Ayurveda An Introduction

Ayur= life
Veda= Knowledge Science of life. The aim of this science is to maintain the health of a healthy person and to heal the disease of an unhealthy one. ealth is a state of !alance among the !ody"s # fundamental energies$ called doshas% Vata, Pitta, Kapha% and a state of !alance of the !ody$ mind and soul or consciousness. As a science of self healing$ Ayurveda includes diet and nutrition$ lifestyle$ e&ercise$ rest and rela&ation$ meditation$ !reathing e&ercises and her!s$ cleansing and re'uvenation therapies. (any ad'unct therapies such as sound$ colour$ aromatherapy may !e used. According to Ayurveda each individual is !oth a creation of cosmic energies and a uni)ue individual . The universal cosmic energies com!ine$ at conception$ to form our uni)ue$ individual psycho!iological ma*eup. These energies are called ether, air, fire, water, earth + the , elements. These , elements com!ine to form the # doshas. Vata dosha is the energy of movement. Vata= ether + air. -itta dosha is the energy of digestion and meta!olism via transformation. Pitta = fire + water. Kapha dosha is the energy of structure and lu!rication. Kapha = water + earth. .hen the sperm and the egg 'oin$ at the moment of fertili/ation$ the vata%pitta%*apha factors from the parents !odies that are most active and predominant form a new individual with a particular dosha 0 element constitution. In modern times this !lueprint of the individual constitution is called the inherited genetic code. Ayurveda calls this unchanging constitution the prakruti of the individual. It is our own uni)ue com!ination of physical$ mental$ emotional characteristics and predispositions. The pra*ruti may seem to !e modified !y many forces in life1 2 Age 2 3&ternal environment 2 Seasons 2 eat and cold 2 Shifting thoughts$ feelings and emotions. 2 4ood. 5nhealthy diet$ e&cess stress$ insufficient rest or e&ercise$ repressed emotions can distur! the doshic !alance. 6epending on the type of changes and the individual"s pra*ruti$ various ailments may develop7 %Some individual"s e&perience an increase or aggravation of Kapha$ leading to conditions such as colds$ congestion$snee/ing and allergies.

Attachment$ greed and possessiveness may develop. % A pitta type may !ecome critical$ impatient$ angry and perfectionistic. -hysical symptoms such as acid indigestion$ heart!urn$ diarrhoea$ hives$ rash and acne may develop.

% Vata im!alance may lead to constipation$ a!dominal distension$ sciatica$ arthritis$ insomnia. There is a tendency to e&perience fear$ an&iety and insecurity. Ayurveda states that all illness results from alterations to the individual"s doshic !alance. Im!alance creates su!tle !iochemical changes that leads to illness. To stay healthy as the internal and e&ternal conditions of our lives change $we need to constantly ad'ust in order to maintain our e)uili!rium. Some of this ad'ustment ta*es place automatically due to the !ody"s innate wisdom. owever much demands conscious choice. To maintain !alance we have to 'uggle with the # doshas$ ta*ing action to increase or decrease Vata$ -itta or Kapha as conditions demand. This requires moment- to moment awareness, moment to moment consciousness, moment to moment healing . Vasant !a". ence healing%healthy$ !alanced$ conscious living in the the present moment% is really a way of life. Ayurveda as*s each individual to ta*e responsi!ility for his 0 her own daily living. Treatment -rinciple1 8i*e increases li*e and oppsite )ualities decrease each other. Vata is cold and dry. Vata is aggravated !y1 % autumn and winter% cold$ windy. % 6ry food li*e potato chips and corn chips. % 9ushing around $ too much change and social stimulation. % :eing on the computer. % .orry. :alance !y dressing warmly and eat warm $ heavier foods. Avoid raw foods. Avoid cold foods. Try to *eep to a routine. .arm$ moist$ slightly oily foods with spices are helpful. Steam !aths$ humidifiers$ moisture are helpful in general. If a vata individual utilises ayurveda they can !enefit from the winter !y going within to !alance the usual activity and restlessness.

-itta is aggravated !y Summer and hot humid weather. Aggravated !y 1 %too much spicy food$ li*e !lac* pepper$ chilli$ curry powder. %Too much vinegar and sour foods and cigarettes also heat up the !ody. %8ying for long periods in the hot sun and wor*ing near a fire. %3&cess alcohol ;fire water< is heating . %3ating e&cess fatty fried food or peanut !utter ;can lead to headaches<. %=affeine speeds meta!olism and is heating. .hen pitta is increased the individual may !ecome irrita!le$ agitated and angry. Tempers flare. Their sharp minds !ecome hypercritical and 'udgemental. >ealousy and envy may flare up. They need to cool down. -itta !alanced !y 1 Avoid e&cessive heat. Avoid e&cessive oil. Avoid e&cessive steam. 8imit saly inta*e. 3at cooling $ non spicy foods. 6rin* cool drin*s%not with ice. 3&ercise during the cooler part of the day. Kapha is made of water and earth% !oth cold. They are aggravated !y winter and cloudy cold days. They are aggravated !y cold and fro/en foods$ too many sweets$ sleeping in the daytime$ and sitting doing nothing. Sitting at a des* all day +especially if munching. They can tend to e&perience colds$ flus$ sinus and !ronchial congestion. Kapha !alanced !y1 ?etting plenty of e&ercise. Avoid heavy$ rich foods. Keeping active. Vary your routine. Avoid dairy foods. Avoid iced food and drin*s. 3at light dry food. Vata loo*s a !it spacy. -itta loo*s sharp and piercing. Kapha loo*s calm$ )uiet$ grounded and sta!le.