An Overview of Ayurveda

Before we jump into it, I really need to preface certain things:

1. This blog is going to act as an outline of the different aspects that make up Ayurveda. I will reference other blogs that give a general introduction to Ayurveda to allow this post to explore deeper topics.
2. This blog may feel like drinking water from a fire hose. Truthfully, there is no way around that feeling.
3. The goal right now is to give you a legitimate overview of Ayurveda, and hopefully, you can gain a new perspective in seeing how much Ayurveda plays a role in everyone's life.
4. I try to use proper transliteration of the Sanskrit words. However, I have chosen to keep a few words closer to their English spelling, as these are very common and I don't want to confuse the reader. With that said I do think it's important to be aware of the proper spelling. Here is a list of the words:

I hope you are as excited as I am, as this is something I am extremely passionate about. Please ask any questions at any time. Thank you.

Now that we are on the same page lets get started!

Introduction to Ayurveda

There are a couple of things that are generally understood about Ayurveda.

• It is a form of healing thought to be over 5000 years old originating in ancient India.
• This healing was passed on from Sages to their disciples who then over time made a collection of texts.

There are 3 major texts:

1. Caraka Saṁhitā
2. Suśruta Saṁhitā
3. Aṣtāṅga Hṛdayam by Vāgbhaṭa

3 minor texts:

1. Śāraṅgadhara Saṁhitā
2. Mādhava Nidānam by Mādhava Ācāryan
3. Bhāvaprakāśa by Bhāvamiśra

If this isn't your first time hearing about Ayurveda, you may know of the 5 elements (Ether, Air, Fire, Water, Earth), how specific combinations of the elements make up the Doshas (Vāta, Pitta, Kapha).

• Vāta — Ether + Air
• Pitta — Fire + Water
• Kapha — Water + Earth

If you have never heard of these terms and concepts, already Ayurveda can be a bit overwhelming. Earlier I prefaced that I will reference other blogs that give more of the general introduction to Ayurveda along with a glossary of terms to refer to. Here they are:

• Intro to Ayurveda
• Glossary of Ayurvedic terms

Super quick recap of what these blogs discuss. Ayurveda means the science of life! The root words are Ayuḥ, meaning life, and Veda, meaning science/sacred knowledge. From here the blogs discuss the 10 pairs of opposite qualities (Guṇas) and which qualities fall into which dosha. They go on further explaining the energetic principles of each dosha and the role they have in the body.

This can start to form the lens of how Ayurveda views all aspects of life. The blogs give a couple of examples on how different imbalances are understood through these 20 qualities and how Ayurveda uses the opposite qualities to bring balance into one's life. The last significant take away are the terms Prakruti, sometimes spelled Prakriti, and Vikruti, sometimes spelled Vikriti.

A note on spelling

If you are like me and you want an explanation for the difference in spelling here you go:

Different parts of India pronounce the letter ṛ(ऋ) in two ways. In the north it is pronounced as ri and in the south it is pronounced as ru. So the more precise way of the romanization spelling these two words would be Prakṛti and Vikṛti. Here is a quick video explaining the pronunciation of the vowel I am currently getting distracted by. You will notice one is pronounced longer than the other, here we are talking about the shorter one. Sanskrit Channel

Anyways! Prakruti is your personal constitution that you were born with. It is your combination and strength of the Doshas that works best for you in this life. Vikruti on the other hand is the current state of imbalance. One or more of the doshas can be out of balance due to the over or underexposure of the 20 qualities that we discussed earlier. Knowing your Prakruti and Vikruti is a crucial part of self-healing.

The 8 branches of Ayurveda

The last thing to finish off the introduction section is to state the 8 branches of Ayurveda:

1. Surgery
2. Toxicology
3. Geriatrics
4. Fertility
5. Internal Medicine
6. Pediatrics
7. Psychiatry
8. ENT

Now, it's important to mention that Ayurveda has a role in all these things, but that doesn't mean every practitioner you meet will be fluent in all 8 branches. Ayurveda isn't fully accepted in the west, and because of that, the main role we practitioners play can be considered under the umbrella of health coaches. There is nothing wrong with that, and truly it is a blessing that we humans have Ayurveda; but nonetheless, this is the current state of our world.

