Principles of Ayurveda
Basic principles of Ayurveda
The basic principles of Ayurveda focus on maintaining balance among the three doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Ayurveda, or the science of life, is one of the most ancient systems of medicine that evolved 5000 years ago in India. It was born from the stem Vedic tree, representing a straightforward healing approach. Ayurveda is not a system that doesn't revolve around managing symptoms like modern medicines but focuses on prevention by creating a balance between your mind, body and nature. This balance is created by personally curated herbal remedies, diet discipline, exercise and other Ayurvedic therapies. Ayurveda says everyone comprises Panchmahabhutas or five elements: Fire, Air, Water, Earth and Space.
When combined, these Panchmahabhutas give rise to three doshas or life forces: Vata (air + Space), pitta (fire + water), and Kapha (water + earth). Every individual is a combination of these three doshas, and the dominancy of one or more doshas comes from the individual's Prakriti or constitution. These doshas govern all the functions inside the body and affect individual behaviour with others.
Balancing the dosha: the three fundamental energies of the body
According to Ayurveda, every human being is a unique combination of three essential principle energies known as Tridoshas. These principles govern the biology of every individual, which is a build-up of energy to metabolize and then create a cell structure. Regarding the movement of energy, Vata governs it, pitta governs the function of digestion and assimilation, and Kapha structures it. When these three vital energies are balanced, an individual is healthy, and when the balance is disturbed, it leads to diseases.
Understanding each dosha
Vata dosha:
It is composed of air and space elements. It governs all the essential movements inside the body, such as ingestion and swallowing of food, respiring and all the body's voluntary movements. It also controls all the body's primary involuntary functions: breathing, movement of tissue and muscles, blinking of eyes and heartbeat and movement of fluid inside the cells. The Vata resides in colons and governs thighs, joints, bones, skin and brain. When Vata dosha is balanced, it makes an individual flexible as well as creative; when it is out of balance, It manifests stress, fear and anxiety in the body.
Pitta dosha:
It is composed of fire and water elements and governs all the body's metabolic system and digestion, assimilation and absorption of nutrients in the body and regulates the body temperature. People with dominant pitta dosha have strong digestion and metabolism, an excellent appetite, and perfect eyesight. When pitta dosha is balanced, it gives you a very intelligent with a good understanding and power of comprehension, which makes them an exceptional leader. When it is out of balance, it tends to manifest hatred and jealousy in a person.
Kapha dosha:
It is composed of earth and water elements and is the energy responsible for the growth and development of body structure. The major function of Kapha is the maintenance of fluid in the body parts and its systems. It lubricates the joints, maintains moisture in the skin, and builds immunity, strength, and mental endurance. When it is balanced, it brings calmness and preserves nature; when it is out of balance, it leads to obesity.
Aggravation of diseases according to Ayurveda and its treatment
According to Ayurveda, when one or more than one imbalance starts to manifest in the mind and the body. So, when it started manifesting on the physical level due to the imbalance in Vata pitta and Kapha principles energies, it disrupted the digestive system, which is the centre of all the imbalance. Later on, its aggravation leads to the dissimilation of vital nutrients in the body and further degeneration of body tissues, which is dhatus and manifests into a severe disease (arthritis).
Ayurveda encompasses several practices for assessing an individual's health by carefully examining the symptoms of the root cause of the imbalance. This will be done by including specific diet and herbs in the body, lifestyle changes followed by cleansing programs named panchakarma therapy and rejuvenation programs that help eliminate accumulated toxins from the body. Applying these principles creates health and wellness and eliminates disease from the body.
