Ayurveda, the source of well-being

Ayurveda, traditional medicine of India is more and more famous and appreciated in western countries. However, it is not just about to do healthcare with plants and doing massages, and its good understanding needs some explanations.

Literally, Ayurveda means life knowledge in Sanskrit and the medicine has its origin in the vedas, sacred Hindus texts. There is a Hindus deity that is associated to it: Dhavantari.

This traditional medicine has three objectives: cure the diseases, maintain the health and self-actualization. It spins her essence in 6 texts called Samhitas. The three first are considered as the majors of Ayurveda or the Brhattrayi whereas the three last form the Laghutrayi, the minors. Each books, called by the name of their authors, speaks about a different subject.. The most important is obviously the Chankara Samhita, founding text of Ayurveda in which it is explained how to diagnose and cure diseases by internal medicine.

Now let’s go to the heart of the matter. Ayurveda works on the assumption that human being is made by 5 Mahabutas, which means the 5 elements, by 3 Doshas that are vital energies and by 16 shrotas, canals that drive the doshas in all the body. Not easy to get right?

When we say that human being is made by the 5 elements, you must understand that according to Ayurveda, we are part of the universe, and so the 5 elements that compose the universe are also in us. These elements, as you may know, are the following: space – Akasha, air- Vayu, fire-Agni, water-Jala and earth- Prithivi. Of course it must not be taken too seriously, as nobody has a real fire in his body. It is about notions of space, warm and movement that live in us.

The Doshas can be understood as being biological moods or fundamental powers. Each of us has in him 5 elements, but the dosage of those elements differs from one person to another. It is the combination of the elements that constitutes the three doshas: Vatta, Pitta and Kapha. If you have follow the logic, you have understand that we all have the three doshas within us, but not balanced in the same manner. The nature of each person, called prakriti, on the emotional, physical and spiritual plans, is defined by the balance and the interactions between the 5 elements that are in her. The doshas that are dominant is us define our nature.

You know now the basic principle of Ayurveda. You are surely wondering how to know which our prakriti is? How to know the doshas that dominate in us?

Let’s begin by understand more in details each doshas.

The first is Vatta. It is actually the strength that manage the biological moves and rhythm the metabolism. Vatta is in charge with breathing, cardiac rhythm, elimination, etc.. It is formed by air and space. We find it in joy, fear, anxiety, lightness, nervousness and pain.

The second dosha is Pitta, which controls the physical energy, the absorption, the assimilation, the digestion. It expresses itself in the anger, the hate, the jealousy and the violence. It is formed by fire and water.

Eventually, Kapha, which is made with earth and water, is the structuring force of the body. It is in charge of immunity force, the heart and lungs energy, the humidity of the skin, etc. We find Kapha in the generosity, forgiveness, love, greed, attachment, courage, envy and calm.

To determine which your constitution is, there are numerous online test. You want to know? https://www.naturesformulary.com/test/dosha-test/

Knowing his prakriti is well and good, but what is the next step? Ayurveda advice a lifestyle and a diet for each constitution, whose goal is to always preserve the balance of our doshas and thus to avoid physical diseases but also mental issues. Several books and website are dedicated to Ayurveda nowadays. Ready to try?