Story of Ayurveda

What is Ayurveda

Ayurveda translates from Sanskrit to English as “science of life” and consists of a system of healthy living and treatment of disease. Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It was developed more than 5,000 years ago in India. Ayurveda originates from the Vedas (Atharva Veda), or holy scriptures in Hinduism. It is believed to be the oldest healing science, forming the foundations of all others and is considered to be the most holistic medical system available.

Ayurveda is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. Its main goal is to promote good health, not fight disease. But treatments may be geared toward specific health problems. The beauty of Ayurveda is that it recognizes the individual’s needs, rather than lumping all symptoms into narrow categories with sweeping diagnoses and treatments.

Yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences, so often those who teach and practice Yoga also have an interest in learning about Ayurveda. The two go hand in hand and can be used as a guide for health and wellness throughout a lifetime.

Because Ayurveda is an ancient teaching, like Yoga, terms are written and translated from Sanskrit. Don’t let this discourage you. While learning correct pronunciations of terms is admirable, it is far more important to understand the concepts and be able to apply your learning to your life and the lives of others.

Understanding Balance in Our Body

Ayurveda teaches us first about balance. This balance is found through a system of four parts – Doshas (energies), Agni (fire), Dhatus (tissues), and Mala (waste). Balance of these four parts is crucial to remain healthy and vital. The balance can be felt in the physical body (increased immunity), as well as in the astral body (allowing prana to flow with ease). The five elements of the universe (earth, air, fire, water, and ether) are present in all forms of creation.

Ayurveda teaches us that we can adequately educate ourselves to take control of our health. This is achieved by monitoring and balancing our nutritional and lifestyle habits to heal, prevent illness, and develop longevity. We are our own best healers and intuition is better at discerning subtle health imbalances than relying on someone else.

The ability to take control of one’s health inspires self-worth and self-empowerment. Realizing one’s ability to take control of one’s health is itself a key factor in healing.

Personalizing the healing process is a uniqueness that Ayurveda brings to holistic health. Ayurvedic approach to healing is threefold:

1. ) Determining one’s elemental constitution (prakruti or dosha).


2. ) Learning the cause of illness.


3. ) Applying therapy to balance elements causing the illness, without causing an imbalance to the dosha.

The ability to take control of one’s health inspires self-worth and self-empowerment. Realizing one’s ability to take control of one’s health is itself a key factor in healing.

Doshas

The three Doshas are energies present in the mind and body and can affect every part of our life and well-being. We all have a distinct combination of the three Doshas in our body. There are seven possible Dosha combinations for each individual: Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta or Pitta-Vata, Vata-Kapha or Kapha-Vata, Pitta-Kapha or Kapha-Pitta, and Vata-Pitta-Kapha.

Vata - The force of movement, action, sensation (i.e. eating)
Pitta - Transformation processes (i.e. digestion)
Kapha - Strength and stability (i.e. use of energy)

Agni

TAgni is found in the body in the form of digestive fire. When agni is strong, it allows food to be digested easily and prevents the buildup of ama (toxins that lead to disease). In Ayurveda, digestion is everything. Regardless of Dosha, if digestion is strong, the body will be healthy or able to quickly heal itself. Agni can be improved through an individual’s diet (example: drinking ginger tea).

Dhatus

The body’s physical form is made up of seven tissues: Rasa (plasma), (Rakta) blood, (Mansa) muscle and skin, (Mela) fat, (Asthi) bones, (Majja) bone marrow, and (Sukra) reproductive tissue (sperm and egg).

These tissues create a chain; each digested by agni to create the next. Ex: food is digested to produce plasma, then plasma is digested to produce blood, and so on. If Rasa (plasma) is strong, all the following dhatus will be strong.

Malas

Metabolic waste products from the body include urine, feces, and sweat. Also includes miscellaneous wastes such as tears, spit, mucus, and oil. If they are not passed in a timely manner, it can lead to disease. Lack of agni can prevent the passing of ama.

Ama

Ama are toxins in the body created when food is not digested properly. Ama in the body leads to blockages and eventually causes diseases.

Ojas

Ojas is the essence of all of the dhatus (tissues) and can be thought of as the immune system in modern medicine. Excessive sex, drugs, talking, loud music, insufficient rest or burnout, and excessive use of technology can deplete ojas. Signs of diminished ojas are fear, worry, sensory organ pain, poor complexion, emaciation, and immune system disorders.

Gunas

Each substance has qualities associated with one dosha. Like increases like, and opposites reduce doshas, dathus, and malas. These attributes are used in finding which qualities will heal or aggravate the doshas. Example: Substances that are heavy and cold should not be used for Vata/Kapha imbalance. Instead, use heating substances to increase digestion and pass ama out of the body.

The 20 Gunas:

Heavy, slow, cold, oily, smooth, solid, soft, stable, subtle, non-slimy, light, quick, hot, dry, rough, liquid, hard, moving, large, and slimy.

