Ayurveda is India’s holistic, integrated, physiotherapeutic medical system. It is based upon the universal natural law of balancing the five elements that make up the physical body:

• ether

• air

• fire

• water

• earth

When one or more of these elements go out of balance because of improper diet and life style, various diseases and mental disturbances can manifest. Ayurveda explains that these five elements are kept intact in the body by three subtle forces called doshas. The key to maintaining physical and mental health is in keeping these elements and doshas in harmonic balance through proper diet, herbs and life style, otherwise early aging and various diseases can manifest.

The three doshas are called Vata (sattva), Pitta (raga) and Kapha (tama).

These three doshas can even be traced back to the very beginning of creation as representing the three Gods in Vedic wisdom Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma.

Vata is the underlying subtle force ruling over ether and air.

Pitta rules fire.

Kapha is responsible for keeping the water and earth elements in balance.

One or more of these doshas or elements will predominate in every individual living entity creating seven possible body types. By knowing which type you are by symptoms, the proper diet and herbal treatment can be established for you. Learn more by reading the information found in Ayurvedic Diets.

Find out which body type you are by purchasing our in-depth questionnaire. which will be evaluated for your personalized Ayurvedic Diet Consultation.

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Tags: ayurveda, Ayurveda five elements, ayurvedic diet consultation, ayurvedic health, doshas, kapha dosha, pitta dosha, science of ayurveda, vata dosha

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 at 10:45 am and is filed under Science of Ayurveda. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.