Let's move on to some other goodies!

Health & Disease

Health defined by the World Health Organization

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Here is an article that dives a little deeper into this definition along with some other interpretations. It is definitely worth the read! The Meanings of Health and its Promotion

Health defined by Ayurveda

There are more sutras than these, but I think this is a good start. All translations found here were done by the Ayurvedic Institute.

समदोषाः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रियाः । प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते ॥ ३८ ॥ (सु.सू.१५/४०)

samadoṣāḥ samāgniśca samadhātumalakriyāḥ | prasannātmeṇdriyamanāḥ svastha ityabhidhīyate || 38 || (su.sū.15/40)

The one who is established in Self, who has balanced doshas, balanced agni, properly formed dhatus, proper elimination of malas, properly functioning bodily processes, and whose mind, soul, and senses are full of bliss, is called a healthy person.

हिताहितं सुखं दुः खमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम् । मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते ॥ ४१ ॥ च. सू. १

hitāhitaṁ sukhaṁ duḥ khamāyustasya hitāhitam | mānaṁ ca tacca yatrouktamāyurvedaḥ sa ucyate || 41 || c. sū. 1

Ayurveda is said to be that science where what is useful and detrimental (to health/life), the happy and unhappy (states of life), what is good and bad for life, its measurement, and the lifespan are described.

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणमारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम् । रोगास्तस्यापहारश्च श्रेयसो जीवितस्य च ॥ १५ ॥ च. सू. १

dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇamārogyaṁ mūlamuttamam | rogāstasyāpahāraśca śreyaso jīvitasya ca || 15 || c. sū. 1

Health is the best foundation for the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa). Diseases take this away, as well as the goodness and life itself.

Disease

I don't believe there is an organization that defines disease. I assume it's simply common sense that it is the opposite of what health is defined by. Nevertheless! Here is a cool article that tried to define it, while getting into the importance of defining it. Disease, disability and their definitions

Disease defined by Ayurveda

Again there are other sutras that I could add, but this is a good starting point.

कुपितानं हि दोषाणां शरीरे परिधावताम् । यत्र सङ्गः खवैगुण्याद्व्याधिस्तत्रोपजायते ॥ १० ॥ सु. सू. २४

kupitānaṁ hi doṣāṇāṁ śarīre paridhāvatām | yatra saṅgaḥ khavaigunyādvyādhistatropajāyate || 10 || su. sū. 24

When the doshas are aggravated and spread throughout the body, they combine with the dhatus and srotas, and from this union, disease is born.

न वेगान् धारयेद्धीमाञ्जातान् मूत्रपुरिषयोः | न रेतसो न वातस्य न छर्द्याः क्षवथोर्न च. ॥ ३ ॥ नोद्गारस्य न जृम्भाया न वेगान् क्षुत् पिपासयोः, न बाष्पस्य न निद्राया निःश्वासय श्रमेण च ॥ ४ ॥ च. सू. ७

na vegān dhārayedhīmāñjātān mūtrapuriṣayoḥ | na retaso na vātasya na chardyāḥ kṣavathorna ca. || 3 || nodgārasya na jṛmbhāyā na vegān kṣut pipāsayoḥ, na bāṣpasya na nidrāyā niḥśvāsaya śrameṇa ca || 4 || c. sū. 7

The wise should not suppress the impending natural urges of urination, defecation, ejaculation, passing gas, vomiting, sneezing, eructation, yawning, hunger, thirst, crying, sleep, and breathing caused by exertion.

