Ayurvedic Principles
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History of Ayurveda
Ayurveda translates to the “science of life.” Ayur or Ayus means “life” and Veda means “knowledge, science, meaning”. The ancient teachings of Ayurveda have their source in the Upanga of the Atharva Veda. These teaching are contained in 1000 chapters and 100,000 verses. Later the sages or rishis of Charaka, Sushruta, Vagbhata, Madhava and Sharangadhara interpreted the Vedas and developed Ayurvedic medicine. They also created the Ayurvedic texts that are still studied today in India and elsewhere of the Charaka Samhita, the Sushruta Samhita and the Ashtanga Hridhaya and the Ashtanga Sangraha. These are called the Brihat Trayi or the great triad of Ayurvedic texts. These works are recognized as the foundations of Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurvedic Principles
Ayurvedic medicine relies on two main principles when offering treatments or chikitsas:
“like increases like”
“opposites balance”
These two Ayurvedic principles determine every treatment plan for a client or patient. By utilizing the 20 main qualities, an Ayurvedic professional can use the Ayurvedic principles to create a complimentary treatment, diet and lifestyle plan that brings the body, the mind and the spirit into balance.
The Gunas or Qualities
There are 20 main gunas or qualities in Ayurveda. These are often broken down as a set of 10 opposite qualities:
Light (laghu) / Heavy (guru)
Hot (uṣṇa) / Cold (śīta)
Dry (rūkṣa) / Oily or Unctuous (snigdha)
Slow or Dull (manda) / Sharp or Active (tīkṣṇa)
Rough (khara) / Smooth (ślakṣṇa)
Dense (sāndra) / Liquid (drava)
Hard (kaṭhina) / Soft (mṛdu)
Mobile (chala) / Stable or Static (sthira)
Gross (sthūla) / Subtle (sūkṣma)
Cloudy (picchila) / Clear (viśada)
These qualities are applied to the tridosha of vata, pitta and kapha as well as to every substance on earth. When an Ayurvedic professional makes a treatment protocol for a client, they will look at the qualities associated with the predominant dosha of the individual as well as an current doshic imbalances. For example a vata person has the qualities of dry, light, cold, rough, subtle, mobile and clear, so the treatment protocol would utilize the opposite qualities of heavy, hot, smooth, gross, stable, and cloudy to balance the qualities of vata as well as not recommend more substances, herbs, food, lifestyle recommendations, etc. that will increase the qualities of vata. For more information on each of the dosha and their corresponding qualities click on one of the following doshic types: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Ayurvedic Definition of Health
“One who is established in Self, who has balanced dosha, balanced agni (digestive fire), properly formed dhatu (tissue systems of the body), proper elimination of mala (wastes products), well functioning srotamsi (bodily processes) and whose mind, soul and senses are full of ananda (bliss), is called a healthy person.” - Sushruta Samhita “definition of health”