1. Ayurveda
The Science of Life

2. Origins and Definition
knowledge for long life; science of life
from Sanskrit ayus, long life, and veda, science of knowledge
Atharvaveda (one of the 4 most ancient books of Hindu culture): 114 hymns for treatement of disease dating from (maybe) 1500 BCE
Charaka Samhita (5th or 6th cent. BCE) attributed to Charaka is primary classical source

4. 5 Elements + 3 Doshas
ayurveda stresses balance, a kind of dynamic homeostasis
everything in the universe, including human beings, is comprised of prthv/earth, jala/water, agni/fire, vayu/air and akasa/sky.
these resolve into 7 body tissues/dhatus: plasma/chyle (rasa dhatu), blood (rakta dhatu), flesh (mamsa dhatu), fat (medha dhatu), bone (asthi dhatu), marrow (majja dhatu) and semen or female reproductive tissue (sukra dhatu)
the elements combine in various proportions to create the elemental humors, called doshas as follow: vayu vata (air and space/wind), pitta (fire and water/bile) and kapha (water and earth/phlegm)

5. Earth, Water, Fire
earth represents that which is solid, stable, rigid, unchanging; manifests as bones, teeth, tissues, cells/matter; a stable substance
water is fluid, changing, substance w/o stability; in the body it is the blood, lymph, fluid between cells that carry off wastes and transport nutrients
fire is transformational power; form w/o substance; energy of atoms, of digestion and transformation of food into energy or tissue; responsible for impulses of nervous system, thoughts and feelings

6. Air and Ether/Akasa
air is gaseous, mobile and dynamic; existence w/o form; air/oxygen is the basis for all energy transformations; necessary for fire
ether is space in which everything happens; both source of matter and space in which it exists; also defined as sound--meaning the entire spectrum of vibration

7. Health is defined as balance/ harmony
balance is achieved when prakriti and vikriti are in sync
prakriti: one’s basic constitution as defined by the inherent composition of doshas
vikriti: the presenting doshic composite that is the result of life circumstances and the system’s reaction to those circumstances
methods: life style interventions and natural therapies
mind-body one system: both need to be addressed

8. Prakruti and Vikruti
prakruti: constitution, individual composite of doshas determined at conception; unchanging throughout the lifespan; sanskrit word means “nature,” “first creation.”
vikruti: that constitution/composite of doshas that is a result of the interaction between an individual and her environment
ideally, vikruti should match prakruti; when it doesn’t there is disharmony and possibly illness
treatment aims to bring harmony to the system through diminishing excess and increasing vitality to that which has become depleted.

9. Ojas and Ama Ojas is vitality, vital essence
Ama is congestion, toxicity
Ama is defined as a sticky plaque-like substance that is produced as the body’s way of trying to mobilize impurities from the tissues and organs and micro-channels (or Shrotas) of the body. When the body is not able to fully eliminate these impurities through the normal channels of elimination such as the bowel, urinary tract or skin, then Ama forms, and may first appear as congestion, phlegm, dental plaque, the white coating on the tongue, and may later accumulate in the arteries, joints and tissues.
Ayurvedic practices are designed to decrease/eliminate ama and increase ojas

10. The Senses element sense sense organ action organ of action ether
hearing
ear
speech
tongue, vocal cords, mouth
air
touch
skin
holding
hand
fire
vision
eye
walking
feet
water
taste
tongue
procreation
genitals
earth
smell
nose
excretion
anus

11. The Doshas dosha, that which changes can be regarded as a mistake
constantly shifting in relation to one another
not only human beings but days and seasons participate in tridosha
2-6 (am and pm) vata
6-10 (am and pm) kapha
10-2 (am and pm) pitta
winter is kapha; spring and fall are vata; summer is pitta (note: this is am approximation)

12. Vata meaning: wind, to move, flow, direct the process of, command
needed by other 2 doshas for expression
governs all movements w/in the body-mind
blinking, breathing, pulsations, expansion and contraction, cytoplasm and cell movements, single impulses in nerves, feeling and emotions such as freshness, nervousness, fear, anxiety, pain, tremors, spasms
primary seat is colon but also lives in hips, thighs, ears, bones, pelvic cavity and skin
related to touch

13. Pitta
dynamic interplay between water and fire, which are transformative in their interaction and modulation of each other
governs
digestion, absorption, nutrition, metabolism
body temperature, skin color, eye luster
intelligence, understanding
arouses anger, hate and jealousy
small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, fat, eyes and skin are homes for pitta

14. Kapha equilibrium of water and earth/structure and lubrication
kapha dosha
cements the body, maintains strength and natural tissue resistance
lubricates the joints, moisturizes the skin, helps heal wounds
imparts biological strength, vigor, stability
supports memory retention; gives energy to heart and lungs and maintains immunity
lives in chest (home), throat, head, sinuses, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm, plasma, liquid secretions
attachment, greed, long-standing envy as well as calmness, forgiveness and love are its emotions

15. Rules for Healthy Living
any substance that enters the body-mind can nourish, balance or disturb the organism
nourishment is food; balance is medicine; disturbance is poison
based on the idea that like increases like, we use food, herbs, thoughts, lifestyle choices to nourish, heal or sicken ourselves

16. Diagnosis
The Charaka Samhita recommends a tenfold examination of the patient:
constitution▪
abnormality▪
essence▪
stability▪
body measurements▪
diet suitability▪
psychic strength▪
digestive capacity▪
physical fitness▪
age

17. Pancha Karma Literally “5 actions”
curative and preventative; recommended at least once a year to remove ama
done under supervision at health spa--3, 5, 6, 14, 21 days
can include lighter cleansing diet, and several consecutive days of deeply relaxing, luxurious Ayurvedic cleansing treatments such as warm oil massages, herbal steam baths and mild herbal enemas
originally induced vomitting (vamana) as well as herbal enemas, netti pot and nysa oil treatments for sinuses