Ayurveda and the Doshas

Ayurveda is the ancient science of Self Healing, and derives from ancient India. It is still widely practiced throughout India today, and is the basic principals in which they heal and stay in health.

While traveling India for extensive periods of time, I inevitably ended up in the hospital or doctors offices on multiple occasions, and was always treated with natural remedies first, and western medicine in emergency situations only. It was fascinating to watch the way they viewed health, and they way they treated aliments/disease. Disease deriving from “dis-ease”; meaning there is a misalignment somewhere along the line that is now creating said disease/problem. The goal is to come back into alignment to fix the problem, instead of treating the problem with blanket drugs to mask and cover them up.

One of my favorite tricks I learned working in an Indian kitchen was using turmeric for a bandaid. I had knicked myself with a cutting knife while chopping veggies and asked for a bandage of some sort. Working in a kitchen with a dirt floor and no walls, I knew it was a big ask. My friend smiled and came over to me with a jar of powdered turmeric. He took a generous pinch, and with his other hand grabbed mine, and gently yet swiftly pressed the turmeric on the cut. It instantly soaked in the blood, helped create a clot, and is a natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agent. I’ve never had a cut heal better or faster.

Ayurveda takes in the whole person: mind, body, spirit, environment, personal relationships, jobs, hobbies, etc. Ayurveda considers it ALL as an intricate and interrelated sphere of health, and if one area is lacking or misaligned it will naturally show up in other areas. This is the basic premise of Ayurveda.

Ayurveda believes one must be living in alignment with ones truth, and serving others around them in the best way possible, in the highest good for themselves and all. If following your passions and helping others while you do so, then that’s really all that is required as basic blocks for building a healthy life. Add in healthy, aligned, and loving relationships, families, friends, and community, and you’re on your way to grand holistic health. Take care of your body, mind, and spirit along the way, and you are an unstoppable force of love and light. More or less.

When looking at the body, Ayurveda uses the Tridoshas (the three doshas) to describe people and their traits. These three doshas are each of different elemental nature, and act differently as such. These doshas are as follows:

• Vata: Elements: Air/Ether
• Pitta: Elements: Fire/Water
• Kapha: Elements: Earth/Water

Each person is born into their own personal “constitution” or combination of 2 Doshas. Every dosha is unique to the individual. For instance, I am a Vata/Pitta constitution, but very heavily Vata. This means that for my best health, I should be seeking Kapha activities and foods to help find holistic balance.

Using this system, it can quickly and efficiently identify what one needs to help cure and eradicate disease, and maintain balanced health in mind, body, and soul. The dosha system also sheds light on how unique we are as individuals, and how we can all find health in our own ways.

Want to know more? Get my free “What’s your Dosha?” worksheet that helps you identify your personal constitution! Get yours here!