What is Ayurveda?

Posted by Wa’Shara Wallace on

What is Ayurveda?

Although it’s very popular in countries such as India and Sri Lanka, a lot of us around the world are still unfamiliar with Ayurveda....better yet, never heard of it. 

In this blog, we'll briefly discuss what Ayurveda is and how you could benefit from it!

Let’s for started!

What is Ayurveda?

In Sanskrit, the name “Ayurveda” derived from two words, “Ayurve” meaning “life” or “longevity” and “Veda” meaning “science” or “scared knowledge.” Therefore, Ayurveda translates as  “The Science of Life” or “the sacred knowledge of longevity/life.”

Developed in India more than 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic (“whole-body”) healing systems. It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a balance between the mind, body, and spirit. It’s primary goal is to promote good health at its core, not just the symptoms.

In other words, Ayurveda is not about simply taking a herbal formula and waiting for results. It’s a lifestyle that encourages each of us to be active participant in our own journey towards good health, healing, and overall healthy well-being.

How is Ayurveda Different from Tradition Medicine?

The basic difference between Ayurveda and Traditional Western allopathic medicine is:

-Western allopathic medicine currently tends to focus on symptomatology (the Science of the Symptom) and disease, and primarily uses drugs and surgery to rid the body of pathogens or diseased tissue. Many lives have been saved by this approach. However, drugs, because of their toxicity, often weaken the body.

-Ayurveda focus on the cause rather than the symptom. It's thought that to healing the the body at it's core you should maintain harmony between your mind, body, and spirit as well as keeping the body's supported energy being in balance. When there is minimal stress and the flow of energy within a person is balanced, the body’s natural defense systems will become strong and can more easily defend against disease.

Keep in mind, Ayurveda is not a substitute for Western allopathic medicine. It's rather a practice that can be used in conjunction with Western medicine to make a person stronger and less likely to be afflicted with disease and/or to rebuild the body after being treated with drugs or surgery.

Ayurveda Principles

Before we discuss some of the many ways Ayurveda can help you, let's first take a look at some key Ayurvedic principles and how Ayurveda views the universe.

Those who practice Ayurveda believe every person is made of five basic elements found in the universe:

  • 🌬Air
  • 🔥 Fire 
  • 💧Water
  • 🌍 Earth
  • 🌌 Ether (Space)

Every substance - including the human body, contains all five of these elements. With that said, in a given substance, one or two elements are usually stronger than the others. predominant over the others.

When combine in the human body these elements form three life forces or energies, called doshas. These dosas are:

  • Vata dosha (space and air);
  • Pitta dosha (fire and water); and
  • Kapha dosha (water and earth).

Everyone and everything has all three doshas, but one is usually primary, one secondary and the third is usually least prominent. Each one controls a different body function. In Ayurveda, it's believed that your chances of getting sick -- and the health issues you develop -- are linked to having too much or too little of your doshas.

What are Doshas?

Vata Dosha Part of your Ayurvedic Body Type

Vata Dosha

Those who practice Ayurveda believe Vata is the most powerful of all three doshas. It is the subtle energy associated with movement — composed of Space and Air.

In the body, governs the mind, breathing, pulsation of the heart, blinking, muscle and tissue movement, and all movements within the cytoplasm and cell membranes. In balance, vata promotes joy, creativity, flexibility, and expansion of consciousness. Out of balance, vata produces fear, grief, and anxiety.

If vata dosha is your main life force, you’re thought to be more likely to develop conditions like anxiety, asthma, heart disease, skin problems, and rheumatoid arthritis.

General guidelines for balancing vata:
  • Keep warm
  • Keep calm
  • Avoid cold, frozen or raw foods
  • Avoid extreme cold
  • Eat warm foods and spices
  • Keep a regular routine
  • Get plenty of rest

Pitta Dosha part of your Ayurvedic Body Type

Pitta Dosha

Pitta energy controls your digestion and metabolism (how well you break down foods).  It's made up of Fire and Water.

