Intro To Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Medicine

5/7/22, 6:20 PM Intro to Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Medicine | Banyan Botanicals
Introduction to Ayurveda
Embrace Health & Embody Your True Potential
Updated 2021
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Ayurveda is more than just a popular form of alternative medicine. It is a system of

holistic healing unlike any other. Thought to be over five thousand years old,
Ayurvedic medicine teaches us to see the world as it relates to the elements—or
doshas—of vata, pitta, and kapha.
According to Ayurveda, everyone is born with a mixture of these three doshas.

Determining your primary dosha is the first step towards finding your optimal state of
balanced, natural health. If you don't know your own unique Ayurvedic body type, we
encourage you to take our free dosha quiz.
What Is Ayurveda?
The name “Ayurveda” is derived from two words in Sanskrit, “ayuh” meaning “life” or
“longevity” and “veda” meaning “science” or “sacred knowledge.” Ayurveda’s
definition therefore roughly translates as “the science of longevity” or “the sacred
knowledge of life.”
At its root, Ayurveda is a holistic tradition and way of living that can help each of us to
claim and celebrate our capacity for wellness. Ayurveda can help us:
Sync up with our truest inner nature 
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/learning-ayurveda/intro-to-ayurveda/ 1/14
Honor and develop our strengths
Hone in on our challenge areas
Redirect detrimental tendencies
Maintain balance in the face of adversity
In other words, Ayurveda is not simply about taking an herbal formula and waiting for
the results. Instead, Ayurveda encourages you to be an active participant in your own
journey toward healing.
This involves learning about your relationship with the elements and the unique
combinations they create called doshas, which we will explore below. First, let’s take a
look at Ayurveda’s background.
Ayurveda: A Brief History

The practice of Ayurveda as a medicine is believed to date back to over five thousand
years, during the Vedic period of ancient India. The earliest known references to
Ayurveda and its sister science, Yoga, appeared in scholarly texts from the time called
“the Vedas.”
Ayurveda experienced a period of prosperity as the Vedic texts were taught and
shared, but this was followed by an almost thousand-year struggle to remain relevant
in the wake of India’s political struggles with various invading countries—most notably
the British Empire.2
Despite this, those who practiced Ayurveda on the fringes of society kept the tradition
alive until India gained independence in 1947. Ayurveda then resurfaced as a major
system of healthcare that endures in India to this day.1
During the New Age movement of the 1980s, Ayurveda started to make its way
westward, helped along by the expanding popularity of yoga and Eastern spiritualism.
Thanks in no small part to the teachings of respected physicians and herbalists like
Drs. Vasant Lad, Deepak Chopra, and David Frawley, Ayurveda has gained notoriety
among a growing population of health-conscious individuals in the United States and
around the world.2
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Ayurveda’s Definition of Health
The Sanskrit word for health, svastha, is a state in which the mind, soul, and senses
interact harmoniously to experience a feeling of Self, wellness, and even bliss.
Achieving this may seem like a lofty goal, but Ayurveda provides a treasure chest of
elegant and insightful tools to help us get there.
Discover Your
Dosha
Take the Quiz
Ayurvedic Principles
Before you learn how Ayurveda can help you, you must first learn how to see yourself
from an Ayurvedic perspective. The first step is to understand some key Ayurvedic
principles, lenses through which Ayurveda views the universe.
These Ayurveda basics are foundational tools for:
Interpreting the laws of nature
Identifying various states of health or imbalance
Charting a course toward improved well-being
Examining these core principles will also help illustrate what makes Ayurveda such a
timeless art and science.
The Five Elements

Ayurveda recognizes five elements as the fundamental building blocks of nature:
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Earth
Water
Fire
Air
Ether (Space)
Every substance contains all five of these elements. That said, in a given substance,
one or two elements are typically predominant over the others.
The Twenty Qualities

Ayurveda also identifies twenty qualities (gunas) that can be used to describe every
substance or experience. These qualities are organized into the following ten pairs of
opposites:
Heavy Light
Slow (Dull) Sharp (Penetrating)
Cold Hot
Oily Dry
Smooth Rough
Dense Liquid
Soft Hard
Stable Mobile
Gross Subtle
Cloudy (Sticky) Clear
The gunas are essential to understanding the Ayurvedic principle that like increases
like and that opposites balance.
For example, a person who is particularly cold natured, living in a cold climate, in the
middle of winter, is likely to be experiencing an aggravation of the cold quality.
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The remedy? Heat—in the form of warming foods, hot drinks, heating spices, soothing
baths, snuggly warm clothes, and if possible, an abundance of heart-warming
experiences.
The Doshas and Your Ayurvedic Body Type

Then there are the three doshas (bodily humors): vata, pitta, and kapha. The doshas,
or some combination of them, can be identified in various seasons, climates,
landscapes, activities, plants, and animals.
Each of them embodies a combination of elements and qualities to create a functional

entity—an energetic force of nature.
All three doshas are present in everyone, but the ratio between them varies a great
deal from one person to the next.
We will get to that in a moment, but first, here is an overview of the essential nature of
each dosha.
Each of us has a combination of these three doshas in our bodies at any given time.
There is a combination of doshas we are born with, called our constitution, Ayurvedic
body type, or prakriti in Sanskrit.
We also have a state of balance (vikriti) which represents the doshas that are elevated
within our body at a given time. If the doshas accumulate beyond healthy limits (those
determined by one’s constitution), they can wreak havoc on our health.
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The Difference Between Constitutions and Imbalances

