The Basic Principles of Ayurveda

By Lorraine Sakhi Zack, C. Ay. Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner All Rights Reserved

www.kimayaayurveda.com


TableofContents IntroductionAyurvedaHistory BasicConcepts The13NaturalUrges PanchaMahabhutasandFourForces TheThreeMentalGunas TridoshaTheory TheDigestiveFire DoshasandImbalances SevenDhatusandAyurvedicDigestion TheThreeMalas TheSrotas DailyandSeasonalChanges MisuseoftheSenses SampraptiTheDiseaseProcess AyurvedicBody/MindQuestionnaire Summary BookRecommendations

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-1-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

AyurvedaHistory
AyurvedaisaSanskrittermforknowledgeoflongevity.Itistheearliest healthcaresystemofIndiabeginningover5,000yearsago.Ayurveda (pronouncedIyourvayda)wascognizedbytheancientyogisfromdeep statesofmeditationandtaughtinanoraltraditionfromteachertostudent. AstheessentialsofAyurvedawerepasseddownthroughthegenerations threemaintextsemergedovertime: CharakaSamhita(1stcenturyAD,internalmedicine) SusrutaSamhita(45centuryBC,surgery) AshtangaHridayamSamhita(written8thcenturyAD) TheCharakaSamhitaistheleadingresourceinregardtothedepth andextentofitscontents.Charakaisconsideredanexceptionalauthor amongthewritersoftheclassicalIndianmedicaltextseventoday. Otherminorworkscanalsobefound: MadhavaNidanamSamhita(700A.D.) Chakradatta(10thcenturyA.D.) SarngadharaSamhita(15thcenturyA.D.) BhavaprakasaSamhita(16thcenturyA.D.)

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-2-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheThirteenNaturalUrges

Ayurvedacallsattentiontothirteennaturalurgeswhichshould notbesuppressedifgoodhealthandproperfunctioningofthe body,mindandemotionsaretobemaintained.

crying yawning hunger thirst sleep breath(shallow) urination defecation ejaculation/orgasm flatulence vomiting sneezing belching

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-3-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheFiveElements Allmatteriscomposedofthefiveuniversalelements;namelythe panchamahabhutas(panchamahaboottas).Theyaretermedas: etherakasha airvayu firetejas waterjala earthprithvi TheFourForces

Humansareconsideredminiatureversionsoftheuniverse, composedofthefiveelementsandfourforces:

atmasoul manasmind kalacyclesoftime indriyassenses

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-4-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheMentalGunas Thefiveelementsmanifestfromuniversalconsciousnessinto individualconsciousnessasthreeattributesormentalgunas:

sattvaequanimity rajasactivity tamasinertia

Thegunasalsomanifestasbehavioralandmoraltendencies. Asattvicmentalconstitutionispureminded,compassionate, clearandcooperative. Arajasicmentalconstitutionisegotistical,ambitious, aggressive,selfish,competitive,controllingandrestless. Atamasicmentalconstitutionislazy,possessive,depressed, sadanddull. Aswiththedoshas,therecanbemanyblendsoftheseattributes, dependingonthepredominanceofthegunas.Variousproblems involvingthemindandthegunasarisefromacombinationof influences.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-5-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheTridoshaTheory TheAyurvedicunderstandingoftheuniverseisbasedonathree foldsystemcalledthetridoshatheory.

Thefiveelementsintegrateintophysicalformasthethreedoshas. Everyoneisauniquecombinationofthethreedoshasknownas: vata,pittaandkapha.

Vata,pittaandkaphaarefoundineverycell,tissueandorganin differentdegrees.Yourdistinctprakrutiorindividualconstitution isestablishedbypulsediagnosis,observationandpersonalhealth history.Theseareimportantstepstounderstandingyourbasic qualities,tendenciesandneeds.Therearesevenconstitutional types:

vata vata/pitta vata/kapha pitta pitta/kapha kapha vatapittakapha(tridosha)

TheDoshas Vataiscomposedoftheetherandairelements. Vataisresponsibleformovementinthebodyandmind. BalancedVataproducesflexibilityandabalancedmind. OutofbalanceVataisfearful,anxiousandnervous.

