Derived from the Sanskrit root words - 'ayus' (life) and 'ved' (knowledge) - this healing science offers a rich, comprehensive outlook to a healthy life. Its origins go back nearly 5,000 years. It was developed and practiced by the same sages or rishis, who laid the foundations of the Vedic civilization in India, by organizing the fundamentals of life into optimal systems. The main source of knowledge in this field are the Vedas - a collection of four books. The most prominent is the Atharvaveda, also known as Knowledge of the Magic Formulas, which dates back to 1,000 BCE.
Philosophy Ayurveda is influenced by the philosophy of creation and manifestation. The Sankhya philosophy is one of the most influential of the (six) systems of the Indian perspectives of knowledge.
When used as a term, Sankhya means 'perfect knowledge'. It is a dualistic realism as it advocates two ultimate realities: Prakriti (matter) and Purusha (self or spirit). Purusha is the unmanifested, passive, attribute-less pure Being.
Prakriti is the creative force of Creation. Purusha is male, while Prakriti is female energy. These two aspects of Cosmic Consciousness work in harmony with each other and are the source of all existence.
In Ayurveda, health is defined as a state of balance between mind, body and environment. Doshas refer to one's unique physical and mental constitution, which influence your personal well-being. Ayurveda offers personalized recommendations based on your dosha for the treatment of 'dis-ease' (an imbalance of our natural state of 'ease'). Doshas are the life energies behind all our bodily functions. They are derived from combinations of the five primal elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether.
The vatta dosha is known to govern all the movements of mind and body. From controlling the blood flow to elimination of the waste and harmful toxins to breathing and the flow of thoughts in the mind; the vatta dosha is like a predominant force that minimizes stress and feeds the creativity within you. If the vatta dosha is in balance, you will feel energetic, enthusiastic and lively, but the moment it becomes imbalanced, it manifests in the body problems like constipation, hypertension, fatigue, digestive challenges and restlessness among others.
The pitta dosha controls digestion, metabolism, and energy production. The primary function of Pitta is transformation. Those with a predominance of the Pitta principle have a fiery nature that manifests in both body and mind. Pittas have a lustrous complexion, perfect digestion, abundant energy, and a strong appetite. When out of balance, Pittas may suffer from skin rashes, burning sensations, peptic ulcers, excessive body heat, heartburn, and indigestion.
Kapha governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body. It is the principle that holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, bone, and sinew. It controls weight, growth, lubrication for the joints and lungs, and formation of all the seven tissues — nutritive fluids, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow and reproductive tissues. It helps build excellent stamina but when it goes out of balance it can also cause a person to become overweight, sleep excessively, and suffer from the problem of diabetes, asthma and depression.