What is Ayurveda? a Guide to Prakriti and Doshas.
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Lysander Fairchild | Date : Nov 15 2023
What is Ayurveda?
The words ayur (life) and Veda (science) are Sanskrit roots for the word Ayurveda. Therefore, it is also called “The Science of Life.” Ayurveda emerged in India about 5,000 years ago as a natural medical system. Ayurveda focuses on mind-body balance. If you are healthy inside, you will be less prone to disease or illness.
The body must be balanced both from inside and outside. You mostly get sick when you lose your body balance like when you are stressed. Ayurveda works on this by changing lifestyles and using natural remedies. Following Ayurveda contributes to balancing your mind, physical body, spirit, and the surrounding environment.
To achieve lost balance, Ayurveda suggests a healthy diet, regular exercise, peaceful sleep, and stress management. It focuses on purifying your body internally and includes all natural ways to treat you like natural remedies, yoga, meditation, massage, etc. All the treatments that are involved do not have any harmful effects.
Ayurveda medicine works on two primary bases- prakriti (constitution of your boy) and doshas (universal life forces). Treating your body emotionally and maintaining your mental well-being. It treats a person by concentrating on reducing stress, decreasing a disease’s symptoms, clearing impurities, improving immunity, and increasing peace in life. Ayurvedic does not include any chemicals in treatment but everything that comes from nature like herbs, plants, natural oils, and spices.
Ayurveda is considered equal to the modern Western medicine system. It works efficiently when used as a complementary treatment with standard medical care. You should be well aware of the reason behind your illness and should take a proper doctor’s advice. Ayurveda works well as a complementary therapy, but it should not replace the standard care especially when you have a serious disease. Always take advice from your doctor before starting with Ayurveda especially if you are pregnant and in the case of kids. One must have proper knowledge and awareness about the ayurvedic treatments and what herbs are used in them.
Prakriti and doshas
Prakriti
Prakriti is derived from the Sanskrit word “nature” or “basic form”. Prakriti is a fundamental concept in Ayurveda, which defines the characteristics of your body like how your body works and how it is made. Everyone has different characteristics, and they work differently in several situations. Every person is a unique combination of physical, mental, and emotional traits that characterize each person. According to Ayurveda, each individual is born with a unique Prakriti, which is determined by the amount and dominance of the three doshas named as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—within them.
Understanding a person’s prakriti is the main practice of Ayurveda because it works as a layout and further roadmap to provide personalized healthcare. It helps you to explore your body from within. It makes you more specific to what your body needs. With the information about your dominant doshas which influences your body the most, the required treatment is done. For your treatment Ayurveda makes the required lifestyle changes, diet choices, and wellness practices that promote balance in your body, prevent diseases, and strengthen the overall vitality.
Doshas
Doshas are energy types or life forces that are present inside everyone. These doshas control numerous physiological and psychological characteristics of a person’s constitution. They work as the building blocks of every individual’s life. Also plays a vital role in health and balance management. Each dosha is associated differently with a combination of five elements – earth, water, fire, air, and ether (or space). These Doshas are:
- Vata: Vata is related to the elements of air and ether (or space). It is linked to movement and change. Therefore, an individual with a dominant Vata dosha tends to be creative, energetic, lively, and prone to change. However, an excess of Vata may lead to anxiety, restlessness, and digestive issues.
- Pitta: Pitta is associated with the fire and water elements. It rules digestion and metabolism. Therefore, an individual with a dominant Pitta dosha might have a strong appetite, good digestion, determination, and a sharp intellect. However, an imbalance in Pitta may result in irritability, inflammation, and digestive disorders.
- Kapha: Kapha inhibits earth and water elements. It is accountable for structure and stability in the body. Therefore, an individual with a dominant Kapha dosha is inclined towards being calm, stable, and muscular (solidly built). These qualities make you both mentally and physically stable. However, an excess of Kapha might make you lazy, gain weight, and have respiratory issues.
Thus, everyone has a different combination of elements and unique doshas that create customized compositions called Prakriti.
With enough understanding about one’s doshas, we can use the information for the treatment. It matters the most what our body is consuming. If you are not eating something that compliments your body that will eventually result in affecting your health, and mental state, and you will get most of the diseases. To maintain a healthy balance within your body, Ayurveda works magically in the long run.