About Ayurveda

'Every thing in the universe is made up of combination of the Five Elements (pancha maha bhootas). This includes human beings which also acquire a soul or spirit.

These Five Elements are:
1) Prithvi i.e. Earth
2) Aapa i.e. Water
3) Tejas i.e. Fire
4) Vaayu i.e. Air
5) Akasha i.e. Space

These five elements are to be understood in a material sense as well as a subtle sense.
By Earth we are to understand not only the terrain of our planet or the iron in our red blood cells and spleen, but also the quality of steadfastness of mind, strength of one's moral fiber, one's slow and quiet undeterred advancement towards a goal, and the resistance to the manifestations of others.

By Water we mean to imply the cohesive aspects of reality which flows into and holds things together, perfectly and simply witnessed in the ubiquitous H20 molecule. And the other elements too were intended by the ancient vaidyas (physicians) to communicate the essential universal principle inherent in a particular element.

By Fire we mean the universal force in nature that produces heat and radiates light; it is our passion to pursue despite obstacles and delays; it is what burns away the cloak of ignorance (avidya) and allows the Truth to shine with brilliance. Fire removes doubt from the mother-substance of human heart and replaces it with joy.

Air is that transparent, rarefied, kinetic force which sets the universe in motion; it moves the blood through the vessels, wastes from the body, thoughts through the mind; it moves the birds to warmer climates in winter, it moves the planets around their suns.

Space is the subtlest of all elements which is everywhere and touches everything; in the mind it is the vessel which receives all impressions, in the heart space accepts love; space is receptivity and non-resistance to what is true.

Thus these Five Subtle Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas) form the basis for all things found in the material creation, from a grain of sand to the complex physiology of every human being. Balancing these elements in just the right way for each unique individual is the key to maintaining health and treating disease should it arise, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual.

All the activities in the universe are grouped into three basic functions - creation, organisation and destruction. According to Ayurveda, a human body is same as what you see in the universe. So biologically, human body is made up of three main subtle energies i.e. "tridoshas" viz: Vaata, Pitta and Kapha

Vaata:
Ether and air combine to form biological humour. Vaata, which is responsible for controlling destruction. The different sub types of Vaata are

Prana (means life energy. Main function is respiration and control on all sense organs) Udana (means upward movement from naval-diaphragm. It helps the process of speech and memory) Vyana (responsible for the circulation of blood, nutrients obtained from food to all the cells of the body) Samana (means balance). It brings all the digestive juices from the tissues into the hollow organs for digestion and metabolism and Apana (means downward moving energy. It is responsible for the action of all pelvic organs). It is considered the prime dosha among the three as it governs the functions of all the other doshas

Properties of Vaata:	Functions of Vaata:
Dry Light Cold d) Rough Subtle & Minute	Controls Bodily Movements Controls Breathing Controls Natural Urges Governs Tissue Formation	Governs Sensory Functions Controls Secretions & Excretions Governs Fear, Impulses & Anxiety

Vaata governs the following body parts:

Large Intestine, Pelvic Region, Thighs, Ears, Bone & Skin

Pitta:
Fire - Pitta, the thermogenic humour, organizes body activities after transformation. The various sub types of Pitta are

Pachaka (the main site is the stomach and it helps in digestion) Ranjaka (Main site is liver and is responsible for secondary or tissue digestion) Sadhaka (Resides in heart and brain and is responsible for the digestion of knowledge and preservation of our cognitive memories) Alocchaka( It is in the eye and helps the eye for proper vision) and Bharahaka (in the skin and responsible for digestion and absorption of all massages of oils.

Properties of Pitta:	Functions of Pitta:
Slightly Oily Penetrating Hot Unpleasant Odour Spreading nature Liquid form	Facilitate Metabolism & Hormonal Functioning Regulates Body Heat Helps Digestion Intelligence, Perception & Memory Hunger & Thirst Colour & Complexion Anger, Hatred, Jealousy etc.

Pitta governs the following body parts:

Navel, Stomach, Upper part of Small Intestine, Sweat, Lymph, Blood, Eyes and Skin.

Kapha:
Water and earth combine to form biological humour or Kapha, which is responsible for maintaining the creation. Five sub types of Kapha are

Kledaka (in the stomach and it protects the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract from the hot and irritant fluids of pitta secretions); Avalambaka (is in the heart, lung apparatus and vertebral column and also protects them from wear and tear); Bodhaka (is in the mouth and protects the mucous membrane and the tongue to give proper taste to the food); Tarpaka (is in the spinal chord and it protects them. It is also responsible for mental peace); and Shleshaka (is in the joints. It prevents wear and tear of the joints during the movements).

Properties of Kapha:	Functions of Kapha:
Oily Cold Heavy Slow Acting Slimy Soft Stable	Gives stability & energy to body Development of Body Sexual Urges Lubrication Enthusiasm Immune Resistance Possessiveness, Greed etc.

