Ayurveda offers a complete philosophical and metaphysical system for comprehending constitutional type, the factors that affect health, and the strategies for healing once disease has occurred. Ayurveda is the ancient system of medicine of India; it boasts a tradition of thousands of years and has exhibited its capacity to withstand all fashions in thought as well as ridicule and suppression during the years of occupation by the British Raj. What gives Ayurveda its longevity? Most likely the answer to this profound question is its coherence: Ayurveda makes sense because it starts with the whole and discovers the fragments within the context of the larger picture.

 

In the beginning . . .

In Ayurveda, everything begins in the Mind of God. We can try to understand this in whatever context we wish, but Creation emerges because the Creator wills Creation to come into existence. What we perceive with our senses is thus the precipitation of Divine Idea, and what we perceive is an infinetessmally small part of the Idea, limited by the awareness of the perceiver. As the Divine Idea becomes dense, it has attributes that are defined as elements. The matrix for the physical world exists in the ether. Here, the mold for visible matter shapes the world of appearances. If the mold changes, the appearance will also change, quickly or slowly depending on the density of the matter that has to be changed. The etheric element rules the sense of sound because the Creator causes manifestation to occur by producing sound.

Shift always occurs because of the wind or air element because there is no movement without air. We cannot see air, but we deduce its existence because of its feel and because we can see the results, such as leaves moving in the breeze. Air rules the sense of touch. Fire is the only element that is hot. It affects the chemicals of the gastrointestinal system that are necessary for the transformation of food into nutrients the body can use and waste products the body must eliminate. Fire also ruleslight and therefore sight. Water balances fire. It is the only element that is wet. It nourishes life and promotes growth and repair of tissues. Earth rules the densest parts of our material world: the skeletal system and teeth.

Each element is differentiated by its vibratory rate. Everything in the visible world is a combination of elements whose proportions one to another are always changing. For instance, if the amount of water increases, there will be swelling, weight gain, and an increase in not just clamminess but also coldness, because the ratio of water to fire is increasing. If, on the other hand, fire were to become more active, the temperature would rise and the water would evaporate. The system is so inherently logical that it is easily learned by anyone who cares to take the time to understand its simplicity and profundity.

 

The Chakras

Each element rules a chakra which, in turn, affects the corresponding endocrine glands and their hormonal secretions. Therefore, what might seem an innocent change in something like the weather or our diet could have a profound effect on how the body works, this because hormones are miniature chemicals that stimulate or inhibit physiological functions.

The rulership of the chakras is as follows:

Crown	Inspiration
Third Eye	Intuition
Throat	Ether
Heart	Air
Solar Plexus	Fire
Sacral Center	Water
Base Chakra	Earth

 

The Doshas

The Doshas are "faults" caused by combinations of elements. Ether and air combine to form the vata dosha; fire causes the pitta dosha; water and earth cause the kapha dosha. The best way to explain this is to say that fire, what is called agni in Sanskrit, is pure, but if it becomes deranged, it causes a problem. This problem will involve the pitta dosha. Health is believed to occur when the elements are in balance, but when an element is aggravated, its influence increases at the expense of the other elements. The consequences will fall in a predictable range, but each individual will experience the symptoms a little differently. The elements each have characteristics. For instance, air is light, cold, and dry. If the main symptom experienced is lightness, it will usually be because the earth element is weak. However, if coldness is a stronger symptom, low fire is the cause; likewise, if the problem is dryness, there is not enough moisture or water. Very complex psychological and physiological patterns can be explained by reference to the balance of the elements and doshas.

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*The material provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The author is not a medical doctor. The statements made represent the author's personal opinions and are not intended to replace the services of health care professionals. The content and products discussed have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information on this page and the products available on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.