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Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a truly holistic and integral medical system that treats human beings as a 'whole' which is a combination of body, mind and soul.

"AYU" means all aspects of life from conception to death and "VEDA" means knowledge of learning. It is a way of life that describes the diet, medicine and behaviour that are beneficial or detrimental for your life or lifestyle.

Ayurveda is one of the oldest (approximately 6000 years old) scientific medical systems in the world, with a long record of clinical experience. It is one of the great gifts of the Gods of ancient India to mankind. It is not just a system of medicine in the common sense of curing disease. It is also a way of life which teaches us how to maintain and protect our health. According to the four main vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva), they stated that when the God Brahma created the universe with human life, human beings started to feel sick, not doing all Karmas properly as they were supposed to. So the creator of the universe, Brahma wrote Ayurveda which some people call as a fifth veda.

The Rig veda is the foundation stone of the other vedas, being the oldest of the four and contains concepts of Ayurveda. Its three great Gods - Indra, Agni and Soma - related to the three doshas (body type) of Ayurveda - Vata, Pitta or Kapha.

In Atharva we find references to anatomical and physiological factors, the disease process, treatment of specific diseases and other systematic knowledge about Ayurveda. All the material about the science of life is compiled together in the so called as a fifth veda, Ayurveda and all those compilations are called "Samhitas".

Due to invasion of different cultures in ancient India, many of these Samhitas have been lost or burnt, but three main Samhitas are available: Charaka-Medicine Veda; Sushruta-Surgery Veda; Ashtanga Hridaya-Lifestyle Management.

Ayurveda is not only medicine but is also a way of life.

How to determine your constitution

Select one of the three options below to determine which description fits you best. Make a note to which type your choice belongs. If you feel two or all options fit, jot down each type. If you are unsure about a choice, just leave it. Tally up how many times each type has been chosen. As each person is a combination of all three types, you are likely to have numbers for all three. The type with the highest number is your dominant constitutional type.

The Vata Type	The Pitta Type	The Kapha Type
Usually low body weight and light bone structure. Enthusiastic and sensitive. Prone to illnesses like : rheumatism, anxiety, infertility, impotence, heart trouble. Like a warm environment. Prolonged intellectual concentration can affect their health.	Like physical activity. Metabolism works well, muscle & bone structure are moderately developed. Intellectually alert & methodical. They make good leaders, scientists or technicians. Impatient & aggressive. Prone to high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, skin cancer, herpes & inflammations.	Usually heavily built. Do not like to rush, take their time. Strong and enduring. Prudent, confident, reliable, calm under pressure. Good business sense. Can become greedy or lethargic. Prone to digestive problems, poor blood circulation, colds, bronchitis, lung and breast cancer.

The following table can help you identify your body type better-

Physical Attributes-Body Type

	Vata	Pitta	Kapha
SKIN	thin, dry, cool, fairly dark, tans easily	pale, lustrous, freckles, rashes, sunburns easily	thick, whitish, oily, cold
MOUTH	small or large, gums receding	medium size	large
NECK	thin, scrawny, very long, very short	average, in proportion to body	solid, like a tree trunk
HAIR	thin, dark, dry, curly, coarse, kinky, frizzy	fine, soft, fair, reddish	thick, plenty, wavy, shiny, brown
NOSE	small, narrow, long, crooked, asymmetrical	pointed, average size	large, rounded, oily
LIPS	thin, narrow, tight, dry, unbalanced	medium, well proportioned, soft, red	big, full, smooth, oily
FACE	long, angular, small chin	heartshaped, pointed chin	large, round, full
EYES	small, narrow, sunken, dark, brown, grey	average, hazel, light blue, grey, intense lustre	large, attractive, blue, light brown
TEETH	irregular, big, crooked, little	medium size, soft gums, yellowish	strong, white, healthy gums
SIZE at birth	thin, small	average	large
HEIGHT	very short, very tall	medium	tall, sturdy, short, stocky
WEIGHT	low, hard to put on weight	moderate, easy to put on or take off weight	heavy, tends to overweight
FRAME BONES	light, delicate, narrow hips, shoulders	medium	large shoulders, hips are broad
MUSCLES	underdeveloped, prominent tendons	firm, well developed	solid, strong
JOINTS	prominent, dry, tend to crack, knobbly	normal, in proportion to limbs	large, healthy, well lubricated
SWEAT	very little, often little smell	a lot when hot, strong, sour smell	moderate, a little sweat present
ACTIVITY LEVEL	busy, involved, fidgety	moderate	slow, lethargic, heavy
SEXUAL ACTIVITY	intense, passionate, fantasies	solid, capable, sensous	slow to arouse, maintains passion
FERTILITY	low	average	high
TEMPERATURE	prefers warmer environment	prefers cooler environment	hates coldness
STOOL	dry, hard, irregular, constipated	soft, oily, loose, regular	slow, oily, thick, heavy, plenty
SLEEP	fitful, scanty, interrupted, not restful	not long, but very sound	very deep, prolonged, likes plenty
SPEECH	fast, not lost for words	sharp, clear, cutting, precise	slow, monotonous
MEMORY	good short term, poor long term	good, rapid recall	slow, very good long term

Personality

THINKING	superficial, theorises, few actions	logical, precise, plans well ahead	slow, refuses to be rushed
BELIEFS	few deep beliefs, changeable	strong, fanatical	deep, steady, does not change
EMOTIONS	fearful, unpredictable, anxious	aggressive, judgemental	calm, greedy, possesive

Way of Life

Work Preference	creative, imaginative	intellectual	caring
Money	spender, unwise, poor	moderate, likes luxuries	saves, prudent, rich
Lifestyle	fast, erratic, no plans	plans ahead, ambitious, busy	steady, does not change, regular

A Food & Diet Guide for the Three Ayurvedic Types

Food should be natural. Cooking, freezing, etc. changes the natural quality of food. How foods can be combined, how much food should be eaten, the environmental history of food growing, seasonal effects on the food, eating habits and manners, how a person's attitude can affect food are all factors to be considered for a proper guide. Buttermilk is very good, balancing all three doshas.

Vata Reducing Diet - VATA, a combination of the elements of ETHER and AIR requires sweet, sour, salty and moistening foods. Avoid eating when stressed, anxious or nervous. Try to develop regular eating habits. Drink milk, spice or herb tea. Avoid dried fruit, apples, melons. Eat sweet fruits, avocado, banana, brown rice or red cabbage.

Pitta Reducing Diet - The element of Pitta is predominantly FIRE. Pitta people benefit from foods that have a cooling effect. Avoid fatty and spicy foods including: sour fruits, peanut butter, oranges, banana, tomatoes or garlic. Don't drink much alcohol. Concentrate on raw fruits and vegetables. Try to eat in an atmosphere of calm and order. Take time when eating. Drink lots of cool water, fruit juices and tea.

Kapha Reducing Diet - As WATER and EARTH are the elements of KAPHA, avoid foods that are sweet, sour and salty. Concentrate on food that is bitter, spicy and tangy. Eat light, warm meals. Avoid overeating, do not eat between meals and do not let emotional disturbances make you eat more. Never sleep after a meal as this will increase weight. Drink as little as possible, especially avoiding cold drinks.

Ideal Food Guide for your constitution - Download