It's associated with digestion, absorption, nutrition, metabolism and body temperature. In balance, pitta promotes understanding and intelligence. Out of balance, pitta arouses anger, hatred and jealousy.

Things that can disrupt it are eating sour or spicy foods and spending too much time in the sun.

If it’s your main life force, you’re thought to be more likely to develop conditions like Crohn’s disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, and infections.

General guidelines for balancing pitta:
  • Avoid excessive heat
  • Avoid excessive oil
  • Avoid excessive steam
  • Limit salt intake
  • Eat cooling, non-spicy foods
  • Exercise during the cooler part of the day

Kapha Dosha part of your Ayurvedic Body Type

Kapha Dosha

Kapha is the energy that forms the body’s structure muscle growth, body strength and stability, weight, bones, muscles, tendons — and provides the “glue” that holds the cells together. It's formed from Earth and Water.

Kapha supplies the water for all bodily parts and systems. It lubricates joints, keeps skin moisturizes, and maintains immunity. In balance, kapha is expressed as love, calmness and forgiveness. Out of balance, it leads to attachment, greed and envy.

You can disrupt this energy by eating too many sweet foods, and eating or drinking too many salty things.

If it’s your main life energy, practitioners believe when excessively out of balance you may develop asthma and other breathing disorders, cancer, diabetes, nausea after eating, and obesity.

General guidelines for balancing kapha:
  • Get plenty of exercise
  • Avoid heavy foods
  • Keep active
  • Avoid dairy
  • Avoid iced food or drinks
  • Vary your routine
  • Avoid fatty, oily foods
  • Eat light, dry food
  • No daytime naps

 

Benefits of Ayurveda

Now that we have discussed some of the basic principles of Ayurveda, let’s explore some practical benefits Ayurveda has to offer.

  • Strengthens Immune System

The traditional practice of Ayurveda in combination with yoga, a healthy diet packed with nutrients and herbs like Alma and Ashwangda, helps to strengthen your immune system to combating disorders. 

  • Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Ayurvedic recommends treatments for reducing the stress that includes yoga, Ayurvedic therapies, smelling herbal oils (aromatherapy), massages, and other dietary regulation that is specifically tailored according to your body doshas constitutions that helps in creating clarity in your mind and body.
  • Maintenance of Weight

Ayurveda aids in managing weight by the means of a balanced diet, detoxification, enhance digestion, stress reduction, yoga, and meditation. It helps in reducing weight without affecting your physical and emotional balance and wellbeing.
  • Promotes More Energy and Vitality

Ayurveda’s approach to energy and vitality is multifaceted, with a special focus on adrenal health. Adrenals the glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.

By supporting your adrenals and finding natural sources of energy (eg. eating rejuvenating foods, lifestyle practices such as exercise and yoga, and herbs), you can stay active and doing what you love without experiencing a crash or depleting yourself afterward.

  • Promote Self-Love and Beauty

The Ayurvedic perspective on beauty focuses on the whole being, body, mind, and spirit through ancient practices such as self-massages with oil, dry powder massages, facials, and therapeutic scalp massages just to name a few. These Ayurvedic practice will lead to you having shinier healthy growing hair, smooth glowing skin, and more. Its holistic approach will leave you feeling beautiful from the inside out.

  • Support Quality Sleep

Ayurvedic methods can help improve you sleep quality by helping you balance your mind and body. With the use a Ayurvedic lifestyle practices (massages, yoga, etc)., herbs (alma, ashwaganda, etc), and a balanced diet Ayurveda can help you get to sleep peacefully and consistently.

 

Takeaway

Remember, Ayurveda is not a universal healing system but rather an individualized approach. Everyone and everything has their very own unique mix of doshas--Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that makes up their body's constitutions. One dosha is usually more predominant over the others. The use of Ayurveda holistic approach towards healing is to declutter your spirit and mind while taking care of the physical body as well as keeping your doshas in balance. 

[Read: Ayurveda For Hair Growth: 5 Foods And Herbs That Promote Hair Growth]

 

 

 

 

 

 


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