What Is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a holistic medical system that originated in ancient India thousands of years ago. Its founders, observing and meditating on qualities seen in nature, saw parallels in the human body.

Western medicine excels in treating acute illness, but lacks specific and individualized education on nutrition and lifestyle for physical, mental, and spiritual bliss. Ayurveda looks to find and remove the root cause of illness and prevent disease. Remarkably, Ayurveda has stood the test of time unlike modern health fads or the latest research (do you remember the non-fat food of the 90’s and then realizing how important fat is for brain function?). This ancient system of healing can be applied to modern health problems related to fertility, digestion, and mental health, to name a few.

Ayurvedic therapies include:

• diet according to one’s unique constitution and season

• lifestyle and routine that supports natural biorhythms

• medicinal herbs

• rejuvenation therapy including body treatments like dry brushing, oil massage, and sauna

• detoxification/rejuvenation therapy performed by Ayurvedic physicians known as pancha karma

Of these therapies, I work with clients in the first two essential pillars: diet and lifestyle.

The 5 element theory is the foundation of Ayurveda. It establishes the connection between nature and our bodies. The pancha maha bhutas (Sanskrit for the five great elements), include ether, air, fire, water, and earth, and make up all matter:

• Ether can be thought of as any “empty space” or container in the body, like the abdominal cavity, cranial cavity, and thoracic cavity.

• Air implies movement, like the synapses in the nervous system, the movement of food through peristalsis, and the beating of your heart.

• Fire is digestion; all of the acidic juices that “cook” and breakdown the food we eat.

• Our bodies are comprised of water, which is strategically placed in areas that need protection from movement and friction: around the heart and lungs, knee joints, and around the spine and brain.

• Earth is the substance and bulk of our body, like our muscles, fat, and organs.

All of these elements influence our mind and emotions as well. An imbalance of one element can make you feel spaced out (ether), anxious (air), angry (fire), emotional (water), or dull (earth). Proper balance, however, can lead to a sense of spiritual awareness (ether), being in “flow” (air), intelligence (fire), emotional stability (water), and feeling grounded (earth).

By first observing and becoming aware of any excesses, you can then apply the opposite qualities to bring balance and vitality.

For example, a person with a light frame who tends to feel cold, has dry skin, and sometimes struggles with constipation and restlessness is exhibiting signs of a vata imbalance. Vata’s qualities are cold, dry, mobile, and light, so if that person drinks a frozen smoothie and then goes for a jog outside in the winter, they will be adding even more of those vata qualities, pushing that person further into imbalance. This is very depleting. This person needs fire, water, and earth to feel well again. An Ayurvedic treatment would be a warm stew, a warm oil massage, and a gentle movement practice like warming yoga to replace the run. This approach will make a person feel cozy, nourished, and at ease.

So why are we so off track? It’s easy to be seduced by wellness influencers and forget what’s best for OUR body. If we look at how other people are eating or exercising, and put value on a certain body type, we might neglect our own wisdom and what makes our unique selves feel the best. It's important to think holistically and consider your build, season, climate, age, mental wellbeing, and many other factors.

Ayurvedic Definition of Health:

Sushruta, one of the first surgeons, developed this definition of health. Here is the Sankrit verse:

“Sama Dosha Sama Agnischa Sama Dhatu Mala Kriya Prasanna Aatma Indriya Manaha Swastha Iti Abhidheeyate”

A loose translation:

Balanced doshas (combination of elements with certain functions), balanced digestion, balanced body systems, proper elimination, control of senses and desires, and a mind and soul in a state of bliss….that is a healthy person.