लोभशोकभयक्रोधमानवेगान् विधारयेत् । नैर्लज्ज्येष्यतिरागाणामभिध्यायाश्च बुद्धिमान् ॥ २७ ॥ च. सू. ७

lobhaśokabhayakrodhamānavegān vidhārayet | nairlajjyeṣyatirāgāṇāmabhidhyāyāśca buddhimān || 27 || c. sū. 7

Wise people should refrain from satisfying the urges related to greed, grief, fear, anger, vanity, shamelessness, envy, excessive attachment and coveting of another's property.

I am sure as you read these you would like further explanation. We will definitely do that!

Just not right now.

But! What I can do, is briefly discuss what these sutras start to point to. And that is the term prajñaparadha! What this term means is, 'crimes against wisdom'. What is the punishment for the crime? Disease! What is the wisdom that has been ignored? Well scroll back up, I just gave you two sutras!

Our bodies have a natural intelligence that guides us to balance. Yet as human beings we choose to follow our desires for momentary pleasure forgetting the fact that pleasure is always tied with pain. Here is an article that does go into this topic! The Ayurvedic Concept of Imbalance

Lineages

Before we move on, it is important to talk about the different lineages of Ayurveda. First, let's list the 2 main common concerns that stem from this topic:

1. "Lineages prove the discrepancy holistic medicine has."
2. "If there are different approaches to healing within a single system of medicine, then how do I know which one to trust? Which is the best lineage?"

These thoughts are valid, and this is where holistic medicine may find difficulty in proving itself. Truth is, there are different lineages of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Classical Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Medicine, Indigenous Medicine, etc. All these holistic sciences have different lineages, and to be frank, it is a blessing that the lineages exist.

Why? Because it gives practitioners more material to learn from!

Let me give you a brief history of my education and how I ran into multiple lineages. I was studying Ayurveda at Bastyr University where a couple of my professors learned from Dr. Lad at the Ayurvedic Institute. Another professor learned from both Dr. Lad and Vaidya Mishrya from Adishakti (Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda Tradition).

As a student, it was a blessing and a curse to be taught both at the same time. It was a curse because one professor would say X(treatment) is good for a client with Y(condition) and the other professor would say Z(treatment) is good for a client with Y(condition). It really challenged my ability to keep an open mind in seeing what both lineages were saying; rather than just butting heads with myself trying to figure out which one is right. The more I tried to decide who was better, the more I was diminishing my ability to understand what either side was saying.

"Well, which lineage gave the best treatment?"

Both! That was the hardest thing to swallow, but that's what made it a blessing. Each lineage had something amazing to offer, but the difficulty only comes when it stems from a judgmental competition to health. No lineage disagrees on the definitions of health. All they do is offer different ways to get there, using different understandings. With those differences it allows a practitioner to choose which way to go for any specific client.

Sutras on lineages

What Ayurveda has to say about lineages and other forms of healing:

एकं शास्त्रमधीयानो न विद्दाच्छास्त्र निश्चयम् । तस्माद् वहुश्रृतः शास्त्रं विजानीयाच्चिकित्सकः ॥ सु. सू. ४, ६

ekaṃ śāstramadhīyāno na viddācchāstra niścayam, tasmād vahuśrṛtaḥ śāstraṃ vijānīyāccikitsakaḥ Su. Sū. 4, 6

By knowing one science alone, one cannot arrive at an accurate scientific assessment. Therefore, the physician should study other sciences in order to arrive at correct diagnosis.

प्रयोगज्ञनविज्ञानसिद्धिसिद्धाः सुखप्रदाः । जीविताभिसरास्ते स्युर्वैद्दात्वं तेष्ववसिथतम् ॥ च. सू. ११, ५३

prayogajñanavijñānasiddhisiddhāḥ sukhapradāḥ, jīvitābhisarāste syurvaiddātvam teṣvavasithatam c. sū. 11, 53

Those who are accomplished in application, theory, knowledge of allied sciences and success of treatment are the true healers. In them is the glory of the physician fully manifest.

Anatomy & Physiology of Ayurveda

These terms will definitely require future posts to understand the full implications of what they are. Here, as you read them, try to keep an open mind and allow yourself to be confused. With time, this confusion will lead you to clarity.

