Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which means “the science of life and longevity”. It is a 5000-year-old health system which originated in India. It constitutes the art of the body’s harmony with the laws of nature. Its main purposes are both the prevention of disease and healing it if it occurs. Both prevention and healing are done by natural means, including diet, lifestyle, exercise, meditation, breathing exercises and medicinal herbs.
According to the science of Ayurveda, every individual is both a creation of universal cosmic energies and a unique phenomenon. It teaches that we all have a constitution which makes up our individual physiobiological state. From the moment of conception, our constitution is created by the world’s universal energies of Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. These five elements combine and form three types of energies, the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).
| Ether and Air | Fire and Water | Water and Earth |
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha |
| Energy of movement | The principle of digestion or metabolism. The transformation of matter into energy. | The energy of structure and lubrication. |
A healthy body (in a perfect world) has a specific doshic balance. However, this balance is constantly affected by many forces. Changes in our external environment, including seasons, thoughts, feelings, quality and quantity of foods we eat persistently affect us. Insufficient rest or exercise, unhealthy diet, excess stress and repressed emotions can all disturb our doshic balance. Depending on the type of change, the individual can undergo a specific type of imbalance leading to a certain set of consequences.
- An increase of kapha can lead to conditions such as colds, congestion, sneezing, and allergic manifestations, as well as attachment, greed and possessiveness.
- An increase in pitta can make the person become highly critical, angry, and perfectionistic or may develop physical symptoms such as acid indigestion, heartburn, diarrhea, dysentery, hives, rash or acne.
- Vata imbalances manifest as constipation, abdominal distention, sciatica, arthritis, or insomnia, along with psychological symptoms such as fear, anxiety, and insecurity.
All of these illnesses and conditions, in addition to countless others that lead to our suffering, are due to alterations in the body’s inner environment and balance of energies. These subtle biochemical changes lead to disease. This is why, in Ayurveda, healing every aspect of life, including mental, is critical.