Dosha Elements - Your Mind, Body and Soul

Ayurveda and Dosha

Ayurveda employs a “Holistic” approach whereby it does not consider the human or the emotions as two separate entities, but as a part of the whole. So, if you are happy and peaceful you are in a positive state and if you feel jealous and angry you are in a negative state. The state you are in also decides the state of your body.

Ayurveda teaches that everything in the universe, including the universe is made up of 5 elements:
1. Agni or fire
2. Prithvi or earth
3. Akasha or space or ether
4. Apu or water
5. Vayu or air

These elements also make up the human body. When these elements are in balance, the body and mind are in a state of health. The human body is made of three doshas that combine the above elements in the following order:

• Vata- Vayu and Akasha
• Pitta- Agni and Apu
• Kapha- Apu and Prithvi

These have specific organs and areas in which they are present; it is when their balance shifts that you fall ill. Every human inherits a mix of them at birth. This mix is unique to the individual, when it is not in a state of equilibrium, the Ayurvedic doctor can feel it by checking your pulse. You have to maintain the mix that you were born with and the treatment the doctor prescribes is directed towards this.

The balance of them can change due to factors outside you too, for example, seasonal change. But external factors can be regulated using internal factors, for example, food. Thus, by basing its treatment on the three- vata, pitta and kapha, Ayurveda treats the body, mind and soul. It keeps your natural temperament, the characteristics of your body, your emotional state and the external environment in mind to make you a healthy, happy, complete individual.

Read more, learn about Vata.

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