A beginner's guide to Ayurveda

From weight loss to detoxing, we all have different health goals. There's never been a better time to understand your body. In this article, we'll explore Ayurveda, and how it can help you to analyse your health as a whole.

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What is Ayurveda?

As the name itself suggests, Ayurveda is a science whose sole purpose is to educate us about life. It teaches healthy living through daily regimen and seasonal regimens.

Ayurveda = ayu (life) + veda (science or knowledge)

Everyone is unique

Even though we all have the same number of chromosomes, genetic code is different for each one of us. Ayurveda's core concept of tridoshas is similar to this concept that each and every person has three doshas but the ratio in which they exist is unique for each person.

This ratio is decided at conception and is a prime factor in contributing to the physical, psychological, and physiological aspects of a person. After birth, they are still responsible for a person's physical and mental health. They are functional aspects that are impacted by external and internal factors like food, environment, stress, lifestyle and other bodily tissues and malas.

  • Vata person - This is one friend who never gains weight even though they eat more than you. One sibling who worries too much, scared all the time
  • Pitta person - That boss who has got a temper and is determined. Often hungry and can get irritated if not eaten anything!
  • Kapha Person - That friend who is always calm and collected. Never sweats even in horrible situations. Always got their cool and can be very lazy!

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food"

As the great scholar, Hippocrates once said Ayurveda explains that food plays a major role in the pathogenesis of a disease. Diet and lifestyle are responsible for most of the diseases according to Ayurveda. 

We are nature and nature, are we!

The core theory of Ayurveda is based on the fact that five elements of nature combine with Prakriti to form three doshas - these form the basic functional aspects of Ayurveda. There are seven dhatuvus or tissues and three malas or excretes which also play a vital role in health. Tridoshas are compared to three stambas of health.

Balance is health, imbalance is disease

Ayurveda says that balance of tridoshas is health and imbalance can cause disease. What a simple and effective way to say something so complicated as disease and health. Ayurveda's definition of health sums it all into what you call healthy! 

"Health is a state of an individual when three doshas or humors, seven dhatuvus or bodily tissues and three malas or excreta and agni/digestive fire is in balance. Also, mind and sense organs are of optimum efficacy."

Knowing our body is the first step in achieving health. The more understanding we have about something the better we are at maintaining it!


Find out more about Ayurveda or book an appointment with an Ayurveda practitioner today.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author. All articles published on Therapy Directory are reviewed by our editorial team.

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