Category: Ayurveda

A fascinating area of Ayurvedic science is the knowledge of rasa, the influence that a food’s taste has on digestion. Understanding the three categories of rasa can be very helpful in both the diagnosis and treatment of disease. That is why it is important to be able to distinguish between these three types of rasa or taste. As was mentioned earlier, the first type of rasa is the natural taste of food imparted by the combination of elements that make up that food substance. For example, a food that is high in both vayu and agni will taste sour and pungent, like chilis or peppers.

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The process of digestion is not complete when food passes through the three zones of the gastrointestinal tract. The nutrients that result from prapaka digestion are still not in a form that can be assimilated by the dhatus. Because each dhatu has a different structure and function in the body, it requires its own metabolic process — one that can convert the raw nutrients into a form that can be used for its specific nutritional requirements.

Continue reading Ayurveda Panchakarma: Vipaka Metabolism – Post – Absorptive Digestion

At one time or another, almost everyone has wondered about the vast range of differences that exist among human beings. Though physiologically, we are made of the same substances and function in much the same way, our responses to life vary tremendously. Why do human beings exhibit such diversity in size, shape, complexion, energy levels and health? What produces the great variety in intelligence, emotional responses and adaptability to the environment’s demands?

Continue reading Ayurveda Panchakarma: Your Doshic Constitution

In our discussion of the three constitutional types, it is important to keep a number of things in mind. First, just as no one’s life ever expresses a perfect balance of all three doshas, no one perfectly exemplifies one single doshic type. Even though the qualities of the primary dosha are most obvious, the characteristics of the less dominant doshas always filter through to influence who we are. The degree to which this happens depends on the relative strengths of each dosha.

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FOOD PREFERENCES

People naturally prefer foods which balance the excessive influence of their primary dosha. For example, kaphic people normally shun rich, oily, cold and sweet foods, as well as dairy products, because these foods augment the already excessive action of kapha in their bodies. Instead, they choose dry, porous and light foods, like puffed grains, crackers, toast and salads. Because dry foods have greater absorptive capacity, they reduce the abundance of moistening and cohesive secretions that are typical of the kaphic nature. Kaphic individuals like warm food and enjoy and benefit from spices and pungent condiments. Pungent foods and fasting counteract excessive kapha, and these people are usually comfortable missing a meal or fasting.

Continue reading Ayurveda Panchakarma: Identifying The Doshic Predominance In Food

We can now construct the “pillars of ayu,” the basic principles upon which health, happiness and harmony with natural law rest. These three pillars are referred to as ahara, vihara and aushadhi.

Continue reading Ayurveda Panchakarma: Role of Taste in Nutrition

In our discussion of the three qualities of the mind in earlier article, we briefly mentioned the effect that certain foods have on the predominance of sattva, rajas and tamas in the mind. The following list offers a more detailed explanation of the connection between food and the state of mind.

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In addition to proper diet, ahara emphasizes the role of three components vital to healthy gastrointestinal functioning: deepan, the maintenance of strong digestive fire; pachan, smooth digestion and assimilation; and anuloman, proper elimination of waste materials. When these three operate normally, the body will respond well to almost any appropriate treatment. People fall ill because they have problems in one or more of these areas. Many people consider weak appetite, sluggish digestion or constipation as an unfortunate but minor fact of life. They are not aware that these “small” inconveniences can lead to serious disease over time.

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The second pillar of ayu is vihara, or “activity.” This principle explains how to act in ways that support life, and includes lifestyle guidelines to maintain optimum health and balance. Successful use of vihara’s recommendations depends on the ability to know exactly what is good for us and the motivation to act on what we know. This is why a sattvic mind is so important. So, many of the following lifestyle suggestions have, as their primary focus, to refine the quality of the mind.

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Ayurveda’s knowledge of the disease process differs fundamentally from the conceptions held by Western medicine. Though Ayurvedic science recognizes the role played by viruses and bacteria in disease, it explains that these pathogens cannot cause illness by themselves. Both our bodies and our environment harbor vast numbers of the microorganisms which modern medicine believes to be the source of illness. What actually determines which person will succumb to the influence of these pathogens and which will remain healthy? What are the unseen factors involved in the creation of illness?

Continue reading Ayurveda Panchakarma: The Three Causes of Disease