Ayurveda sees the body as a microcosm of the universe. Our Anatomy & Physiology are directly connected to the same forces that govern the cosmos. The creation of the universe, our home planet, ourselves, are all intimately fused. Ayurveda uses this fact to better understand our bodies and how it works!

Let's jump into some of the terms:

Prāṇa

Vital life force intimately connected with the act/properties of movement (Vāta). It is the flow of cellular intelligence. This flow acts according to its rate and its context/direction. Prāṇa enters our body primarily through our breath. Prāṇa is found within the foods we eat. The way our thoughts flow is Prāṇa. This flowing force is directly connected to the soundless sound of creation — ॐ (Auṃ). When Prāṇa is blocked in any way, there is pain.

Agni

Fire — transformation — digestive capabilities. Digestion of thoughts, emotions, experiences and the actions we take. The foods we eat are transformed by Agni. Agni transforms the food into substances that are absorbed or excreted. The absorbed substances are then assimilated by Agni. Agni turns our food into the very tissues in our body as well as the energy the tissues require. Lastly Agni transforms the food into both consciousness and that which sustains our consciousness.

Āma

A byproduct of disturbed Agni. Unprocessed/undigested foods, substances, emotions, experiences, thoughts, etc. When any aspect of life isn't digested, processed, or assimilated, then Āma is formed. It is a toxin to human life and the human experience.

Dhātu's — The 7 tissue types

Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Māṃsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (bone marrow), Śukra (reproductive tissue). Each has an energetic function intertwined with its physical function. Each tissue is formed from the previous tissue. The tissues are formed from the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the thoughts we think. The tissues are the building blocks of our body and the foundation of our health.

Nāḍī's — Channels of energy flow

The Nāḍī's are the pathways that Prāṇa flows through. They are the energetic pathways that connect the tissues, organs, and systems of the body. The Nāḍī's are the pathways that connect the body to the mind and the mind to the body. The Nāḍī's are the pathways that connect the body to the universe and the universe to the body.

Srotas — Channels of nutrition

The Srotas are the pathways that transport nutrients to the tissues and waste away from the tissues. The Srotas are the pathways that connect the tissues, organs, and systems of the body.

• Mano Vaha Srotas — Channels of the mind
• Prāṇa Vaha Srotas — Channels of Prāṇa
• Anna Vaha Srotas — Channels of food
• Udaka Vaha Srotas — Channels of water
• 7 Dhātu Srotas — Channels of the tissues
• Mala Vaha Srotas — Channels of waste
• Mūtra Vaha Srotas — Channels of urine
• Sweda Vaha Srotas — Channels of sweat

Koṣa's — Sheaths of the various bodies

• Annamaya Koṣa — Physical body
• Prāṇamaya Koṣa — Energy body
• Manomaya Koṣa — Mental body
• Jñānamaya Koṣa — Knowledge body ¹
• Vijñānamaya Koṣa — Intellect body
• Ānandamaya Koṣa — Bliss body

Chakra's — Seven major energy centers

Listed from lowest to highest:

1. Mūlādhāra — Root chakra
2. Svādhiṣṭhāna — Sacral chakra
3. Maṇipūra — Solar plexus chakra
4. Anāhata — Heart chakra
5. Viśuddha — Throat chakra
6. Ājñā — Third eye chakra
7. Sahasrāra — Crown chakra

The point of mentioning these terms is to gently plant the seeds of understanding. In time, things will become clearer. For now allow your mind to wander and wonder.

Now, onto my favorite and last topic for this blog.

Spirituality of Ayurveda

Spirituality is a pillar of Ayurveda that is marvelously unbreakable. There are some who teach Ayurveda without the spiritual aspect, and that breaks my heart. Without spirituality, Ayurveda cannot be understood at its fundamental level.

