What is health according to Ayurveda?
Ayurveda describes three major Doshas which are bodily processes, bioenergetic forces responsible for maintaining the physiology, and also are the governing principles of Nature.
Vata is composed of bhutas or elements: Vayu (Air) + Akasha (Space/Ether)
Pitta is composed of Tejas (Fire) + Apas (Water) elements
Kapha is composed of Prithivi (Earth) + Apas (Water) elements.
We have different ratios of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha within the physiology, and usually, one or two Doshas are predominant. This then determines the 7 individual constitution types:
Vata (single Dosha)
Pitta (single Dosha)
Kapha (single Dosha)
Vata-Pitta (two Dosha)
Vata-Kapha (two Dosha)
Kapha-Pitta (two Dosha)
Vata-Pitta-Kapha (Sama Dosha or TriDosha have equal and balanced amounts of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Doshas).
Learn more about yourself deeply and holistically through a comprehensive personal health assessment to establish what is your unique Deha Prakriti. Your Deha Prakriti is your current state, true nature, or mind-body type in the phase of life you are in right now.
“When Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Dosha are in a balanced state, this is called samadosha and this is the state of a healthy individual.”
(Singh et al., 2019)
A healthy person is described in Sushruta Samhita, Su. 15.38 as:
“One whose Doshas are balanced, whose digestive
fire (Agni) is balanced, whose bodily tissues (Dhātus)
and elimination processes (Malas) are functioning
normally, and whose senses (Indriya), mind (Manas),
and Self (Ātmā) are filled with bliss,
such a one is called a healthy person.”
Similarly, another classical Ayurveda text, Ācārya Kāśyapa, defines health as:
1. Feeling of appetite followed by digestion of food at a proper time.
2. Excretion of waste products without any obstruction.
3. Feeling of lightness in the body.
4. Proper functioning of sense organs.
5. Sound sleep at a proper time and waking up with a happy and fresh mind.
6. Attainment of strength, luster, longevity.
7. Happy and healthy mental state.
(Singh et al., 2019)
Having a one-on-one Ayurveda consultation:
promotes health maintenance
promotes disease prevention by detecting imbalance at an early stage before disease manifests
detects the root cause and the state of imbalance when Doshas are disturbed by either a decrease or increase, Vikriti
each of the 6 constitution types has its mind-body strengths and health issue tendencies. A customised health and wellness plan with recommendations can be created specifically for your mind-body design.
References
Singh, D. M. M. M., Bhatnagar, Dr. S., Bhatnagar, Dr. V., & Verma, Dr. S. (2019). Fundamental Concept of Health in Ayurveda. International Journal of Health Sciences & Research, 9(8). ISSN: 2249-9571. www.ijhsr.org
