The Basics of Ayurveda

Ayurveda can be traced back to ancient civilizations in India thousands of years ago. The word “ayush” in Sanskrit means life and “veda” means knowledge, translating to the knowledge of life. As the oldest healing system in the world, there are over 600 plants and more than 8,000 recipes in Ayurveda medicine. ⁽¹⁾ Furthermore, many foundational theories of advanced molecular biology, quantum physics, and Chinese medicine can be seen in Ayurvedic theories …

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a “one of the world’s most sophisticated and powerful mind-body health system” ^(2). 

The main guiding principles of Ayurveda are:

• The Mind and the Body are inextricably connected.
• Nothing has more power to heal and transform the body than the mind.

The four dimensions ⁽¹⁾ of Ayurveda are:

• Body
• Mind
• Spirit
• Senses.

What are Doshas?

A large part of Ayurveda is the concept that you and the universe are one. The connection is made by the five elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth. These elements are what our body, mind, and universe are made of; there is no separation between nature and you.

These elements are combined in different ways called doshas or mind-body types. In Ayurveda, there are three doshas:  Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

These are biological energies found in the human mind and body. We are all made up of the three doshas in a unique combination. Some have more of one dosha than the other. This determines your prakriti or nature. The balance of your doshas relies on the seasons, your diet, the environment, your age and other factors. These can all affect health, mood, and energy levels.

Vata Dosha

Vata reflects the qualities of the elements of space and air. This dosha is connected to the all movements in the body and can give you creativity, communication, and flexibility when balanced. However, if imbalanced vata can bring anxiety, pain, and dryness. Vata types need cooked foods served warm. These include dairy products, sweetened food, good fats and oils. Rice and wheat are the best grains for vatas and fruits such as avocados, bananas. It is best to avoid spicy foods.

Vata Quick Guide:

• Composed of space and air
• Thin and lanky
• Very active both mentally and physically
• Flexible, imaginative and thinkers

Pitta Dosha

Pitta reflects the qualities of the elements fire and water. This dosha is about transformation and governs digestion and metabolism. When balanced, pitta gives you decision-making, leadership and critical analysis ability. If imbalanced, pitta will bring heartburn, hot flashes, inflammation, infection, rashes, ulcers, and fever. Pittas needs cooling foods, served cool. Pittas do well with fats, oils, salt. Ripe fruits and vegetables are good for pitta, except for tomatoes, radishes, garlic and chili. Some dairy is OK. Coriander and mint are good herbs.

Pitta Quick Guide:

• Composed of fire and water
• Medium build and endurance
• Strong and intense
• Skin easily reddens
• Competitive
• Natural leaders and quick learners.

Kapha Dosha

Kapha reflects the qualities of the elements of water and earth. This dosha is the energy of building, growth and stability – cementing the body as one. When balanced, kapha gives you nurturing, love, forgiveness, stamina and perseverance. If imbalanced, kapha brings obesity, diabetes, lethargy, sinus congestion, and depression. Warm foods are best for kaphas. Use only small amounts of fats and oils. Sweeten with honey but not baked or cooked. barley, buckwheat and rye are good grains for kapha types. Less dairy is best. Apples, cranberries, pumpkins, sunflower seeds and all beans are good for kaphas.

Kapha Quick Guide:

• Composed of earth and water
• Strong frames
• Athletic
• Loyal and compassion it
• Methodical and prefer routine.

Knowing your mind-body type can help you discover the needs that are specific to you – a personalized healing plan, if you may.

Ways to Heal with Ayurveda

Meditation

Meditation is a crucial part of Ayurveda practice, as it helps to balance mind and body. Meditation also helps to broaden self-awareness and create a state of overall balance.

Healing Food

Eating with your dosha needs in mind can be life changing. Eating is one of the most vital functions we have next to breathing. Nourishing your mind and body with food is one of the three pillars of health. Ayurveda eating can help improve mental clarity, encourage longevity, give you a glowing complexion, improve digestion, and sharpen your mind.

A balanced diet should include the six Ayuvedic tastes or Rasas:

• Sweet – Water + Earth and decreases vata and pitta and increases kapha. Sweet foods include wheat, rice, dairy, dates, pumpkins, and licorice root.
• Sour – Water + Fire and decreases vata and increases pitta and kapha. Sour foods include fermented food, vinegar, lemon, tamarind and wine.
• Pungent – Fire + Air and increases vata and pitta and decreases kapha. Pungent foods include onions, mustard, garlic, ginger, hot spices and hot peppers.
• Astringent – Air + Earth and increases vata and decreases pitta and kapha. Astringent foods include alfalfa sprouts, okra, cranberries, pomegranate, and green beans.
• Bitter – Air + Space and increases vata and decreases pitta and kapha. Bitter foods include turmeric, raw green vegetables, and green tea.
• Salty – Earth + Fire and decreases vata and increases pitta and kapha. Salty foods include tamari, black olives, sea vegetables, Himalayan salt and sea salt.

Each taste affects vata, pitta and kapha and when one of these doshas are imbalanced, these tastes can help bring equilibrium. Try to include all six tastes at each meal.

Other ways to live according to Ayurveda

• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Spend time in nature and live by its rhythms.
• Move your body and listen to your body’s needs.
• Keep your digestive energy, also known as agni or fire, strong and nourished.
• Let it go and relax by aligning yourself with the power of nature and not fighting against it.
• Dry skin brushing – this helps to remove toxins from the lymphatic system.
• Scraping your tongue – removes bacteria and reduces bad breath.
• Using a neti pot – flushes out excess mucus and helps with deeper breathing.
• Eating local and seasonal foods – this helps with internal balance.
• Using spices as medicine for their healing properties.
• Practice abyangha or self-massage – stimulates the lymphatic system, supports skin health and reduces stress.

References

1. Ajmera, Ananta Ripa. The Ayurveda Way: 108 Practices from the World’s Oldest Healing System for Better Sleep, Less Stress, Optimal Digestion, and More. Storey Publishing. North Adams, MA. 2017. Print.
2. Chopra, Deepak. “What is Ayurveda?” The Chopra Center. https://chopra.com/articles/what-is-ayurveda Accessed Set 17 2019.