Pittaiscomposedoffireandwater. Pittafunctionsareassociatedwiththedigestiveprocesses, metabolicactivityandbodytemperature. BalancedPittalendsitselftointelligenceandleadership. Outofbalanceitexpressesitselfasanger,hatredand jealousy. Kaphaiscomposedofearthandwater. Kaphacorrespondstothebuildingupofbodytissues andstoredsubstances.Kaphalubricates,moistensand maintainsimmunity. BalancedKaphaisloveandforgiveness. OutofbalanceKaphaisassociatedwithattachment, greedandcongestion. Tridoshaisacombinationofallthreedoshas;Vata,Pitta andKapha.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-7-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

ImbalancesoftheDoshas

Constitutionalinequitiescanbesupportedbyfollowingdietary andbehavioralmodifications.Thismayoffsetlatentdisease tendenciesresultingfromthelackofbalanceinthedoshas frombirth.

Ifapersonisphysicallyhealthy,thethreedoshasarepresentin appropriateproportionsandinanorganizedway.Ifapersonis unhealthy,atleastoneormoreofthedoshasmayberelatively deficientorexcessive,sothatitsqualitybecomesadulterated.

Vitiationisatermusedtodescribeaggravationinrelationship todoshicimbalance.Thetermvikruti,isthestateofimbalance inthedoshas.Awarenessiscrucialinrecognizingvikrutito staveofftendenciesleadingtoillnessordisease.

Eachofthedoshashasanimportantlocationthatisconsidered itsmajorsite.Thesesitesarewherevitiationismostlikelytooccur.

Vataislocatedinthelargeintestine. Pittaislocatedinthesmallintestines. Kaphaislocatedinthestomach.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-8-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

Disordersmayoccurfromorresultinthedoshasbeingdeficient, excessiveorvitiated(aggravated):

Vatadeficiency lethargy/lackofmovement lackofenthusiasm confusedperception Vataexcess roughnessinvoiceandskin darkdiscolorations desireforheat piercingpain constipation insomnia weakness Vatavitiation swelling,gas,distendedabdomen rumblingsoundsintheintestines

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-9-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

Pittadeficiency dullcomplexion reducedbodyheat Pittaexcess burningsensations desireforcoolness yellowcoloringskin,eyes,feces,urine poorcirculationandappetite Pittavitiation burningsensations irritability Kaphadeficiency sensationofdryness feelingofemptinessinthestomach loosenessofthejoints thirstandweakness

LS Zack All Rights Reserved.

-10-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

Kaphaexcess whitishcomplexion heavinessoflimbs feelingofcoldness excesssleepordrowsiness phlegm

Kaphavitiation slowperception lethargy slowdigestion vomiting mucuscoating

LS Zack All Rights Reserved.

-11-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheDigestiveFire Agni is the Vedic term meaning transforming or burning. It is composed of different types of enzymes responsible for good digestion. The digestive fire or agni is of key importance accordingtotheprinciplesofAyurveda. Therearefourtypesofagni: samabalanceddigestion,noaftereffects vishamairregular,gas,bloating,distention tikshnasharp,hyper,acidreflux,heartburn mandaslowdigestion,heavy,dull Whenagniisnotfunctioningatanoptimallevel,ama,theby productofundigestedfoodturnstotoxicwastecloggingthe channels.Induetime,thiswillleadtoastateofdisease.Itis ofparamountimportancetokeepyourdigestivefirestrong throughoutyourentirelife.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-12-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

HowtheFoodWeEatAffectsUs FoodchoicesareanimportantaspectofAyurvedichealingand contributegreatlytotheformationandfunctionofthedoshasand dhatus.

