Defining Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the ancient traditional system of medicine in India that was brought down through the sages and ages in what is known as a collection of recollected knowledge called the Vedas. Many written books compile the Vedas, and some slightly more recent writings supplement the Ayurvedic knowledge system, such as the Chakara Samhita. The practices of Ayurveda date back to the 2nd century BC, making it one of the oldest systems of traditional medical knowledge in document. It is still used today alongside modern medicine in India and has influenced other systems of knowledge like Chinese Traditional Medicine.

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that studies the entirety of life. The Sanskrit translation for Ayurveda is literally ‘the knowledge of life’. Ayur = Life, and Veda = Knowledge. The study includes the five elements of nature, the building blocks for the universe that makeup everyone’s individual nature. Each of the five elements has its own inherent qualities that affect the environment and our physiology.

Creation begins with space, the container for all life, Mother Nature’s womb. Space must be available first before anything can manifest. Air then creates movement through that space, giving the element of transportation and communication needed for growth. Air moves in all directions, expanding outward to fill its determined space. Fire elevates and illuminates all of creation, bringing physical sight and awareness. It’s heat also transforms food into a form of sustenance that our bodies use to build tissues (lymph, blood, muscle, fat, bone, and reproductive functioning). The element of fire rises while the element of water flows downward with gravity. The fluid quality of water is grounding and lubricating making it the solvent for all of life. The final stage of creation in nature is Earth, the physical end product made possible through the previous elements. Earth has a binding quality that upholds the physical integrity of physical objects. The characteristics of each element interect with one another at varying levels to create something unique, from a mountain to a stream or a single-celled bacteria to a horse, bird, or human!

The elements also work in pairs, creating three Doshas, a Sanskrit word used to describe the synergy between two elements and their effect on the physical world. Doshas can also be defined as the three basic humors of creation that influence the physical environment due to each Dosha’s combined qualities.

Vata is the first Dosha, or King Dosha, because it holds space and creates movement so the other Doshas can be observed. Vata is responsible for communication and transportation in the body. These metabolic functions are seen through the body's channels or pathways.

Vata functions with the following qualities of Space and Air along withe corresponding qualities of expansiveness and movement to create and maintain life. When this Dosha is balanced, the body's tissues are nourished, and wastes are eliminated. If Vata Dosha is imbalanced, other Doshas begin to compensate, which creates disease in the physiology over time. Ayurveda teaches a system of knowledge that allows one to prevent these imbalances through awareness of their own elemental tendencies or Doshas.

Pitta brings heat to the digestive system and light to the eyes, enabling us to see the world around us. The ability to see and discern illuminates our inner world, giving us intelligence and knowledge through enlightenment. The light is our source of truth and transformation.

In Vedic traditions, Agni, the God of fire, brings us the quality of Heat, helping Pitta Dosha balance our digestive fire so that we may utilize our nutrition optimally. This could be any experience in life since diet is anything we take in through the five senses, not just food. What we see, hear, feel, and smell will either nourish or deficit the body and the experience of life. When Pitta is balanced, our internal flame is strong, and we metabolize our experiences through the body and mind with clarity and ease. In Ayurveda, balancing Agni or digestive fire is the first step to overall health and well-being. While Vedic tradition has many Deities to represent the different parts of life, Ayurvedic practices do not require a belief in any organized religion—only knowledge of the five elements of nature and how they interact with the environment and physiology.

Kapha gives physical structure to life due to the last element, earth. Space is just that, space. Air can only be seen through the mediums in which it moves. Fire can not be touched. Water flows and changes shape with its container. But earth is solid and stable. It is the most tangible element and gives Kapha stability and density. Imagine water and its three chemical phases: ice, water, and steam. H20 molecules create a hexagonal crystal lattice when frozen solid to support its physical rock-solid integrity.

Kapha is the physical plane of life. This is where everything seen and unseen comes to fruition. Our desires and thoughts come into action. The body maintains its tissues, fluid circulation, and waste elimination when balanced. The opposite is true for Kapha imbalances. Again, I want to mention that Kapha contains all the other elements within its manifestation, just as all of creation and the universe contain all five elements within its being. If Kapha is balanced, all of the other elements are too. When all the elements and their rightful Doshas are balanced, nourished, and celebrated in their own way, we can live in harmony with all of existence. This is a valuable tool for Yogic living.

link to point: the doshas are how I evaluate my ayurvedic clients, how I relate t the world around me, i use Ov for lots of things, relationships, food, activities, etc.

Since we are all elemental beings of nature, we have different and unique combinations of elemental qualities that make up our physical and mental nature. You know now about the Doshas and their role in creating and maintaining life on many different levels of existence, from the unmanifested Space of Vata, the light and heat of Pitta, and the resilience and physical support from Kapha. You will see these elements everywhere as you get to know the Doshas and learn different ways to apply Ayurveda. From daily activities, foods you eat, the people you are around, and more. The Doshas are everywhere, and they are constantly interacting with each other. Learning more about your individual Doshas and elemental tendencies is essential to balancing and attuning yourself with nature.

A Dosha Quiz is in the works! This will be a Free and fully comprehensive quiz that will give you your most dominant Doshas and elemental qualities. Subscribe for Updates.

As an Ayurvedic Health Counselor, I help others learn more about their true nature while using Vedic philosophy and Yoga Asanas to balance their Doshas. Schedule an Ayurvedic Health Consultation to learn more!

Resources

Lad, V. (1990). Ayurveda: The Science of Self-healing : a Practical Guide.

Maharishi International University. (2020). Introduction to the Doshas. [Course PDF].

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5198827/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9419799/#:~:text=Abstract,life%2C%20and%20veda%2C%20knowledge.

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