AYURVEDA - the science of life
From the Sanskrit AYUR - meaning ‘life’ and VEDA – meaning ‘knowledge’ AYURVEDA quite literally means the knowledge of life and to have an understanding of Ayurveda is to have a blueprint for good mental and physical health.
Ayurveda is the world’s oldest holistic health system originating from the Indian sub–continent. It is the sister science of Yoga. Traditionally one is to study Ayurveda first to prepare the body for the spiritual practise of Yoga! It has been used for thousands of years to cleanse and restore balance to the body and mind. Despite it being more than 5,000 years old it couldn’t be more relevant to our modern, busy and stressful lives. With cases of chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, arthritis, IBS, psoriasis, eczema, infertility, menopause symptoms and depression at an all time high, in Ayurveda we have a natural, gentle and effective solution.
The three doshas
VATA
Ether + Air
PITTA
Fire + Water
KAPHA
Water + Earth
The Three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. they are made up of five elements that are found in all living things on earth: ether, air, fire, water and earth the building blocks of all life . Every individual has a unique constitution made up of the Doshas (akin to the Western notion of DNA). You may be 50% Vata, 30% Pitta and 20% Kapha for example. This is one of the reasons Ayurveda is so unique in its approach. The treatment given is specific to the individual – this means that what could be a healing diet and lifestyle for one person could create illness for someone else. While it is useful to understand your Dosha and how to eat and live correctly to keep it in balance, if you are already experiencing symptoms of illness it means one or more of these Doshas have been disturbed and this is when seeing an Ayurvedic professional can help.
DETERMINATION OF CONSTITUTION
The basic constitution of each individual is determined at conception. At the time of fertilisation, the single male sperm, unites with the single female ovum. At the moment of this union, the permutations and combinations of bodily air, fire and water that manifests in the parents’ bodies determine the constitution of the individual.
SEVEN TYPES OF CONSTITUTION
In general, there are seven types of constitution:
1. Vata
2. Pitta
3. Kapha
4. Vata-Pitta
5. Pitta-Kapha
6. Vata-Kapha
7. Vata-Pitta-Kapha
Balance Your Agni - An Essential Guide to Ayurveda
If you are new to Ayurveda, or curious to know more - this book is the perfect guide. Available at Amazon, Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and all good bookstores.