Ayurveda

The information on this page was written by Lecturer Renee Harrington.

INTRODUCTION
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine native to India that focuses on all aspects of health, including physical health, mental balance, and spiritual well-being. The science of Ayurveda describes diet, medicines, and behaviors that are beneficial or harmful for life and provides information on daily and seasonal health regimes for achieving optimal health. Allopathic medicine often focuses on treating the symptoms of the disease, whereas Ayurveda is concerned with its root cause and treating underlying imbalances. Ayurveda seeks to correct conditions or imbalances in people individually and naturally. Ayurveda understands that people need to be assessed and treated individually according to their constitution and personality, which is not the same for any two people. It is important to emphasize that Ayurveda is complementary to traditional medical practices and does not replace medical diagnosis and treatment.

Ayurveda is based upon an understanding of universal substances, which are termed the five great elements. The five great elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether form the basic material constituents of both the universe and all human being. Through the five elements and their qualities, three individual dosha are created (Vata, Pitta, Kapha). Typologies have been delineated for body structure (ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph), mental functioning (multiple intelligences), emotional response (levels of emotional reactivity or sensation-seeking), social relationships (level of need for attachment), and behavioral tendencies (level of stress reactivity). Ayurveda has delineated three categories of fundamental regulatory principles of the body, mind, and behavior (dosha) that can be related back to these common typologies.

There are two important aspect of dosha: vikruti and prakruti. Prakruti is one’s unique constitutional balance. Vikruti is the present condition of Vata-Pitta-Kapha. If the present state of Virkuti is the same as an individual’s Prakruti then the individual is healthy on all levels. However, for many individuals, there will be many times in life where there is an imbalance in Vikruti and Prakruti from diet, lifestyle, emotions, age, or environment. Ayurveda provides tools to determine and correct imbalances.

THE FIVE GREAT ELEMENTS
Ayurveda is based upon an understanding of universal substances, which are termed the five great elements (Pancha Mahabhutas). The five great elements of earth, water, fire, air, and ether form the basic material constituents of both the universe and all human beings. These five elements are associated with the basic principles of the universe and a primary property that we capture through the senses. Additionally, each element has attributes or qualities (gunas) that are used to describe it. Through the five elements and their qualities three dynamic forces or interactions called dosha are created. In Ayurveda, dosha is also known as the governing principles as every living thing in nature is characterized by the dosha. Dosha means “that which changes.” The doshas are constantly moving in dynamic balance, one with the others. Ayurveda is based on understanding and application of the elements and qualities to maintain a dosha balance.

Elements	Sanskrit Name	Universal Principle	Primary Property	Qualities
Ether	Akasha	Pervasiveness	Sound	Clear, light, subtle, soft, immeasurable
Air	Vayu	Vibration	Touch	Mobile, dry, light, cold, rough, subtle
Fire	Tejas	Radiance	Appearance	Hot, sharp, light, dry, subtle
Water	Apas	Cohesion	Taste	Cool, liquid, dull, soft, unctuous, slimy
Earth	Prithivi	Inertia	Smell	Heavy, dull, static, dense, hard, gross

Element of Earth
The element of Earth represents the solid state of matter. It manifests stability, permanence, and rigidity. Along with water, it is responsible for the physical constitution of the body. In our body, the parts such as bones, teeth, cells, and tissues are manifestations of the earth element. The Earth element is connected to the nose and the sense of smell. Earth, along with Water, forms the Kapha Dosha.

Element of Water
The element of Water represents the liquid state of matter and indicates change or instability. It is responsible for the fluid metabolism in the body. Water is necessary for the survival of all living things, and a large part of the human body is made up of water. In our body, blood, lymph and other fluids that move between cells and through vessels are considered water elements. The Water element is connected to the tongue and the sense of taste. Water is the dominant element in the Kapha Dosha.

Element of Fire
The element of Fire represents a form without substance and has the power to transfer the state of any substance (e.g., liquids to gas). Fire creates the impulses of nervous reactions, our feelings, and even our thought processes. In our body, the Fire element is responsible for digestion and is connected to the eyes and sight. Fire is the dominant element in the Pitta Dosha.

Element of Air
The element of Air (or wind) represents the gaseous state of matter and is mobile and dynamic. Air is existence without form. Within the body, air (oxygen) is the basis for all energy transfer reactions and it is a key element required for fire to burn. The element of Wind is responsible for the respiratory system. It is also connected to the skin and the sense of touch. Air is the dominant element in the Vata Dosha.

