a better life with a healthy lifestyle.

Ayurveda is indeed a positive energy and practicing this in our daily lives aid us in leading a harmonious life with our near and dear ones. It has the power to revitalize your life by inculcating spiritual, humane and peaceful values that can change your way of living completely and mold your personality to a greater extent. This is the authentic reason behind its growing importance in the West, where life is often mechanical.

Thought for the day:

Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open. -B.K.S. Iyengar

Suggested Reading:

  1. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles by Vasant Lad
  2. Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice by Sebastian Pole
  3. Ayurveda: A Comprehensive Guide to Traditional Indian Medicine for the West by Frank John, M.D. Ninivaggi

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda by Wikipedia
  2. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention and Longevity
  3. Ayurveda Overview by University of Maryland Medical Center

Five Vital Elements of Ayurveda

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The universe by itself is interrelated in some or the other way. Everything in this world is bound by five unique elements of life and has gradually become the five vital elements of Ayurveda, rightly known as the science of life. I often think that my 2 eyes are just not enough to admire the magnificence of nature and enjoy its excellence in each of its significant existence. One such immeasurable quantum of nature’s solace is the presence of the five essential elements namely Water, Earth, Space, Fire and Air in every survival of this globe. With such importance, the heavenly science of Ayurveda calls these elements as the building blocks of life, comprising human beings as the major part.

Every single thing in this world, be it a living being or a non-living object is exclusive and unique in its own because of a differing ratio of the five elements of life.  Even the Ayurvedic remedies like herbs, Ayurvedic essential oils, yoga, meditation and other natural remedies aim at nurturing the values of these five elements. Ayurveda identifies human body as a combination of the five vital elements in varying proportions, making an individual unique from his fellow being. Every object in nature follows an orderly mechanism that would make us speechless in awe. We rise on Earth and finally rest on Earth only. In between, all the five elements play a significant role in our daily lives, determining our physical, biological, psychological, social and environmental attributes. They are indivisible and together they are known as Panchamahabhutas in Sanskrit.

The theory of five vital elements and human system: Let’s now have a look at the way that these five elements lead, rule and influence the personality traits and attributes of mankind.

1. Water (Jala, Apa, and Neer): Most of us know that the Earth comprises of 70% of water and just 30% of land, similarly the human body is also made up of about 70% water, but for which the human system would stop functioning. The presence of water in our body is witnessed through trouble-free movement of various parts of the body and governs various fluids like blood, saliva, plasma, mucus etc.

In short, our body is supplied with the necessary energy only with the presence of this predominant element that regulates our body temperature as well. All the liquid items that we drink are all various forms of water and intake of water enhances suppleness, coolness, softness and the moisture of the skin. On an emotional perspective, water can be compared to a loving, gentle and compassionate personality with kindness and consideration.

2. Earth (Dhara and Prithvi): Anything that is stable and solid can be represented as a form of earth. The nourishing solid food items that we ingest are from earth. Earth represents strength, durability, firmness and might.  The muscles, tissues, bones, hair, fat, skin, cells, nails and teeth of the human body are governed by this dominant element. Mentally, earth stands for braveness, steadiness, vigor, constancy and the attributes of a warrior at heart, essential for a healthy and hearty life filled with challenges.

3. Space (Akash): The ever-present dominant force encircling the Globe is the space also known as ether. What comes to your mind when you just look at the clear sky in the early hours of the day? This sight brings utmost joy, humbleness, openness, liberty and an immaculate ray of hope and light to me. Space is everywhere and it is this space in the human heart that accepts and gives love without boundaries and in the body, it is considered as the container that accepts all kinds of impressions. This element is said to be present in the human system, wherever cavity and emptiness is present like stomach, intestines, nostrils, lungs, bladder, ears, throat, blood vessels and mouth. Light and hollow food items like wafers, corn flakes etc, are examples of foods with the presence of ether element.

4. Air (Vayu): This vital energy is forceful and itinerant. Without air the entire world would stop breathing and would look lifeless. The oxygen that helps us survive is just a part of air and acts as the foundation for all the positive reactions in the human body. The functioning of the major parts of the body like intestines, heart, lungs, joints and stomach are supported by air. The intake of air enhances circulation, coolness and movement. Physically, air is attributed to light, weightless, dry and movable characteristics and mentally, it is related to an active, vibrant, full-of-life and energetic personality that can influence and stay optimistic.

5. Fire (Agni): Fire grants the essential power that the body needs to digest and react to all metabolic, nervous, perspiring and challenging activities. It is only the fire in you that can help you withstand difficulties and win over the most critical situations in your life. This energy element converts food to fat and transfers the necessary energy to bones and muscles. The presence of fire determines your intelligence and the body temperature. It augments digestion, color and glow of the skin and metabolism. Hot, rough, sharp and clever traits are associated with fire.

Just like the five fingers in our palms, these five elements are highly important and form an integral part of every human being according to Ayurveda. Each of these building blocks play an imperative role in different phases of our life like Earth and Water elements are predominant during the childhood, when the body attains growth physically, whereas the element of Fire rules during adulthood when the body undergoes a drastic change. When we attain old age, the body tends to lose its flexibility and there is the predominance of Air and Space elements. I trust that this fundamental knowledge about the five vital elements of Ayurveda helps us realize that our body that is blended with nature, naturally.

Thought for the day:

“Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind and intellect and also ego-sense; these are the eight-fold division of my nature. This is inferior. Know my mother nature, the higher, Oh Mighty-Armed, the life-element by which the universe is upheld”. (7:4-5)                                                        – Bhagavad Gita

Suggested Reading:

  1. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention, & Longevity By Swami Sadashiva Tirtha
  2. The Subtle Energy Body: The Complete Guide By Maureen Lockhart Ph.D.
  3. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles By Vasant Lad

Reference Links:

  1. The Five Elements Part I: Ether by California College of Ayurveda
  2. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Comparative Overview by NCBI
  3. Ayurved, the science of life by Richfield