Originated in India over five thousand years ago, Ayurveda was the mainstream medical system until the introduction of allopathy and homeopathy at the end of the eighteenth century. The practice of Ayurveda was so common that a resident Ayurvedic physician was appointed to the palace to maintain the health of the royal family. Much of the literature about the fundamental teachings of Ayurveda has been documented in Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages in the world. Ayurveda is derived from two Sanskrit words: ayur, meaning “life” and veda meaning “knowledge”. Ayurveda’s holistic healing system is still being practiced all over the world but has evolved over the years.
What are the principles of Ayurveda?
According to Ayurveda, the body, at the micro level, is composed of five elements – earth, water, fire, air and space (or ether). These elements combine to form three energies or doshas: vata (air and space), pitta (fire and water) and kapha (earth and water). It is believed that, when all the elements of Ayurveda are in balance, the body and its various systems function with ease, in perfect health and harmony. Doshas ebb and flow throughout the year, depending on the season. They also change during different stages of life and even the time of the day.
Understanding the Nature of Each Dosha
As mentioned, the five constitutional elements in our body combine to form a non-material energy called dosha. Each individual might have a dominant dosha. However, people can be a combination of all three doshas. In Ayurveda, it is believed that understanding your dominant dosha(s) can help build a healthier and more conscious lifestyle. There are many online self-tests that can determine your predominant dosha. But if you are interested in knowing more about each specific dosha type, you can start by reading through the descriptions summarized below:
Vata
People with a vata nature are full of creative energy and are always on the go. They have a light and interrupted sleep pattern and have difficulty going to sleep during full moon periods. Since the primary element of vata is air, people with this nature are also big dreamers. Vatas’ thoughts and feelings move and fluctuate, so they have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time. They are spontaneous, enthusiastic and energetic. In addition, they enjoy new experiences and love to talk and share wisdom with others.
Vatas can benefit from heart-warming, grounding food like cooked root vegetables, ghee, olive oil, rice, wheat, bananas, avocados, dried fruit, nuts, warm dairy products, turkey, chicken, seafood, and eggs.
Kapha
If the earth and water elements become dominant, the body is driven by the force of kapha. Kaphas are calm, thoughtful, patient and empathetic. They tend to be good listeners and can be very supportive. On the flip side, the kapha energy can create physical tendencies of gaining weight, having allergies and getting sinus infections. Kapha dominant individuals are at a greater risk to develop mental health issues like depression. They can sleep deeply and can have a hard time waking up. Extra tiredness in the morning can be a sign of too much kapha energy in the body.
Foods that are heavy, cold and oily can create an imbalance in the earth and water elements. So, kaphas can benefit from light, dry and bitter foods that energize them. Pomegranates, okra, chard, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, cherries, chicken, turkey and spicy foods can be good sources of nutrition for people with kapha nature.
Pitta
An active digestive system, a steady appetite and an energetic lifestyle can all be signs of a body driven by pitta forces. Pittas are good leaders, teachers and competitors. People with the pitta nature are passionate and organized and can be dominating in their sex life. Pittas generally sleep well. An imbalance in fire and water elements can lead to skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and dandruff. Higher pitta energies create increased levels of stress and anger leading to arguments and tension.
Cooling and dense foods can help calm pittas’ fiery digestion. Some examples include ghee, butter, coconut, coconut oil, grapes, melons, cherries, avocados, cucumbers, milk, green vegetables, and sweet fruits.
Scientific Evidence
Ayurveda covers the manifested expression of life, and how to maintain and improve the health of the individuals. For example, Ayurveda’s recommendation on yoga, exercise, meditation and mindful breathing to manage stress has proven to be very effective. These stress management techniques have gained a lot of popularity in the recent years.
There are a few well-designed clinical trials and systematic research that suggest that Ayurvedic approaches are effective. However, most of these studies have been conducted in a small scale with small sample sizes.
An area of concern is the safety of the Ayurvedic medicine. 20% of the herbal remedies used in Ayurvedic healing methods contain minerals and metals such as mercury and lead. These components can cause intoxication and make Ayurvedic products potentially harmful.
It is crucial that we actively pursue sources of information that are reliable, and evidence based. This approach must take the unique needs and health condition of each individual into consideration. In recent years, science has explored the effectiveness of Ayurveda and has confirmed the benefits of some of the Ayurvedic healing techniques:
- Practice mindful breathing to relieve stress.
- Do not eat food less than 3 hours before you sleep.
- Keep your sleeping environment dark.
- Dress in natural fibers.