Kapha Governs the following Body Parts:

Chest, Throat, Head Trachea, Joints, Stomach, Lymph, Fat Tissue, Nose and Toungue

The Ayurvedic view of the body is similar in many ways to modem beliefs. There are seven tissue systems (dhatus) in the body. Each tissue is primarily governed by one of the three elements. The beauty of this science is that each dhatu is developed or transformed out of the previous dhatu which makes this theory interdependent. Once the elemental cause of the illness is known, various therapies are used to balance the system by reducing the excessive element(s) and increasing the deficient one(s). Therapies include the use of Herbs (or Herbal Medicines), Panchakarma Treatment, Natural Foods and variations in lifestyle.

Name of Dhatu	Governing Dosha
Rasa (i.e. Plasma) Rakta (i.e. Blood) Mamsa (i.e. Muscle) Meda (i.e. Fat) Asthi (i.e. Bones) Majja (i.e. Nerves & Marrow) Shukra (i.e. Genital Fluids)	Kapha Pitta Kapha Kapha Vaata Kapha Kapha

Another important factor in maintaining good health is the proper elimination of wastes; faeces, urine, and sweat [miscellaneous wastes includes tears (eye), spit (tongue), oily secretions (skin), mucoid secretions (mucus membrane), and smegma (excreta from genitalia). Malas (body wastes) help maintain the proper functioning of our organs.

Faeces (purisha) provide support and tone to the body along with maintaining the temperature of the colon. Improper functioning can lead to Vayu illnesses like worry, fear, a feeling of being ungrounded, nervousness, headaches, gas, distention and constipation. Proper elimination of the faeces is damaged by the excessive use of purgatives, colonics, worry, and fear (fear can create both improper functioning or be a byproduct of this dysfunction). It is also damaged by excessive travel, the wrong foods (such as junk food or foods that are too light or too heavy), oversleeping, coffee, drugs, antibiotics, insufficient exercise and prolonged diarrhea. In Ayurvedic literature, it has been clearly stated that debilitated persons suffering from tuberculosis should not be given any kind of purgatives, as it is the feces that maintain the temperature of such persons.

Urine (mutra) expels water and other solid wastes from the body. Poor urine elimination results in bladder pain or infection, difficult urination, fever, thirst, dry mouth, or dehydration. It is affected by diuretic drugs, alcohol, excessive sex, trauma, fright or intake of too few liquids.

Sweat (sweda) controls the body temperature by expelling excess water and toxins, cools the body, moistens the skin and hair, carries away excess fat from the body and purifies the blood. Excess sweating can cause skin diseases (usually Pitta related) like eczema, boils, fungus, burning skin, dehydration, fatigue or convulsions (caused by Vayu). Deficient sweating can result in stiff hair, skin fissures, dry skin, dandruff, wrinkles or susceptibility to colds and flu (i.e., peripheral circulation). Sweating is damaged by eating too many dry foods, lack of salt, excessive or deficient exercise, and excessive use of diaphoretic herbs or excess sweating.

The three gunas - sattwa, rajas, and tamas - are found in nature and in the mind, paralleling the three doshas of the body. Sattwa, or purity, is the ideal state of mind because a person with this quality is calm, alert, kind, and thoughtful. A person whose mind is predominantly rajasic (too active) always seeks diversions (incessant activity). The tamas-predominant mind is a dull, lethargic mind.

Just as combinations of Vaata, Pitta and Kapha exist for the body, the mind has combinations of sattwa, rajas, and tamas. Spiritual Growth is a very important factor considered in Ayurveda responsible for balancing the mental health and finally lead towards salvation.

The ancient sages observed that although every individual is constituted of the three doshas, each of us inherits them in differing proportions. This accounts for our differences in appearance, preferences, aversions, behavioral patterns, and emotional tendencies. The proportion of the three doshas present in an individual at birth will determine his or her essential constitution or prakriti. Prakriti comes from two Sanskrit roots which means "the initial creation" or alternatively this interesting word can also mean "to come forth into creation". It represents how we initially come into life before any deviations have taken place.

The prakriti remains unchanged during the course of one's lifetime and is genetically determined. Prakriti represents the proportion of the doshas, which represents the ideal state of balance, and it serves as the goal for us to strive toward. It will manifest in us throughout our li fetimes through our physical characteristics, natural urges, likes and dislikes, and psychological predilections as we have stated above. However, one's prakriti will also determine to a great extent how one will develop the highest order of human qualit ies: love, compassion, and pure consciousness. Thus the proportion of the three doshas which a person inherits will be at the foundation of his or her experience and existence. From the perspective of the Ayurvedic physician, precise determination of the prakriti is absolutely mandatory as the first step in formulating a course of action for each patient.

In principle, Ayurveda considers that any imbalance between the body, mind and environment begins the process of disease. Besides working on curing the disease, Ayurveda also emphasises achieving greater health, immunity and longevity.

It is an Ancient Nature Friendly Science with NO SIDE - EFFECTS