Strategiesforhealthyeatinghabitsinclude:

Maintainingastrongdigestivefire Propereatingschedule Correctquantityoffood Properfoodcombinations Properliquidconsumption OrganicfoodnoGMOfoods Preparationoffood Doshaspecificspices/herbs Foodsinseason Environment AntiAmaDietnontoxicfoodsources

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-13-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheSevenDhatus Theworddhatucomesfromtherootworddhawhichmeans basisorfoundation.InAyurvedicmedicine,thestructural componentsthatnourishthebodyarecalleddhatusortissue levels.Therearesevenprimarysaptadhatus: rasaplasmatissue,lymph raktablood,redbloodcells mamsamuscle medaadiposetissue,fat asthiboneandcartilage majjanerve,marrow,connectivetissue shukra/artavamaleandfemalereproductivesystem Problemsthatoccurinthedhatusare: Insufficientnourishment Overnourishment Structuraldamage

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-14-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

AyurvedicDigestion During the process of digestion each dhatu is supplied and nourished with refined nutrition to carry our physiological tasks inthebody;whatisleftoverbecomesthewasteproductormala. Ahararasa,pureessenceisrefined,digestedfood;thewaste becomesfecesandurine. Rasadhatu(plasmatissue)issuppliedwiththenutritive essenceofrefined,digestedfood;themalaofrasaismucus. Rakta(blood)isobtainedfromrefinedrasa;themalaofthe bloodisbile. Mamsa(muscletissue)isformedfromrefinedrakta;the malaofmamsaisexcrementfromtheeyes,noseandears. Meda(adiposetissue)isformedfromrefinedmamsa.The malafromthefattissueissweat. Asthi(bonetissue)isformedfromrefinedmeda,themalais bodyhairandnails. Majja(marrow)isformedfromtherefinementofthebone; themalaistears. Refinementofmarrowproducesshukradhatuorartavadhatu foroffspring.Themalaisojas. Refinedojasistheenergyreservesofthebodyandgenerates nomala.Itisdecreasedby:anger,fear,worry,sorrow, overwork,drugs,pollutionandunhealthyfood. LS Zack All Rights Reserved
-15www.kimayaayurveda.com

 Rasaandojasformsaconcentriccirclethatturnsbackon itselftonourishtheentirebodyandallthedhatus. It takes approximately 35 days after food is ingested to go throughallthedhatulevels.Ojasistheessenceofthesevendhatus and is created when shukra is properly formed from the action of allthedhatuagnis.

If there is any malfunction in the process, ojas, will not receive proper nourishment as the preceding dhatus will obtain the nutritionfirst.

Themostimportantmeansofsupportingojasismaintaininga holisticlifestylewithproperdiet,rest,exerciseandmeditation. Ojasisresponsibleforphysicalandmentalstrength,innerand outerbeauty,apowerfulimmunesystemandstrongaura. TheMalas Amalaissomethingthatistobeexcreted.Malascanbeexcessive, deficient,orpolluted.Therearethreetypesofmalas: urine feces sweat

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-16-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheSrotas Srotaorsrotasmiisanotherwordforpathwayorchannelandis alsodescribedasducts.Thereare14srotasthataffectthe physicalstructures: respiratorysystem digestivesystem watersystem(intakeanddistribution) lymphaticsystem circulatorysystem muscularsystem adiposesystem skeletalsystem nervoussystem reproductivesystem sebaceoussystem excretorysystem urinarysystem menstrualsystem lactationsystem mindemotions,sensoryimpressions,thoughts
LS Zack All Rights Reserved -17www.kimayaayurveda.com

AccordingtoCharak,keepingthesrotasfreefromobstructionsis thekeytohealth.However,thesrotasmayultimatelybeaffected inthefollowingways: deficiency,weaknessortoolittleofasubstance excessiveness,agitationordrainage blockageofflow,obstruction,bypassed overflowofsubstancesthatappearwheretheyshouldnot DailyandSeasonalRoutines

Aside from constitutional factors and diet, the doshasare affected by changes within the environment. The most consistent environmental influence is the changing of the seasons. Ritu means season and charya means routine. Ritucharya therefore means the routine followed in the different seasons. Cleansing and detox procedures known as Panchakarma are normally performed during these transitional junctures. Following a daily routineforyouruniquebodytypeisknownasDinacharya. Ayurveda encourages awareness of lifestyle habits accordingly. Thismeansmodifyingsleephabits,dietchoicesandactivities.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-18-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

