Ayurveda - The Science of Life | Tridoshas – Vata, Pitta, Kapha

Ayurveda is an ancient healing system of medicine from India. It provides knowledge regarding natural herbs so that all people can stay healthy and remain disease free. There are unique aspects to Ayurveda and its recommendations will be different for each person regarding food eaten regularly and lifestyle methods. Ayurveda validate everything by observation, direct examination and knowledge derived from the ancient medical textbooks. There are energetic forces that influence nature and human beings. These energies or forces are called the 'Tridoshas' viz. Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. Ayurveda has always seen a strong connection between the mind and the body. Ayurveda can be defined as a system which helps to maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind and spirit in a balanced equilibrium.

Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words 'ayus' and 'veda'. 'Ayus' literally means life and 'Veda' means knowledge. The term Ayurveda thus means 'the knowledge of life'. It is also known as 'the science of life'. According to the ancient Ayurvedic textbook Charaka Samhita, 'ayu' comprises the mind, body, senses and the soul. Ayurveda is regarded as the oldest system of healthcare throughout the world. The fundamentals of Ayurveda can be found in Hindu scriptures i.e. the Vedas. The Rig Veda contains a series of prescriptions that can help humans overcome various health disorders. The aim of this natural healing system is to prevent illness, heal the sick and preserve overall healthy life.

Ayurveda is based on the principle that the universe is made up of five elements i.e. air, fire, water, and earth and ether. These elements are represented as three 'doshas'. When any of the doshas get imbalanced, the body loses its balance and get diseased. Ayurveda recommends specific lifestyle and dietary guidelines to help persons reduce the excess dosha or getting it imbalanced. A healthy person is that person whose doshas are in balance, appetite is normal and all tissues of the body functioning properly. In other words, mind, body and spirit are said to always cheerful of a healthy person. Vata refers to air and ether elements. It is seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination. Kapha refers to water and earth elements. It is responsible for overall growth and protection. Examples of kapha are the stomach's mucosal lining and the cerebral-spinal fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord. Pitta is for fire and water elements. This dosha is responsible for metabolism in the organs and various tissue systems in the body.

Ayurveda recommends 'Panchakarma', if toxins in the body are abundant. It is the natural cleansing process by which the unwanted toxins get eliminated from the body. Panchkarma is a fivefold purification therapy and the procedures consist of therapeutic vomiting or emesis i.e. Vaman, Purgation i.e. Virechan, Enema i.e. Basti, Elimination of toxins through the nose i.e. Nasya and Detoxification of the blood i.e. Rakta moksha. Ayurveda is a system of Indian medicine now practiced all over the world as a complementary system. Ayurvedic practitioners have identified a number of medicinal herbs for curing various ailments and diseases. Some of the diseases are not completely curable in other modern systems of medicine. Natural herbs and massage can be applied in conjugation with other conventional methods of treatment and without any side effects.