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Intrduction

Ayurveda is the holistic alternative science from India, and is more than 5000 years old. It is believed
to be the oldest healing science in existence, forming the foundation of all others.

The word Ayurveda comes from two root words in Sanskrit, Ayush meaning life or life span and Veda
meaning knowledge. The science of Ayurveda, thus, literally means the complete knowledge of the
totality and longevity of life. Ayurveda, said to be a world medicine, is the most holistic or
comprehensive medical system available.

Ayurveda Texts, scriptures & oral traditions assign their composition to Charka, Dhanvantari,
Sushruta, Kashyap, Vagbhata, Sarangadhara, Samhita & others.

Charka's Samhita, a text with which Ayurveda begins, consists of 120 chapters divided into 8 parts
covering pharmacology, food, diet, diseases, their diagnosis and prognosis, the treatments, anatomy,
embryology, and pharmacy.
Sushruta Samhita, consists of 6 large sections which deal mostly with surgery, treatment of wounds,
diagnosis and extraction of splinters, pathology, anatomy, ophthalmology, dentistry and child care.
Vagbhata Samhita is considered to be the compendia of Charka and Sushruta Samhitas presented in a
well organized and thematically structured composition.
The ancient Ayurveda science also deals with Alchemy and its medicinal uses, plastic surgery,
gynecology, cosmetics, medicinal plants, their uses and manufacturing processes of herbal
formulations.

The Lenses of Ayurveda

It is the basic understanding of some of the lenses through which Ayurveda views the
universe. These are foundational tools for understanding the laws of nature and
identifying various states of health or imbalance.

The Five Elements


Ayurveda recognizes five elements as the fundamental building blocks of natureearth,
water, fire, air, and ether (space). Every substance, every cell, contains all five of these
elements. That said, in a given substance, one or two elements are typically predominant
over the others.

The Twenty Qualities


Ayurveda also identifies twenty qualities (the gunas) that can be used to describe every
substance or experience. These qualities are organized into the following ten pairs of
opposites:
Heavy Light

Slow (Dull) Sharp (Penetrating)

Cold Hot

Oily Dry

Smooth Rough

Dense Liquid

Soft Hard

Stable Mobile

Gross Subtle

Cloudy (Sticky) Clear

The Three Doshas


there are the three doshas :- vata, pitta, and kapha. Each of them embodies a particular
combination of elements and qualities to create a functional entityan energetic force of
nature. The doshas, or some combination of them, can be identified in various seasons,
climates, landscapes, activities, plants, and animals. In the context of our bodies, all three
doshas are necessary to facilitate important physiological functions. But if they
accumulate beyond healthy limits (those determined by ones constitution), the doshas
can also wreak havoc on our health.
All three doshas are present in everyone, but the ratio between them varies a great deal
from one person to the next.

Vata (Air + Ether)


Vata is the energy of movement and impulse, creativity and connection. This dosha
governs breathing, the pulsation of the heart, muscle movement in general, nerve
impulses, sensory perception, communication, and our capacity to experience flexibility,
joy, and expansive consciousness.
In excess, vata can cause fear, anxiety, physical and emotional constriction,
ungroundedness, poor circulation, constipation, dry skin, cracking joints, emaciation,
insomnia, twitches, tremors, and other abnormal movements.

Pitta (Fire + water)


Pitta is the energy of digestion and transformation. This dosha governs appetite,
digestion, absorption, assimilation, intelligence, charisma, courage, and ambition.
In excess, pitta can cause anger, jealousy, inflammation, excessive heat, heartburn, loose
stools, migraines, rashes, bruising, bleeding disorders, sharp hunger, an overactive
metabolism, and difficulty sleeping.

Kapha (Water + Earth)


Kapha is the energy of structure and cohesiveness, grounding and stability. This dosha
governs nourishment, growth, lubrication, regeneration, fluid balance, fat regulation,
strength, stamina, memory, and our ability to feel compassion and contentment.
In excess, kapha can cause attachment, greed, resistance to change, lack of motivation,
heaviness in the mind and body, excessive sleep, depression, a sluggish metabolism,
congestion, water retention, hardening of the arteries, and the formation of masses and
tumors.

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