Ayurvedic medicine looks to treat the cause of disease, not just to treat symptoms. Taking responsibility for one’s own health is a key component, which includes a personal focus on diet, exercise, spiritual well-being and being in tune with your body.
The foundation of Ayurveda is based on the connection between mind, body and spirit; the whole person. The belief is that individuals are born with predetermined psychological and physical traits. Treatments are based on those parameters, which remain unchanged throughout a person’s life. This is called a person’s “prakriti”. There are two types of prakriti, physical (sareerika) and mental (mansika).
According to Ayurvedic medicine, three life forces, or doshas, govern the physical (sareerika prakriti) side of an individual; Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Everyone has each of these doshas, but one is often more pronounced. Each dosha has its own characteristics, is made up of two of the five elements (space, air, water, earth, fire) and controls a specific body function. A balance among these three life forces is essential for proper health. Any imbalance in them causes a state of unhealthiness or disease....<<<Read More>>>...