Balance Your Health Through Ayurveda

The Ayurvedic secret of knowing the root cause of your disease

Ayurveda, or the Science of Life, as translated from Sanskrit is an ancient science of health and healing. It believes that everything in the universe consists of the Five Great Elements (Panch Mahabhutas) -Space (Akasha), Air (Vayu), Fire (Agni), Water (Jal) and Earth (Prithvi). Ayurveda works on the principles of these five basic elements. It explains the importance of balancing  these elements for a healthy body and mind.

One of the five elements impacts an individual more than  the others because of one’s natural constitution or Prakriti.  Prakriti is categorized into three doshas:

  • Vata dosha - where the air and space elements dominate
  • Pitta dosha - where the fire element dominates
  • Kapha dosha - where the earth and water elements dominate

Most people’s Prakriti is a combination of two doshas. Doshas affect the body’s shape,  bodily tendencies (like food preferences and digestion), mind and emotions. For example, the earth element in people with Kapha dosha is evident in their solid, sturdy body type and emotional steadiness.

An imbalance in any of these doshas causes illnesses. Let us know more about the doshas and the effects of an imbalance in any of the doshas.

 

Vata Imbalance

The Vata dosha is the most important of the three doshas because a prolonged Vata imbalance can cause the other two doshas (Pitta or Kapha) to become imbalanced.

Symptoms & Effects of Vata Imbalance

Symptoms

Physical:

  • Constipation
  • Flatulence or distension in the abdomen
  • Dehydration
  • Dry and rough skin
  • Bodyache
  • Astringent taste in the mouth
  • Loss of strength, fatigue, low vitality
  • Disturbed or lack of sleep
  • Tremors and twitches
  • Dizziness or feeling spaced out
  • Sensitivity to cold and a desire for warmth

Behavioural:

  • Irrational, Anxious, Nervous, Agitated, Impatient
  • Wanting to run away
  • Feeling confused, fearful & shaky
  • Feeling ungrounded
  • Excessive movement or talking
 

Effects

  • Wasting of muscles
  • Joint pains
  • Stiffness
  • Headaches
  • Constipation
  • Weight loss
  • Cramps
  • Convulsion, tremors, paralytic attacks
  • Colic
  • Dryness, scaling
  • Phobias
 

 

Pitta imbalance

The Pitta dosha is associated with fire or heat. Wherever there is a change, the Pitta Prakriti is at work. Pitta works in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, skin, eyes or brain.

Symptoms & Effects of Pitta Imbalance

Symptoms

Physical:

  • Excessive thirst or hunger
  • Heartburn and acidity
  • Burning sensation in eyes, hands and soles of the feet
  • Hot flushes in the body
  • Skin rashes, acne, and boils
  • Vomiting bile (yellowish water)
  • Hypersensitivity to light
  • Strong body odour
  • Nausea and headache
  • Loose Motions
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Sensitivity to heat and desire for a cool environment

Behavioural:

  • Snappy speech and actions
  • Judgmental or criticizing tendencies
  • Angry, irritable, hostile
  • Argumentative, aggressive
  • Impatient and restless
  • Frustrated
 

Effects

  • Hyperacidity
  • Inflammations
  • Bleeding
  • Hypertension
  • Burning sensations
  • Excess eliminations
  • Skin rashes, pimples, boils
  • Obsessiveness
 

 

Kapha imbalance

Kapha is the heaviest of the three doshas. It provides structure and lubrication to the body. These qualities help to counterbalance Vata's movement and Pitta's metabolism. A big, heavyset football player or wrestler is a person with a predominance of Kapha.

Symptoms & Effects of Kapha Imbalance

Symptoms

Physical:

  • Lethargy
  • Little or no appetite, nausea
  • Water retention
  • Congestion, mucous formation
  • Secretions in the mouth
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Excessive sleep    
  • Sweetness in the mouth

Behavioural:

  • Feeling of heaviness
  • Depressed, sad
  • Dull, inactive
  • Feeling a lack of support or love
  • Feeling greedy, entangled, possessive
 

Effects

  • Obesity
  • Swelling
  • Water retention
  • Excess mucus production
  • Extra growth
  • Depression
  •  
 

Understanding the doshas and the results of their imbalance helps one ascertain the cause of their illnesses. If you witness any of the above-mentioned symptoms and effects, contact an Ayurvedic doctor. He/She will help you restore balance to your doshas through effective Ayurvedic remedies and a suitable diet.