Ayurveda, in Sanskrit, means “The Science of Life” and has its branches in the Indian subcontinent. Originated more than 5,000 years ago, it possibly has all remedies for all conditions and issues. Ayurveda, ancient yet timeless, gives you the means of attaining and maintaining your own optimal health and wellbeing. It focuses on whole-body healing and says that an individual’s dosha determines their personality as well as health. In a nutshell, Ayurveda is a system of healing that examines physical constitution, emotional and spiritual outlook in the context of the universe.
The Panchmahabhuta Theory
The concept of Panchmahabhuta (Five elements) is the foundation of Ayurveda to understand its physiology (normal functioning), pathology (disease formation) & pharmacokinetics (movement of drug within the body). Ayurveda believes that everything in this universe is made up of five basic elements. Per Ayurveda, all living and non-living things in the universe are made up of this Panchamahabhutas, more commonly known as the five fundamental elements of life - Air (‘Vayu’), Water (‘Jal’), Fire (‘Agni’), Earth (‘bhumi)’, and Space (‘Aakash’). Only when these five elements unite with the life element or ‘soul’ is the human body formed.
Panchmahabhuta, Doshas and Prakrithi
Ayurveda details the idea that of the world and its composition based on Panchmahabhuta or the five elements i.e. Aakash (space), Jala (water), Vayu (air), Teja (fire) and Prithvi (earth). The combination of all these elements results in three different doshas; Vata, Kapha and Pitta. These doshas determine an individual’s health and personality. It is believed that every person has one dosha or a mix of two doshas or all three doshas. A mix of all three doshas is extremely rare, however, a lot of people have a mix of two doshas where one dosha stands out more than the other.
Based on the Doshas, there are three major types of Prakrithi. The classification is by which Dosha has more predominance in one’s body.- viz Vatha, Pitha or Kapha. These Doshas refer broadly to the functions of motion, digestion, and cumulation. The word Vatha originates from movement, Pitha from digestion, and Kapha from cumulation. Ayurveda classifies people based on Prakrithi. The predominance of any one, two, or all the three Doshas determines the Prakrithi of an individual. Anatomy, physiological and psychological characteristics differ from one person to another depending on their Prakruthi. However, Prakruthi remains constant for each individual throughout their lifetime.
Ayurveda describes a unique concept Prakrithi (body types). Prakrithi is the body type or physical constitution of an individual. According to Ayurveda, Prakrithi is genetically determined, i.e. determined at the time of conception itself. Determining your prakrithi i.e. your fundamental balanced constitution requires an assessment of your most natural state. Consider your physical structure as well as mental and emotional tendencies. Remember to think of what is most natural to you, rather than what you are like when you are stressed or ill. Ayurveda says you can understand your basic nature and tendencies by understanding your balanced state i.e. doshas and hence panchmahabhuta.
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