Ayurveda is a holistic medical system that focuses on a spiritual way of life. I have personally studied Ayurveda for decades, and still can’t believe how many people are unaware of its healing magic! The practice of Ayurveda goes hand in hand with a yoga practice.
Highly individualized, the Ayurveda treatment can incorporate a wide variety of methods such as changes in diet, exercise, herbal therapy, massage and meditation. Let’s dive in and find out some more about this time-honored practice. I have included a dosha quiz for you at the end of this post, along with a recommendation for a wonderfully in depth online beginner’s course.
The History of Ayurvedic Medicine
Written between the second and fourth centuries the first recorded book of Ayurveda is believed to be based on an older oral tradition. Focusing most of its attention on digestion the book discusses all the principles of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda tradition influenced the development of traditional Chinese medicine which only furthered the development of Ayurveda.
The Principles of Ayurveda
Discussing the principles in any depth is far beyond the possibility of this article but what this article can give you is just a small taste of the vast medical system of Ayurveda.
Ayurveda states that the body contains three forces known as the tri-dosha. The doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and they work in unison. It is said that each person is dominated by one of these doshas. There is also a secondary dosha that comes in to play for people, and this helps to further understand one’s bodily constitution and the workings of it.
My primary dosha is Vata, and my secondary is Pitta, making my ayurvedic point of reference Vata-Pitta. Ayurveda is truly a phenomenal healing modality; I have been able to draw upon the wisdom of Vata and Pitta at various points in my life in order to get proper information on what suits me best in the way of diet, supplements, and cleansing programs.
Other aspects of the body that Ayurveda considers are 5 sub-dosha, 7 tissues, 4 states of agni, and 14 body systems.
The principle of Ayurveda is that all of these body systems must be working in balance in order for the body to be healthy. It is believed that disease occurs in the body when one or more of these systems is out of balance. For example excessive kapha is said to cause people to suffer from obesity.
The Practice of Ayurveda
Ayurveda does not only focus on the physical health of a person but also the emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness in order to obtain perfect health and is used to treat and prevent disease.
Diet is one of the basic principles in Ayurveda and is used as one of the primary methods of healing. It is believed that different food strengthen or weaken different dosha therefore people are prescribed a specific diet according to their personal needs.
This differs from our usual approach to food where we usually see things as healthy or unhealthy in Ayurveda a specific food may be healthy for one person and while many think of the food as healthy it may be unhealthy for another.
Herbs are also used in Ayurveda in quite the same way as diet is prescribed so is food. You see what will balance one person’s body may cause another person to become completely imbalanced there for it is very personalized.
What About the Scientific Evidence?
Many people think that since we are all individuals our medical treatment should be individualized but just because we feel that we should receive individualized treatment does not mean that the Ayurveda treatment is grounded in reality.
Since the treatments are so highly individualized it is almost impossible to take any kind of scientific measurement to back up the theories of Ayurveda. Although Ayurveda as a whole cannot be studied the herbal remedies have been studied in several trials and were shown to improve heath dramatically.
Other traditional Ayurveda such as drinking urine and blood letting do have possible health risks but most who practice Ayurveda shun such practices.
Uses and Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurveda focus more on preventing diseases rather than curing them and the treatments are not given to the ailments but to the body as a whole. Ayurveda is used to eliminate toxins from the body and create a natural balance to reach optimal health.
Ayurveda is not a treatment for disease but a way of life that is use in the prevention of disease. Listed below are a few of the benefits of using Ayurveda.
Treat Respiratory Problems
Studies have shown that using Ayurveda can help treat respiratory issues that accompany colds and flus. Everyone gets a cold or a flu at some point in their life and it is much easier to treat these problems using Ayurveda than it is to treat a disease such as asthma.
Improve Circulation
Treatments such as the use of essential oils or massage help to relax your body and herbal treatments help improve blood flow as well as oxygen distribution throughout the entire body.
Relaxation Benefits
Treatments such as medicated baths or massage help with the relaxation of the mind and body. Along with relieving stress these treatments are said to help balance the mental state and heal it.
Research is ongoing when it comes to the treatments used in Ayurveda and they have yet to be determined as effective but for those who have used the practice no more evidence is needed besides their own experiences.
Here is a quick little quiz for anyone interested in discovering their primary dosha. I did give it a try, and sure enough, it was still Vata! I will share this message with you here. It includes some write ups about the quiz creator, Lissa Coffey:
The ancient Indian “science of life” called Ayurveda explains that human beings, like the Universe, are made up of each of the five elements (air, space, fire, water and earth) and the Soul. These elements, in their biological form, are known as doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Every activity and function of our mind and body is dependent upon the balanced or unbalanced state of our doshas. And it is these ‘Doshas’ that play a role more critical than you can imagine.
