Ayurveda: The Science of Life
Ayurveda. Comprised of two Sanskrit words meaning life (Ayu) and knowledge (Veda), Ayurveda is often translated as the science of life.
Ayurveda deals with all the workings of the human body as it relates to 5 basic elements experienced in nature - ether or space, air or wind, fire, water, and earth that are present in every substance and every person to some degree. Each food, plant, mineral or other substance is unique because of its distinct combination of the elements.
In the same way, each person and their constitution is unique due to an individual ratio of the elements present in the body.
Ayurveda is at the same time quite simple and abundantly complex.
The ease in approaching Ayurvedic remedies centers around determining the root cause of an ailment and removing it to find relief. Additional recommendations include maintaining a regular schedule and eating appropriate foods to avoid illness and disease. Its complexity reveals itself when delving into the vast network of each person’s unique constitution, searching for answers to questions such as risk factors for disease or how genetic material passed on from parents affects one’s constitution, and navigating the ever changing set of environmental factors that hold the potential to unbalance the body’s system.
Its simplicity comes in finding balance between opposite qualities in life.
The 5 elements combine to form 3 doshas or constitutions, which possess the 20 essential qualities. Those qualities, in turn, affect how individuals experience the world. Air + Ether form the Vata dosha, associated with the qualities of dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear. Fire + Water form the Pitta dosha, associated with the qualities of hot, sharp, oily, light, mobile, and liquid. Water + Earth form the Kapha dosha, associated with the qualities of heaviness, cold, oily, dense, smooth, soft, slow, and static.
Awareness of the qualities present within one’s own constitution will allow the opportunity for balance.
Throughout the day, the seasons, and the stages of life, the 20 qualities shift and manifest themselves, creating an ever-changing environment. The heavy feeling after a rich meal can be lightened with mobility and action. A mobile, scattered mind can be balanced with focus and concentration. A hot, inflamed tissue in the body can be treated with a cooling diet, herbs, and appropriate activities.
Further exploration of Ayurveda reveals that the elements, constitutions, and qualities permeate deeply, beyond the surface of sensory experiences. Seeping deep into the inner workings of the mind, the tissues, and the cellular composition of the body, these elements govern the actions of and bring balance to the entire system. Like climbing the rungs on a ladder, each step along the study of Ayurveda leads to a closer grasp of information and an opportunity to move into a higher level of understanding of the complexity of body, mind, and breath that makes up the human form.
Suggested resources for additional study: