When we pursue happiness, it eludes you. However, when you recognise that happiness is the natural state of the soul, all you need is to eliminate all that comes between your happiness and you.
Ayurvedic treatments differ from
the majority of conventional cures in its unique approach towards healing.
The principle of treating the sick and not the sickness is central to
all forms of ayurvedic treatments. Rather than trying to cure a disease
in isolatation, ayurveda takes into account an individual in his entirety.
Having
a balanced state of doshas, agni (digestive fire), dhatus
(tissues) normal functioning of mala (waste products), cheerful
state of atman (soul), sensory organs and mind are the symptoms
of healthy life.
Ayurvedic treatments lay emphasis on examining the doshas/prakriti
or the natural states of individuals before proceeding. The prakriti
or the physical constitution, susceptibility to diseases, mental make-up
and lifestyle of an individual is ascertained in accordance to the elemental
constitution of the larger prakriti or the universe.
Of course,
ayurveda has drawn the most comprehensive picture of human body and the
natural world, saying that, the elements of the nature—the Panchamahabhuts:
kshit (earth), ap (water), marut(air), tejas (fire),
and vyoma (space or ether or akash), are also, the components
of human body,which are manifested in three types of physic—kaph
(water/earth), pitta (fire), vata (ether/ air).These
three types are further recognized by ayurveda as tridoshas or
the three faults—vata, pitta and kapha irregularities.
The smooth functioning of the body is hampered owing to the imbalances
in the three doshas (prakriti) causing all kinds of diseases.
Ayurveda takes into consideration the body, mind and soul of an individual
as the unit for diagnosis. Hence, it recognizes negative emotions like
anger, fear, insecurity, jealousy and greed as incorrect thinking on the
part of an individual. These can directly create an imbalance in the doshas.
Sattva, or peaceful equilibrium, rajas, or excessive activity
and tamas, or inertia—the three tendencies or gunas
of mind influence the imbalances in the three doshas. Hence the
mind-body imbalance impairs the creative functioning of man.
Vata Prakriti/Type Vata, which is identified with the cosmic element of vaayu
or air and akash or ether, control all types of movements and is
responsible for respiration too. This is the kinetic force in all kinds
of biological forms, and controls the body's auto-functions (nerve impulses,
circulation, respiration, and elimination and heartbeats etc.) therein.
In case of an imbalance (vikruti), vata prakriti individuals,
who are quick in their mental process and initiation of action, tend to
suffer from diseases of the neurological system especially motor functions.
The diseases are pronounced during the old age, which is the period of
vata (vata kala). The disease mostly affects the lower parts
of the body since they are the predominant seats of vata dosha.
Also, individuals belonging to this type suffer from angina (hridgraha).
Pitta Prakriti/Type Pitta Prakriti is consists of agni or teja, the element
of heat energy. It is responsible for maintenance of body heat and transforming
in nature. All types of outside elements an individual takes-in are transformed
into inside elements (microcosm) of the body by pitta. It governs
the digestion or proper assimilation of physical, mental and emotional
elements of a biological entity. Hence, Pitta is responsible for
metabolism in the organ and tissue systems, as well as cellular metabolism.
The persons of this prakriti are sharp, quick in action and normally
possess a very good intellect as well as grasping power. The pitta
prakriti persons are prone to diseases of the digestive and metabolic
systems. The diseases mostly affect the abdomen i.e. the area between
the chest and umbilicus. Also, pitta disorders are pronounced in
the middle ages, which is the period of pitta (pitta kala).
Kapha
Prakriti/Type Kapha prakriti or dosha consists of prithvi (earth)
and jala (water). Jala or ap, is essential for sustenance
of life. Prithvi, or earth, is responsible for structure and bulk
of the material. Kapha is responsible for body form and structure
(fluids, fats, bones and muscles). The kapha prakriti endows the
individuals with a good physic and strong perseverance but they are slow
in their activities. The cold quality of kapha results in poor
appetite as their agni or digestion is poor. In case of an imbalance
(vikruti), individuals tend to suffer from the diseases of the
respiratory system especially phlegmatic disorders. The diseases normally
affect the upper parts of the body i.e. chest and above. The diseases
are pronounced during the early ages (childhood), which is the period
of kapha (kapha kala). Generally people are a combination
of two doshas i.e. dwandvaja prakriti. They possess characteristics
of both doshas involved depending on the percentage of the combination.
In this case, one is a primary and the other is the secondary dosha.
Sometimes people are a combination of all the three imbalances of doshas.
But, it is extremely rare to find a balanced state of all the three doshas.
Not only the humans but also everything (animals, plants, geographical
locations, times of day, seasons and activities performed etc.) in the
universe is categorized according to these three doshas. An ayurvedic
practitioner formulates a diet plan and recommends herbs for a patient
after taking into consideration all these aspects. That's why in ayurveda
different people with the same disease sometimes receive different diet
and herb plans.
Effect of Seasons
on the Prakriti Types
The condition of human body depends on the continuous interaction between
internal and external factors. Environmental factors include the nature
of the land, water and various atmospheric phenomena such as temperature,
humidity, wind, rain and snow shortly, the seasons and climes. Food
and proper digestion of it in our systems is considered vital to maintain
a reasonable balance of the three doshas of vata, pitta
and kapha. Food is digested by agni (heat/fire) within
us just as it is cooked by agni (heat/fire) outside.
According
to ayurveda, there is a "stimulus-response" relation between
the agni within us and the outside agni—the sun. When
the agni outside is strong (i.e. summer) the agni inside
us (the digestive energy) is weak and vice-versa. Basing on this principle
the Indian food customs (even festival delicacies) and of course, the
diet and lifestyle regimen (Dinacharya and Ritucharya) of
ayurveda have been adapted to seasonal changes.
