What Is Ayurveda? * Spotlight My Health

What is Ayurveda? Simply put, it is one of the world’s oldest and most ancient forms of eastern medicines originating in India about 5,000 years ago.

The word Ayurveda means “Knowledge/Science of Life” and is a complete holistic way of looking at our bodies and how they work to rejuvenate and boost our physical, mental and emotional health.

Practioners of Ayurveda believe each individual runs on a combination of the three doshas which are Vata, Pitta and Kapha (mind and body types).

They don’t believe in one-size-fits all, but instead concentrate on the individual’s needs specifically based on their constitution. An ayurveda practioner doesn’t just look at someone’s complaint but looks at their whole body to balance it.

Since Ayurveda is a holistic approach, the practioner looks at the whole person as needing help rather than just the stated symptoms. They try to get to the very root of the problem so that complete balance and health can be restored.

HOW AYURVEDA WORKS

Ayurveda works on the assumption that all energies in the universe intertwine to work together. There are five elements of energy: space, air, fire, water and earth. Traditional Ayurveda practice believes there are three “doshas”; vata, pitta and kapha.

Each dosha is a combination of the five elements of energy and correlates with a season. Vata is winter/space/air, pitta is summer/fire/water and kapha is spring/air/water.

Ever wonder why you feel out of whack or does a specific season seem to affect you?

Each dosha also represents different parts of our bodies; vada/movement, pitta/digestion and kapha/energy that forms the body’s structure.

Ayurveda believes that an imbalance with your doshas may be the beginning of disease. A practioner uses yoga, diet, minerals, herbs, breathing exercises and meditation to work with imbalances in someone’s dosha.

They may even direct what type of diet should be eaten to best please your type of dosha combination. This is to bring about better health, longevity, wellbeing, clarity and vitality.

Since body regeneration and degeneration are brought about by the two main cellular processes of growth and decay. To have optimum health these two processes need to be in balance. It is believed that using just some of these practices can cause radical changes in how one feels.

AYURVEDA DOSHAS

All of us have a combination of each dosha, but still have a dominant dosha. All three circulate in the body and work with different parts of our physical, mental and emotional being.

And to achieve optimum health, all three doshas need to be balanced.

Vata

This dosha’s energy governs our movement so is associated with the heart’s pumping, blinking, muscle and tissue movement, breathing and any other type of movement the cells of our bodies need to do.

When this dosha is out of balance our fears and anxiety may rise up. But when in balance your creativity and flexibilty will shine.

Physical

Vatas are usually very tall, or very short, on the thinner side with bony limbs, and may deal with dry, cracked skin and their hands and feet can be cold quite often.

While they crave salty, sweet and sour foods and love warm or hot drinks, their appetite can be variable.

A Vata is restless and creative, enthusiastic and alert.

Pitta

Is in charge of our metabolic system which means it takes care of digestion, nutrition, absorption and our temperature.

When pitta is balanced there is understanding and intellegience. Out of balance, pitta can cause someone to feel jealousy, anger and even hatred.

Physcial

Pitta’s usually have a moderate physique but well toned and warm skin. They have a good appetite and disgestion with a strong metabolism that craves cold drinks.

They are intelligent, ambitious, sharp and can be very determined and focused.

Kapha

This dosha is the energy that forms our bodies structure and supplies the water for our body parts and system. It also maintains our immune system, moisturizes our skin and lubricate joints.

When the kapha dosha is out of balance, attachment, envy and greed could be felt. But when kapha is balanced, calmness, love and forgiveness are expressed.

Physical

If you have a kapha dosha, you may have a well-developed body with strong shoulders, a light completion with oily skin. There is a regular appetite with a slow digestion and look for warm drinks.

Kaphas are caring and supportive and also stable, loyal and patient.

GENERAL TIPS TO HELP OUT YOUR DOSHAS

Eat Fruit On Its Own

Its best to eat fruit on an empty stomach or before you eat other foods. When eaten with other food, the fruit can ferment before the other foods are digestion. This can cause cramps and constipation.

Hydrate

We all know we should drink plenty of water, but do you know why? Water not only keeps us hydrated, which our bodies love, but it also helps flush out the toxins we put into our bodies.

Eat the best food you can afford

It can be expensive for some of us to eat all organic, so do the best you can. Eat your food as close to how it was created and whole as you can. For example, eatting broccoli fresh, rather than frozen is much better and eating it raw or steamed is better than cooking in water.

Eat Only When You Are Hungry

Eating too much overburdens your whole system not just your digestive system, especially if your body is still digesting what you previously ate.

Wait until you really feel hungry, meaning you feel hunger pains from your belly and not your brain. We are all used to eating so frequently, it puts our system out of whack.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Taking care of our health is very individual. I don’t believe there is any one way that takes care of all our health entails. From my point of view, try something new in addition to our western medicine.

If it helps and makes you feel better, why not continue to use these other methods our world has to offer. If something doesn’t work, move on and try something else. No one way works for everyone. The practice of Ayurveda may help you elevate your health. Find items used in the practice of Ayurveda here including a copper bracelet good for joint pain.