Ayurveda in Sanskrit means, ‘Knowledge of Life’ or ‘Science of Life’. In Sanskrit, Ayur means Life and Veda means knowledge. Ayurveda is an ancient wholistic (whole body) healing method developed more than 5,000 years ago in India from the Vedic culture. This method of healing was taught through oral tradition from master-to-disciple. There was some knowledge said to be ‘in print’ several thousand years ago but has proved to be inaccessible.
Fast forward to today’s culture, many wholistic healing methods now have their roots in Ayurveda as we see the weave of the internal and external environment being addressed and balanced.
The 5 Natural Elements
Ayurveda looks at the five (5) natural elements of - air, earth, fire, ether (space) and water that are seen as portals into our internal and external environment. You can remember these five (5) elements using the acronym WAFES or WAFEE- water, air, fire, earth, ether (space)
The 3 Doshas
These five (5) elements are seen in every living thing and every single person, which fall into three (3) different combinations of these energies (Doshas) - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. One of my 300 Hour teachers (Indu Arora) from India said the proper pronounciation is Vat, Pitt and Kaph. She said the ‘a’ is silent.
Since these combinations are present in every ‘thing’ and every ‘body’ then we also recognize that these qualities are in every physical substance, every single emotion and every single thought.
The 10 Gunas (Pair of Opposites)
It is said (through oral tradition) that the ancient texts of Ayurveda referred to these combinations as gunas in Sanskrit. There are 10 pairs of opposites, which means 20 qualities total that are qualilties or attributes.
Heavy/Light
Dull/Sharp
Cold/Hot
Oily/Dry
Smooth/Rough
Dense/Porous (or liquid)
Soft/Hard
Still/Moving
Gross/Subtle
Cloudy/Clear
In theory, every ‘thing’ or every ‘body’ can be described in terms of these gunas that fall into the three (3) doshas - Vata, Pitta, Kapha.
Excessive vs. Deficient
When we look at the Ayurvedic treatment for conditions, syndromes, illnesses, diseases, etc., the treatment relies on recognizing when the gunas have become excessive or deficient, which in turn cause the Doshic imbalance, which leads to a condition, syndome, illness, disease, etc. Ayurveda applies the opposite qualities to return to balance.
The Universal Principle of Transformation
Agni, which is the Universal Principle of Transformation that manifests as our digestive fire, it works as an intermediary between the internal and external environment, which then transforms and changes and eventually creates waste.
Ayurveda interprets the body’s information (gunas) into knowledge and figures out what nurtures the body and what is wasteful.
Ayurveda kindles and stokes the agni (digestive fire) in the body in order to digest nutrients and expel toxins that have been created due to internal or external stressors, arriving at optimum functional mobility and mental well-being.
Eight (8) Branches of Preventative Care & Treatment
Kaaya Chikitsa (Internal Medicine)
Baala Chikitsa (Treatment of Children / Pediatrics)
Graha Chikitsa (Demonology / Psychology)
Urdhvaanga Chikitsa (Treatment of disease above the clavicle ‘collar bone’)
Shalya Chikitsa (Surgery - not practiced in the U.S.)
Damstra Chikitsa (Toxicology)
Jara Chikitsa (Geriatrics, Rejuvenation)
Vrsha Chikitsa (Aphrodisiac Therapy)