Counteracting the adverse effects of the seasons will help one togainthebenefitofbeinginharmonywithMotherNature. MisuseoftheSenses Further, the body and mind can be affected by how we use our sensory organs and the daily activities we follow. Our mind can benegativelyaffectedbywhatisseen,feltorheard. Treatment may involve carefully regulating what is acceptable to the sensory field. There is also an additional possibility for diseaseordisorderstoariseduetothesefactors:

overworking strenuousphysicalwork misuseoftheintellect overtalking,overthinking,overdoing dwellingonnegativity,overreacting excesssexualactivity toomuchTV,cellphones,computers

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-19-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

TheDiseaseProcess Ayurvedicliteraturediscussesaseriesofsixstepsoutlinedinthe diseaseprocess.Sampraptiorpathogenesisistheresultofthe accumulationofthedoshas: Accumulation accumulation of the dosha in its primary site; vatacolon, pittasmall intestine, kapha stomach. This initial stage occurs usually due to dietary factors and is the startingplaceforthediseaseprocess. Aggravation excitation of the accumulated doshas, wherebythedoshasleavetheirnormalsite. Overflow original site is full and disperses to a new site whereitbeginstogetworse. Relocation disturbances move to wherever a weak site exists. Manifestation disease becomes apparent by which western medicinecanidentifyitbynameatthisstage. Chroniclaststagewherecomplicationssetin,distinction ofthediseasemanifestsatothersitessimultaneouslyleading toachronicdiseasedstateorthepassingawayoftheperson.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-20-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

AyurvedicQuestionnaire Takethisdoshaselftest,circlewhatappliestoyou,addupyour scoresineachcolumntodetermineyourbody/mindtype:

shape of face weight stamina coloring eyes fingernails teeth hair chest Totals

medium, soft, pink thick, strong, white moderate, yellow fine, red, blonde moderate large, white thick, wavey large, broad

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-21-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

Mental Mind memory quality digestion sleep temperament speech dreams Totals Vata learns easy/forgets quick, creative irregular light nervous fast, omits words fear, fly, running Pitta sharp penetrating strong moderate impatient clear, precise anger, struggle Kapha slow, never forgets stable, lethargic slow heavy easy going slow, clear romantic, few

Addupyourtotalsforeachofthecolumnsbothbodyandmind, enterthembelow.Ingeneralpeoplearedualdoshashavinga scorefortwodoshasthatarecloseinnumber.Possibilitiesexist tobeonedoshabutitisraretohavescoresindicatingallthree. BodyVata_____Pitta______Kapha______ MindVata_____Pitta______Kapha_____

Summary Takingconsciousstepstochangeyourlifestylethroughdiet, exercise,herbs,meditationandmassagewillrelievemanyhealth conditions.Choosingselfawarenessinyourjourneytoward enlightenmentsupportsspiritualhealinginthehereandnow. TheancientstudyofAyurvedarequiresyearsofseriousstudy; however,itismyintentionthatthisintroductoryebookwillgive oneabasicunderstandinginthefieldofAyurvedicphysiology. MayAyurvedagrantyourwishesofgoodhealth,beautyand spiritualadvancementasitmanifestsintoglobalawareness.

Namaste.

All information is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace standard medical care or advice.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-23-

www.kimayaayurveda.com

BookRecommendations AbsoluteBeautyRadiantSkin&InnerBeautythroughthe AncientsSecretsofAyurvedabyPratimaRaichur ALifeofBalancebyMayaTiwari AyurvedatheScienceofSelfHealingbyDr.VasantLad EncyclopediaofAyurvedabySwamiSadaShivaTirtha TextbookofAyurvedabyDr.VasantLad YogaandAyurvedabyDr.DavidFrawley Allbooksareavailableforpurchaseonlinefrommajorbookstores.

LS Zack All Rights Reserved

-24-

www.kimayaayurveda.com