Ayurveda
Ayurveda comes to us from India dating back about five thousand years. It is said to be the world's oldest healing science. Translated literally it means 'science of life'. This medical system is a whole life system of health. As with most other natural health practices, proponents of Ayurveda believe that harmony and balance in the mind, body, and spirit are the key to radiant health.
Ayurveda contends that there are three doshas, or body types. These are vata, pitta, and kapha. Every person is a combination of all three doshas with one dosha being dominant in each individual. The doshas are interconnected with the prakriti, which is the body's constitution. The prakriti refers to a person's overall health, how well they resist illness or recover from diseases. A person's prakriti is said to stay the same throughout their lifetime.
The doshas, however, can become upset or out of balance and be changed or reformed several times through out your life. An Ayurveda practitioner will take everything into consideration when formulating a health plan for your specific dosha combination. Diet is one of the main ways Ayurveda brings you back into a healthy balance. Certain foods have different effects on each dosha. Some foods may subdue a particular dosha, while others bring that same dosha to the forefront.
continue to Ayurveda Part 2