Ayurveda: A Brief Introduction

Ayurveda. What is it? Is it hype or is there something of value to it? How can it help with my wellness?

These are just some of the questions surrounding the ancient healthcare system that originated in India. In the United States, it’s considered a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Students of CAM therapy believe that everything in the universe – dead or alive – is connected. If your mind, body, and spirit are in harmony with the universe, you have good health. When something disrupts this balance, you get sick. Among the things that can upset this balance are genetic or birth defects, injuries, climate and seasonal change, age, and your emotions.

 Ayurveda means the science of life and the basis is that mind and body are inseparable in the health and wellness spectrum and the mind can transform the body. It not only helps restore imbalances in the body but maintain it once achieved.
Ayurveda is a simple approach to wellness that is based on the concept of bio individuality-that each person has innate differences due to their DNA, thus one must feed and treat their bodies in different ways.  Those who practice Ayurveda believe every person is made of five basic elements found in the universe: space, air, fire, water, and earth which combine in the human body to form the three main body types and/or life forces- Vata(space and air), Pitta(fire and water), and Kapha (water and earth). These are called the Doshas and they control how your body. Everyone inherits a unique mix of the three doshas, but one is usually stronger than the others.  It’s believed that your chances of getting sick-and the health issues you develop-are linked to the balancing of your doshas.  Seeking first to calm the mind through meditation that not only calms the body but opens it up for healing. When relaxed the body decreases the production of stress hormones and increases the production of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins which create an environment in your body for healing