Fundamentals

We are part of nature

Every creation of the Mother Nature is threaded in one string by consciousness. We cannot detach ourselves from the nature. The changes in the nature, be it natural or unnatural seasons, calamities, the natural climate according to the land all influences the health of us. So naturally prevention to restoration of health can never be conceived outside of nature but within it in harmony.

The five basic elements of origin and existence of universe ‘The Panchmahabhootas’ are present in the human body in the form of three doshas,

=> Air and Ether in the form of Vata dosha

=> Fire in the form of Pitta dosha

=> Water and Earth in the form of Kapha

These three doshas does all the anatomical and physiological i.e. structural and functional units of the human body. Any imbalance in the equilibrium of the five elements in the nature will also influence and create imbalance in the three bodily doshas.

Three Dosha –Seven Dhatu – Three Mala

According to the Āyurvedic fundamental principle the five elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Ether are present in the humans in the state of by three "Doshas" or energies

Vata, Pitta and Kapha

A healthy person is the one who has all the three doshas in a balanced state, who has balanced state of appetite, all tissues of the body, sensory organ, proper excretion of body wastes and whose mind, body and spirit are cheerful. These three doshas are present all over the body in each and every cell of the body as structural entity and functional energies. Albeit active in each and every cell they have predominance in specific body areas as follows-

Kapha- Chest, throat, head, stomach, Pancreas, Joints, plasma, fats, nose, tongue. Kapha is responsible for growth and protection. The mucosal lining of the stomach, lubrication in the joints, water contain of the body, mucus in the lungs and the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal column are examples of kapha.

Pitta- Area around navel region, duodenum, small Intestine, blood, sweat, eyes. This dosha governs all the metabolic activities, the transformation of foods into nutrients. Pitta is also responsible for intellect and the brain activities.

Vata- Large Intestine, waist, thigh, bones, ears and skin. This energy is generally seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination.

The proportion of these three is different in each individual and is decided at the time of birth itself just like the genetic makeup known as ‘Prakruti’ i.e. body and mind constitution. This proportion can be disturbed because of many factors which can be broadly classified under two categories-

Natural Imbalance- which is caused due to the effects of age and time. Vata increases during old age especially after 60 similarly predominance vata in last part of night day and of digestion. Pitta increases or is predominant during mid-age i.e. 30-60, mid-day & night and middle of digestion.Kapha increases or is predominate during childhood and adolescent, first part of day and night and first part of digestion.

Unnatural Vikruti- This occurs as result of wrong kind of food and lifestyle activities. This can create either increase or decrease of Dosha termed as “Vrudhi” or “Kshaya”. When any of the doshas accumulate in the body beyond the desirable limit, the body loses its balance. Āyurveda suggests specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to help individuals regain the balance by reducing the increased doshas or by increasing the reduced doshas.