Ayurveda is a very old healing system and history dates it to as old as 5000 years, starting with the Vedic culture of India. It is actually considered by many to be the oldest healing science there is – which is amazing considering the fact that Ayurveda is still practiced effectively today. Indians have relied on traditional Ayruvedic practices to heal everything from infertility to digestive issues for centuries, and Ayurveda has also been enjoying a major worldwide resurgence of late. The primary goal of Ayurvedic medicine is to help people live long, healthy and balanced lives without the need for prescription drugs, complicated surgeries or suffering through painful conditions.
Ayurvedic works by using a well-balanced healthy diet, lifestyle changes, stress relief and various herbal remedies to heal all sorts of conditions by helping to bring the body back in balance. The overall belief is that disease and suffering results from an imbalance in the three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Everyone has some vata, pitta and kapha to their personality, but usually one or two of the doshas are more dominant in a particular person — and this ultimately governs body type, appetite, energy levels, moods and tendencies. Each dosha has both physical and emotional characteristics, so Ayurvedic practitioners use the three doshas to describe common traits of someone’s body type and personality.
The 3 Doshas of Ayurvedic Medicine
• Vata — Vata energy is often said to be like the wind. It’s primarily in charge of mobility, motion, circulation, breathing, and other essential body functions.
• Pitta — Pitta is the energy force that governs most metabolic activity, including digestion, absorption of nutrients, body temperature and energy expenditure.
• Kapha — Kapha controls growth in the body and is considered the nourishing dosha. It supplies moisturize to the cells and organs, and helps keep a strong immune system.
By helping to balance the three doshas — not letting one type become overly dominant and another to become ignored — handling stress, following a healthy diet, dealing with change and maintaining relationships are all expected to be easier. Leading Ayurvedic hospitals and practitioners will take your medical history, check your vital signs, examine your skin and speak to you about your sleep and relationships. All of these factors help the practitioner first determine your primary dosha, then figure out which aspects of the doshas might be out of balance.