The three mental gunas, rajas, tamas, and sattwa are the qualities found in nature and the mind and parallel the three doshas of the body. Sattwa is purity and the preferred mental state because a sattwic person is calm, alert, kind, and thoughtful.

A person who is predominantly rajasic is mentally overly active and is always seeking diversions.

A tamasic-predominant mind is dull and lethargic.

Srotas

Body channel systems are called Srotas. These channels carry and circulate the doshas and dhatus or their elements to the various organs. These body channel systems include Respiratory, Digestive, Metabolism, Lymphatic, Circulatory, Muscular, Fat, Skeletal, Marrow, Reproductive, Sweat, Excretory, Urinary, Female Reproductive System.

The Three Doshas

Vata

Made up of air and ether. Air gives characteristics of movement and dryness, ether makes it light and subtle. Vata creates the force of movement in the body (ex: blood circulation) and is therefore extremely important. The main location of Vata in the body is the colon.

Vata functions include.

Providing movement such as breathing, circulation, nerve impulse, and elimination of waste.

Ignites agni.

Supports memory, drive, and understanding.

Qualities:

Mind –

Quick to understand and learn, emotionally sensitive, prone to anxiety and nervousness, sensitive to sound and touch.

Body –

Thin and fine hair

Tendency to be thin, loses weight easily

Tendons and veins stand out

Brittle and thin nails

Dry and cool skin

Delicate joints

Long and narrow limbs, fingers, or toes

Light and short sleep, easily disturbed

Talkative with fast speech

Prefers warm temperatures/disturbed by cold temperatures

Pitta

Made up of fire and water. Fire takes on the characteristics of heat and sharpness, water takes on the characteristics of fluidity and oiliness. Pitta is the source of transformation in the body (ex: digestion) and provides internal heat. The main location of Pitta in the body is the stomach and small intestine.

Pitta functions include:

Digesting food and fueling agni.

Producing blood and coloring the skin.

Provides self-confidence and intelligence.

Provides sight (the eyes are a location of pitta).

Qualities:

Mind –

Sharp intelligence and comprehension, takes responsibility, Hot-headed, eloquent, prone to judgement, structured, organized, driven, competitive, good memory.

Body –

Symmetrical features

Fine, slightly oily hair

Average weight, loses and gains easily

Moist and oily skin

Freckles and moles

Well-defined muscles

Elastic, shiny nails

Flexible joints and ligaments

Average-sized limbs

Sweats easily

Active metabolism, hungry often, thirsty often

Intolerant to heat

Prone to inflammation

Kapha

Made up of earth and water. Earth takes on the characteristics of heaviness and stability, water causes oiliness and smoothness. Kapha creates substance, strength, lubrication, cooling, healing, and immunity. The main location of Kapha in the body is the stomach and chest.

Kapha functions include:

Provides moisture to food in the stomach. Creates strength and cooling to the heart and sensory organs.

Stabilizes and lubricates the joints

Excellent long-term memory, good-natured, slow to change, tolerant, courageous, patient, generous, stable, calm, slow to learn, deliberate in reacting.

Thick, oily hair

Round and broad features

Tends to gain weight easily

Moist, oily, thick, firm skin

Thick and strong nails

Large, well-developed muscles

Firm, broad, well-lubricated joints

Strong, sturdy bones

Long, deep, restful sleep

Moderate sweating

Slow metabolism

Good endurance

Slow, strong movements

Good immunity

Prevailing dosha times of the day:

Kapha- 7-9h and 19-21h

Kapha/Pitta- 9-11 and 21-23h

Pitta- 11-13h and 23-3h

Vata- 15-17h and 3-5h

Vata/Kapha 17-19h and 5-7h

The 5 dosha stages of life:

Birth to 15 years- Kapha

15-27 years- Kapha/Pitta

27-42 years- Pitta

42-56 years- Pitta/Vata

56+ years- Vata

Doshas in the seasons:

Vata season: Fall and early winter (or when it is cold and windy) Pitta season: Late spring through summer (or when it is hot) Kapha season: Late winter through early spring (or when it is cold and wet)

Prakruti versus Vikruti – Nature versus Imbalance

Ayurveda teaches that each of us is born with a unique constitutional balance. This is known as our prakruti. Prakruti isdetermined by our parents’ nature, as well as the circumstances of our birth. Our mother’s emotional and physical state, the season, and location of our birthplace are all determining factors in our prakruti. Then our prakruti becomes imbalanced due to internal and external factors and becomes vikruti.

Genetic factors, bad food combining, repressed emotions, weak tissue and organ systems all contribute to our vikruti. Prakruti is our inner nature, while vikruti is our imbalanced current state. We need to consider both prakruti and vikruti in an Ayurvedic assessment.

Prakruti and vikruti are described in terms of the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. We are either born with one of the three doshas prominent, or with a dual doshic prominence.