Take this FREE 3 Minutes test to find out what your own unique Dosha instantly.
Learn More – Dive Deeper:
External stresses and inputs act as the precursors to our inner climate change – disrupting our unique balance of elements, inviting imbalance and then ailment into our systems.
Making the right choices for your family and for you is VERY confusing. After all, you are surrounded by so much generalized information and scientific findings that seem to change every day!
You know what we mean – you’re drowning in questions about which food and diet trend are just fads. Questions like: “How do I know which form of exercise works best for me right now? Which foods may actually be aggravating my child’s attention deficit issues?
Why is my reproductive health not improving despite weight loss? Is a gluten free diet the right choice for my individual body? And why does following the maximum of “eight hours of sleep a day” actually leave me feeling even more lethargic instead of refreshed?”
Phew! That’s a lot of questions – but finding their answers becomes simpler when you know – really know – your PRAKRUTI or unique nature, doesn’t it?
Think about it: Say, blueberries are a great source of antioxidants and all your friends are swearing by them. But you stay away, because you know the fruit acids from the blueberries are a “trigger” for your naturally dominant Pitta or fiery element, which anyway tends to overflow, leading to heartburn. You wisely prefer to get your antioxidants from milder, sweeter fruits, such as avocados and coconuts…
That’s wise, Prakruti-driven decision-making in action and really is the KEY to good health.
Understanding our Prakruti tells us the conditions under which we, as individuals, thrive. When you live, eat, sleep and work in harmony with your own climate, not your neighbor’s or your friend’s or even your partner’s –
- You prevent disease, stopping it even before it manifests
- You age better
- You feel energetic every day, not just on “some” days
- The “fruits” of your action are better – your work yields more productive results, you are even in better metabolic and reproductive health
- You become calmer and turn into “that friend or family member everyone wants to be around”
- You handle change well
- And feel juicy, alive and light every second…
Let’s keep it real. Most of us are not!
That is why understanding the balance of elements in you is so important! There is an online course offered by The Ayurveda Experience, Ayurveda and You – Beginner’s Course. It is super affordable, and the teachers are incredibly knowledgable.
Ayurveda tells us the elements in us want to get back into their native nature.
If we’re born Vata dominant, for instance, with the spacey, airy elements dominating our prakruti, you can be sure no matter how many fiery or boggy symptoms you display, your body wants to go into Vata mode. All it needs to get there is for the distorting pressures to be released, much like a child’s released slinky finds its shape back!
Before you start making changes, think about THIS:
You probably know you are not in a state of perfect balance or your native climate right now…
But do you know you haven’t been in a long, long while too?
Years of imbalances and external stresses means we have been in a state of vikruti – or altered doshas – for quite some time. Even when we try to recall our ‘original’ nature, we might be referring to an imbalance of five years ago!
So how do you get to your prakruti – your hidden, tantalizing, innate optimal nature?
How do you heal your current symptoms and peel back the layers of imbalances to zoom into your native climate, from the inside-out?
And how do you make sense of all this intelligence in a meaningful way that impacts your life and those of your family?
Try the Ayurveda and You – Beginner’s Course.
Since Ayurveda provides such an amazing framework for understanding the Three Things That Must Be Known (the nature of the person, the nature of the imbalance, and the nature of the remedy), by understanding Ayurveda you are extraordinarily empowered to make healthy choices. No longer are boxes of “digestive” tea all the same. They each have unique properties, and each are best suited for conditions according to which dosha needs to be subdued.
And you can really use this e-course to apply this perspective to every area of life and unlock your optimal self. Remember, the idyll is achievable because it’s not perfection we are chasing, but finding our own unique selves… the climate we best thrive in, like oranges in California and olives in Greece…
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This is SO interesting! I always love learning about alternative medicine. I never want to put a manufactured pill into my body unless I absolutely have no other choice.
Lois Alter Mark says
I’ve heard the term used a lot but was never sure exactly what it meant. Thanks for all this great information.
Liz Mays says
I’ve never heard of this holistic medicine before. There are so many traditional healing practices I am unaware of.
Stacey- Travel Blogger says
I have a friend who meditates! She swears that it actually works.
Felissa @ Two Little Cavaliers says
I have always been intrigued by this type of healing. I might seriously try it out for myself.
lisa says
This is definitely a lot of information! But it all sounds interesting. And I could always use better circulation in my body!
Jadibuti says
Nice Article. Many ayurvedic herbs like punarnava, pepper etc., control all three doshas. Good luck for future post
Danielle says
Thank you, Jadibuti! Have a wonderful day 🙂