Introduction to ayurveda

Ayurveda, the knowledge of life, (ayur = life, veda = knowledge) is a holistic, individualized way of understanding and managing health that originated in India about 5000 years ago and has been evolving ever since.  Ayurveda looks at all aspects of a person: physical, mental, emotional, environmental, and spiritual, to address root causes, rather than the symptoms, of any health issue.

Ayurveda teaches that human beings, like everything else on the planet, are made up of the 5 elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space (ether). These combine in unique ways in each person to comprise their dosha, or constitution.

 The three doshas of ayurveda are vata: air and space, pitta: fire and water, and kapha: earth and water. Every person is made up of all three of these doshas, yet in various amounts, and usually dominant in one or two. A person's prakriti is the natural constitution they were born with, influenced by genetics, time and place and circumstances of birth. Over time the factors that influence a person's life including environment and experiences take a sway over their dosha and create a different balance. A person's current dosha makeup is called their vikriti.

 Some of the major elements of ayurveda are:

 ·         Understanding the individual constitution or dosha- Ayurveda sees each person as having a unique make-up, influenced by their birth, genetics, upbringing, surroundings, and life choices. To keep a person healthy or to treat specific symptoms, ayurveda seeks to understand the individual's dosha to find the correct approach for that person

 ·         Food- Ayurveda sees food as medicine, and nutrition is recommended based on the individual's dosha as well as time of day, season, and location

·         Herbs- Ayurveda uses nature's bounty of healing plants to promote health and treat health problems.

·        Routine- consistent daily routines promote physical and emotional health

·         Digestion- Ayurveda understands that proper assimilation and elimination of foods is paramount to the entire system functioning well. Agni- the digestive fire, is promoted via various physical practices including food, herbs, and cleansing procedures.