Ayurveda, meaning “the science of life”, originated in India as a holistic approach to create balance within the mind and the body by aligning oneself with nature. The idea is to cleanse the body of substances that cause illness through proper diet and lifestyle. The belief is that disease results from an imbalance of the doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. Doshas are life energies made up of the five elements of nature (ether, fire, air, water, and earth) and pertain to an individual’s physical characteristics and personality traits. Most people exhibit a combination of doshas, but there is always one that is more dominant.
Characteristics of each dosha:
Vata: (controls muscle and joint movement, breathing, heartbeat, and the nervous system)
- Ether and air
- Dry or rough skin
- Intolerance to cold
- Fatigue
- Anxious and restless
- Underweight, thin
Pitta: (controls digestion, metabolism, intelligence, and skin color)
- Fire and water
- Competitive, controlling
- Visual problems
- Excessive body heat
- Irritable
- Stomach aches, and inflammatory skin conditions
Kapha: (controls immune system and physical structure of the body)
- Earth and water
- Oily skin
- Slow digestion
- Allergies, asthma
- Tendency toward depression
- Short attention span
- Needy
Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of nutrition in maintaining good health and preventing and treating disease. Ayurvedic treatment usually vr rolex day date mens m128239 0025 36mm grey dial stainless steel includes a combination of yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, mantras, cleanses, and rubbing the skin with herbal oil. Based on an individual’s dosha type, herbal remedies are also available to help supplement nutritional needs. They should be taken under the guidance of a health care practitioner.
Sources:
- “Ayurveda.” umm.edu. 2011.
- “Ayurvedic Medicine.” nccam.nih.gov. July 2009.
- “The Premier Center for Natural Health and Ayurveda.” lifespa.com. 2011.
Additional Learning:
“The Ayurvedic Institute.” ayurveda.com. 2011
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