Element of Ether
The element of Ether represents the space in which everything takes place and is the distance which separates matter. It is the field that is simultaneously the source of all matter and the space in which it exists. In the body it relates to all hollow or empty places in the body, such as channels and pores. Ether is connected to the ears and the sense of hearing. The chief characteristics of Ether is sound, which represents the entire spectrum of vibration. Ether, along with Air, forms the Vata Dosha.

TRIDOSHA
Ayurveda correlates the three main forces in the outer world (Wind, Sun, and Moon) to the three energizing forces or dosha within the body (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), such that all bodily functions are associated to corresponding movements in the outer universe.
The Wind is movement and stimulation represented by air and ether and is related to the Vata dosha. This energy is generally seen as the force that directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination. Vata is the force that controls bodily activities such as breathing, blinking of the eyelids, muscular movement, pulsation of the heart, cytoplasm and cell membrane activity, and nerve impulses in cells. Vata also manages feelings and emotions such as freshness, nervousness, fear, anxiety, pain, tremors, and spasms. The primary location of Vata in the body is the colon. It also resides in the hips, thighs, ears, bones, large intestine, pelvic cavity, and skin. If the body develops an excess of Vata, it will accumulate in these areas.

The Sun is transformational energy represented by Fire and Water and is related to the Pitta dosha. This dosha governs metabolism in the organ and tissue systems. Pitta is the force that controls digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, body temperature, skin coloration, and the luster of the eyes. Pitta also manages intelligence and feelings and emotions such as understanding, anger, hate, and jealousy. The primary locations of Pitta in the body are the small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, fat, eyes, and skin. If the body develops an excess of Pitta, it will accumulate in the center area of the body.

The Moon is cooling energy represented by earth and water and is related to the Kapha dosha. Kapha is structure and lubrication. Water is the main constituent of Kapha, and this bodily water is responsible physiologically for biological strength and natural tissue resistance in the body. Kapha lubricates the joints, provides moisture to the skin, helps to heal wounds, fills the spaces in the body, gives biological strength, supports memory, gives energy to the heart and lungs, and maintains immunity. Kapha is present in the chest, throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm, plasma, and in the liquid secretions of the body such as mucus. Kapha manages feelings and emotions of attachment, greed, and long-standing envy. It is also expressed in tendencies toward calmness, forgiveness, and love.

PRAKRUTI AND VIKRUTI
Ayurveda teaches that each us of is born with a unique constitutional balance. This is known as our prakruti. Prakruti is determined by our parents’ nature as well as the circumstances of our birth. Our mother’s emotional and physical state, the season, and location of our birthplace are all determining factors in our prakruti. Our prakruti can become imbalanced due to internal and external factors and becomes vikruti. While it’s important to know our prakruti, as it is our true nature, an Ayurvedic practitioner will pay most attention to the vikruti. Vikruti is our imbalanced current state. Genetic factors, bad food combining, repressed emotions, weak tissue and organ systems all contribute to our vikruti. Prakruti is our inner nature, while vikruti is our imbalanced current state. The science of Ayurveda provides recommendations for keeping out Prakruti in balance for overall health and wellness.

Prakruti and vikruti are described in terms of the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. We are either born with one of the three doshas prominent, which is rare, or with a dual doshic prominence, which is more common. This manifests as a combination of Vata and Pitta equally or Pitta and Kapha equally. Any or all of the three doshas can become imbalanced at any time, although our prominent dosha is most subject to imbalance. Seasons can also contribute to imbalances. Generally, we are susceptible to Pitta imbalances in the summer, Vata in the fall and winter, and Kapha in the winter and spring.

A doshic imbalance is a state of variance from our equilibrium. We can work to find homeostasis with dietary modifications, lifestyle regimens, Ayurvedic herbs, and Ayurvedic treatment.

DETERMINING YOUR DOSHIC CONSTITUTION
Ayurveda utilizes an eightfold examination process to determine prakruti and vikruti. The best determination of prakruti and vikruti is through the pulse. Ayurveda’s system of nadi pariksha has seven levels of pulse on each hand. The most superficial level is the vikruti or our current state. The deepest level is our prakruti, our original nature. One can also take an online self-assessment to determine prakruti and vikruti. An example is located at: http://www.ayurveda.com/pdf/constitution.pdf

References

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