Ayurveda defines life as the conjunction of body, mind and spirit found in Cosmic Consciousness and embracing all of Creation. Ayurveda states that the purpose of life is to know or realize the Creator, both within and without, and to express this Divinity in one's daily life. According to Ayurveda, every individual life is a microcosm of the Cosmos. ²

The Shad Darshan — 6 Indian systems of philosophy

All six systems lead to evolutionary fulfillment and self-realization. What these philosophies are fundamentally trying to do is alleviate pain and suffering, a common rallying point for all of them. They all want to bring us to a cessation of pain and suffering, which is a way of looking at them in relation to Buddhism...In studying the Shad Darshan, we try to understand "what is" and how to relate to it in order to achieve self-realization. ³

The first group focuses on understanding the everyday physical experiences. It outlines logical reasoning, understanding cause and effect, and the creation of the physical existence itself.

1. Sāṇkhya — The journey of consciousness into matter. Founded by Kāpila.
2. Nyāya — The science of logic. Founded by Gautama.
3. Vaiśeṣika — The science of atoms. Founded by Kaṇāda.

The second group focuses on understanding and observing the inner reality of our experiences. Through these we can better understand our outer world along with the importance of how we can evolve into higher beings.

1. Mīmāṁsā — The science of interpretation. Founded by Jaimini.
2. Vedānta — The science and experience beyond the Vedas. Founded by Bādarāyana.
3. Yoga — The science of union. Founded by Patañjali.

As a practitioner of Ayurveda it is our duty to embrace the divinity within all people. Ayurveda isn't a religion requiring anyone to have a specific faith, religion, or belief. It simply strives to bring awareness to all aspects of life. If you choose to keep any form of faith or belief, Ayurveda will encourage you to do so while enhancing the basic fundamental knowing that we are all an expression of the Cosmos. And for all the science lovers out there here some quotes from one of my personal heroes, Astrophysicist Dr. Carl Sagan:

Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light-years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both. ⁴

We're made of star stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself. ⁵

Sutras Worth Knowing

अवृत्तिर्व्याधिशोकार्त्ताननुवर्तेत शक्तितः । आत्मवत्सततं पश्येदपि कीटपिपीलिकम् ॥ २३ ॥ वा. सू. २

avṛttirvyādhiśokārttānanuvarteta śaktitaḥ | ātmavatsatataṁ paśyedapi kīṭapipīlikam || 23 || vā. sū. 2

To the best of one's capacity, one should always help those who are poor, diseased, afflicted with grief, or helpless. Even insects and ants should be treated/viewed as one's own self.

ब्रह्मचर्यज्ञानदानमैत्रीकारुण्यहर्षोपेक्षाप्रशमपरश्च स्यादिति ॥ २९ ॥ च. सू. ८

brahmacaryajñānadānamaitrīkāruṇyaharṣopekṣāprashamaparaśca syāditi || 29 || ca. sū. 8

It is said: one should assiduously follow the path of self control, charity, friendliness, compassion, cheerfulness, detachment, and peacefulness.

आहाराचारचेष्टासु सुखार्था प्रेत्य चेह च । परं प्रयत्नमातिष्ठेद्बुद्धिमान् हित सेवने ॥ ६० ॥ च. सू. ७

āhārācāraceṣṭāsu sukhārthā pretya ceha ca | paraṁ prayatnamātiṣṭhedbuddhimān hita sevane || 60 || c. sū. 7

The wise, who desire happiness here in this world and in the next world, should make the greatest efforts in practicing wholesomeness in diet, conduct, and action.

नक्तं दिनानि मे यान्ति कथं भूतस्य संप्रतिः । दुःख भाङ् न भवत्येवं नित्यं सन्निहित स्मृतिः ॥

naktaṃ dināni me yānti kathaṃ bhūtasya saṃpratiḥ | duḥkha bhāṅ na bhavatyēvaṃ nityaṃ sannihita smṛtiḥ ||

Those who, day and night, moment to moment, ask themselves, "How do I spend my time? How do I act toward other beings?", are always present, always aware, always remembering, and are not a part of the misery and pain (of the world).