Any or all of the three doshas can become imbalanced at any time, though our prominent dosha is most subject to imbalance. A doshic imbalance is a state of variance from our equilibrium. We want to go back to that homeostasis.

Seasons can also contribute to imbalances. Generally, we are susceptible to Pitta imbalances in the summer, Vata in the fall and winter, and Kapha in the winter and spring.

While it’s important to know our prakruti, as it is our true nature, an Ayurvedic practitioner will pay most attention to the vikruti. It’s what has to be balanced through Ayurvedic herbs, dietary modifications, lifestyle regimens, and Ayurvedic treatment.

Once we know our vikruti, we can partake in the journey to restore our health to its natural state of balance through Ayurveda.

The 6 Tastes

Ayurveda recognizes six tastes that are necessary in each meal to ensure proper digestion and balance of the doshas. These six tastes consist of salty, astringent, sour, sweet, pungent, and bitter. Foods can be a combination of more than one taste.

Elements and Tastes:

Sweet = Water and Earth (Kapha

Examples: Basil, Dates, Cashews

Sour = Fire and Earth (Pitta/Kapha)

Examples: Tomatoes, Lemons, Cheese

Salt = Fire and Water (Pitta)

Examples: Celery, Salt, Seaweed

Pungent = Fire and Air (Pitta/Vata)

Examples: Onions, Ginger, Chillies

Bitter = Air and Ether (Vata)

Examples: Turmeric, Dandelion, Coffee

Astringent = Air and Earth (Vata/Kapha)

Examples: Pomegranates, Chickpeas, Parsley

To decrease Vata, use sweet, sour, and salty foods; to increase, use pungent (spicy), bitter, and astringent foods.

To decrease Pitta, use sweet, bitter, and astringent foods; to increase, use pungent, sour, and salty foods.

To decrease Kapha, use pungent, bitter, and astringent; to increase use sweet, sour, and salty foods.

Pranayama for the Doshas

Cooling:

1. ) Sitali- Roll the sides of the tongue and breathe through the tongue. Exhale from the nose


2. ) Seetkari- Roll the tongue up to the roof of the mouth and breathe through the sides of the mouth. Exhale from the nose.


3. ) Sadanta- Breathing through closed teeth. Exhale from the nose.

Cooling pranayama reduces pitta, can be used during pitta imbalance and during warmer weather.

Creates mental balance, reduces anxiety and restlessness, cools the eyes (a location of pitta), reduces mouth ulcers, and can reduce digestion issues (especially diarrhea).

Not intended for those with vata/kapha disturbances (asthma, bronchitis, or constipation).

Warming:

Kapalabhati- With the mouth closed, forcefully exhale through the nose. Inhalation happens naturally. For beginners, practice 30 breaths for 3 rounds. More advanced practitioners can do up to 150 breaths for 3 rounds. The breath comes from the bottom of the lungs and base of the diaphragm, releasing toxins. Accumulation of toxins in the diaphragm can cause disorders in the liver, arteries, and heart.

Surya Bheda- Using Nasrika Mudra (Vishnu Mudra), close the left nostril and inhale through the right. Exhale from the left. Repeat 6 breaths for 3 rounds. The breath can be held on the inhalation.

Bhastrika- Forced inhalation and forced exhalation, without a retention between breaths.

Warming pranayama reduces vata and kapha imbalances.

Balancing:

Ujjayi: Deep breathing through the nose, creating a small space in the back of the throat for the air to pass. Can be practice at all times, throughout the day.

Ujjayi is also used as a heating breath when practice more forcefully. It can become energetic and can increase body temperature.

Ujjayi maintains the respiratory system and heart rate and is therapeutic for asthma, heart conditions, High and low blood pressure, and pregnancy (increases circulation), sleep disorders, and hormonal imbalances.

Nadi Shodana- Inhale through the left nostril while blocking the right. Exhale through the right while blocking the left. Inhale through the right while blocking the left. Exhale through the left while blocking the right nostril. This is one round. Repeat for 10 rounds. Can be practiced with a retention on the inhalation.

Nadi Shodana is used to purify the nadis (energy channels), stimulates the pineal and pituitary glands: balances hormones, nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic). Used also to balance masculine and feminine energy.

If doshas are balanced, we can practice one warming, one cooling, and one balancing pranayama.

Daily Schedule (Dinacharya)

Ayurveda recommends that in order to be optimally healthy we should tune our bodies to nature's master cycle which in turn regulates the various other rhythms.

When waking:

1. ) Think of God and think of your health


2. ) Drink a glass of water


3. ) Kriyas: clean eyes, nose, ears. Use a tongue scraper, neti pot, oil pulling, warm oil in the ears, oil in the navel, dry brushing and self-massage with oil.


4. ) Use a natural soap to wash


5. ) Asana and pranayama


6. ) Meditation

Try to wake before sunrise to complete the daily schedule.