ORIGINATING IN INDIA over 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science in the world. In Sanskrit, the language of India’s most sacred writings, Ayurveda translates as the “Science of Life” (ayuh: “life”; veda: “knowledge”) and is often referred to as the “mother of all healing.” This information is compiled into three main ancient Sanskrit texts (brhat trayi—the Great Triad: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hrdaya), which still inform our studies today. These texts identify five elements in nature (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, Earth), and acknowledge that all matter, including the human body, is a manifestation of these five elements. 

All matter, including the human body, is a manifestation of five elements:

ether • air • fire • water • earth.

The human physio-psycho complex is a unique organization of these elements into types, or doshas, which are manifest at birth as an individual’s unique constitution (prakriti). For a basic understanding, we can over-simplify these types into: vata (air, movement), pitta (fire, transformation), and kapha (water, structure). Each person has all 5 elements within, but, in most cases, one element predominates. This is set at birth, but our environments, relationships, traumas, diets, the seasons, and reactions to the world around us create an imbalance (vikruti) in that initial state. Disease manifests when the elements shift out of balance and the doshas, all of which have a home site in the body, are provoked and circulate throughout the system. This often starts with signs and symptoms of digestive issues, fatigue, and general malaise, then creates more and more serious issues when not addressed.

Balance, optimal health, and happiness are natural to us. 

Chaos, disease, and unhappiness are not.

Ayurveda informs us that balance, optimal health, and happiness are natural to us. Chaos, disease, and unhappiness are not. It works to create balance between these elements—in body, mind, and environment—and places great emphasis on prevention of disease. While it may seem almost too simple that so much of our balance/health and imbalance/disease is within our direct control, it’s true—we are largely responsible for our states of health and happiness. 

Ayurveda allows us to take control of our own health by observing the effects food, environment, and even thoughts, have on our bodies and minds. From here, if we catch ourselves before full disease manifestation, we can make meaningful change by: eliminating the cause of our dis-ease and introducing balancing qualities into our foods, thoughts, and behaviors.  

For example. If you have a vata constitution (ether, air), and you add more of the airy quality: dry or light foods, exposure to wind and cold, or engage in too much movement, you might have to deal with constipation, gas and bloating, dry skin, forgetfulness, or anxiety. If you have a pitta constitution (fire, water), and you consistently add fire: acidic or spicy foods, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, too much sun, or competition, you will likely find yourself dealing with indigestion, diarrhea, ulcers, high blood pressure, anger, or impatience.  A person with a kapha constitution (water, earth) who adds more of the earthy quality: heavy or fatty foods, dairy, cold drinks, or a sedentary lifestyle, might have to deal with health issues like obesity, diabetes, allergies/asthma, or feelings of heaviness and lethargy after meals.

The vata person here could remove dry, light, gassy foods (popcorn, chips, beans) and introduce more unctuous foods and good fats. He could avoid exposure to cold and wind, and make sure to stay warm at all times.

The pitta person dealing with the above symptoms could remove spicy foods and reduce intake of alcohol and coffee. This person will want to avoid direct exposure to the sun, and find healthy ways to manage anger (e.g., meditation, exercise)

The kapha person would want to avoid fried, fatty, oily, and dairy foods. She would want to introduce the opposite qualities, such as heat: warm foods and drinks, and regular exercise that elevates the heart rate and produces sweat. 

Like attracts like and opposites balance.

Balanced modern day living requires that we take a more active role in our health, well-being, and healing. Ayurveda, with its focus on the elements and rhythms of nature, continues to provide us with practical tools to create optimum health and increased longevity. We can use diet, lifestyle, stress management, herbs, and our own inner wisdom to bring ourselves back into balance. It’s a lifestyle, a daily awareness, and it’s worth the shift!

More About the Doshas:

AYURVEDA INFORMS MY WORK with clients, providing me with a method to assess current imbalances and things that are standing in the way—whether that involves excess weight, undue stress, inconsistent habits, or the prodromal signs of disease. I will share what I know with you, in order to provide you with an excellent tool to increase awareness and assess your own current state of health. Remember: health + happiness is the optimal state. Dis-ease, stress, and struggle are all things our current lifestyle subjects us to. I believe we hold a great responsibility for our health and wellbeing, and Ayurveda is one very accessible and natural way to find balance and alignment with nature’s—and our own—inner rhythms.

*Ayurveda is not a substitute for allopathic medicine, but rather a complementary approach. Where the Western model focuses primarily on treating symptoms and administering drugs and surgery to eliminate disease, Ayurveda does not focus so much on the symptoms of disease, but rather the cause of the imbalance. These two systems can effectively be utilized together to restore strength, optimize health, and rebuild the body after being treated with drugs or surgery. Ayurveda is a model of health and longevity.