Knowing both your Ayurvedic constitution and your current state of balance is
incredibly helpful. This knowledge will allow you to adjust the most basic components
of your day—like how you exercise or when you eat—to better support your overall
well-being.
However, there are key differences between the doshas that comprise your
constitutional makeup and the doshas that can be imbalanced within you.
Understanding Constitutions
As mentioned before, your constitution, prakriti, or Ayurvedic body type, is established
within you at conception and remains constant throughout your lifetime. It represents
your natural state of equilibrium and your blueprint for perfect health.
Ayurveda recognizes seven basic constitutional types:
Vata-Type: A greater amount of vata, lesser amounts of pitta and kapha.
Pitta-Type: A greater amount of pitta, lesser amounts of vata and kapha.
Kapha-Type: A greater amount of kapha, lesser amounts of vata and pitta.
Vata-Pitta-Type (or Pitta-Vata): Greater amounts of both vata and pitta, a lesser
amount of kapha.
Pitta-Kapha (or Kapha-Pitta): Greater amounts of both pitta and kapha, a lesser
amount of vata.
Kapha-Vata (or Vata-Kapha): Greater amounts of both vata and kapha, a lesser
amount of pitta.
Tridoshic (or Vata-Pitta-Kapha-Type): Equal amounts of all three doshas within the
body.
Your constitution influences your physiology, your likes and dislikes, your tendencies
and habits, your mental and emotional character, and your vulnerabilities toward
imbalance and disease. Therefore, learning how to manage your constitution can be
truly enlightening.

Understanding Imbalances
Discovering your current state of balance will show you the present level of the
doshas in your system. In contrast to one’s constitution, the current state of
balance can and does change over time as we move through different climates,
different seasons, and the various stages of life.
A vata imbalance occurs when vata is in excess. This can cause fear, anxiety,
physical and emotional constriction, ungroundedness, poor circulation,
constipation, dry skin, cracking joints, emaciation, insomnia, twitches, tremors,
and other abnormal movements.
A pitta imbalance occurs when pitta is in excess. This can cause anger, jealousy,
inflammation, excessive heat, heartburn, loose stools, migraines, rashes, bruising,
bleeding disorders, sharp hunger, an overactive metabolism, and difficulty
sleeping.
A kapha imbalance occurs when kapha is in excess. This can cause attachment,
greed, resistance to change, lack of motivation, heaviness in the mind and body,
excessive sleep, depression, a sluggish metabolism, congestion, water retention,
hardening of the arteries, and the formation of masses and tumors.
It is also possible for more than one dosha to be out of balance at a given time,
or for all three doshas to be imbalanced.
As mentioned earlier, Ayurveda teaches that like increases like and that opposites
balance. (See the twenty qualities table above.)
For example, let’s say your pitta is aggravated. You’ve had a short temper lately, are
overly judgmental, and have some acidity in your digestive tract. Which qualities
should you be interacting with to find balance?
A. Qualities that are hot, sharp, light, liquid, spreading, and oily.
B. Qualities that are cool, slow, heavy, dense, stable, and dry.
If you said “B,” you’re learning quickly! When we know which particular qualities are
aggravated, we can be even more precise in our treatment strategies, finding specific
practices to incorporate the necessary opposite qualities into our lives to find balance.
Which Dosha Should I Focus on Balancing? 
Remember, if any of the doshas are out of balance (and for most of us, at least one of
them is), your constitution will not tell you the entire story.
Your current state of balance may actually be more important because it highlights
which doshas you need to pacify in order to return to balance, and it can help you
identify the most effective treatment strategies for your particular situation.
There are, of course, some universals in Ayurveda: practices that are generally
understood to be beneficial for all of us, regardless of constitution or current state of
balance.
But if you follow only general principles, you may inadvertently limit Ayurveda’s
extraordinary ability to specifically support you and your changing needs.
Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine

The beauty of the Ayurvedic approach is that it is as elegant and intuitive to the novice
as it is to the seasoned Ayurvedic practitioner. For those relatively new to Ayurveda,
the tradition offers a clear path to improved wellness and vitality.
The same set of principles guides the skilled Ayurvedic practitioner in directing potent
remedies to specific organs, tissues, and channels throughout the physical and
energetic bodies.
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At the heart of the Ayurvedic approach to wellness is the idea that like increases like
and that opposites balance.
So whether we are attempting to mitigate the effects of certain innate vulnerabilities,

or trying to correct an active imbalance, we can apply the energy of opposites in order
to steer our bodies in the right direction.
The twenty qualities mentioned above provide the most straightforward illustration of
how the concept works, and their grouping into ten pairs of opposites makes for a
fairly intuitive grasp of how this wisdom can be applied in practical terms.
Beyond its traditional roots, there are many other reasons why you might be
interested in exploring an Ayurvedic lifestyle. Now that you have familiarized yourself
with some of the basic principles of Ayurveda, let’s explore some practical benefits
Ayurveda has to offer.
8 Health Benefits of Ayurveda

Integrating Ayurveda into your life can be immensely beneficial to your overall sense
of wellness, but what are some specific issues it can help with? Let’s explore eight
distinct areas in which Ayurveda can improve your health:
1. Prevention
The traditional practice of Ayurveda is used to treat the cause as opposed to the
symptom. It is therefore considered to be more preventative in nature than many other
forms of medicine. Ayurveda can show you how to support your immune system and
minimize the stress that often leads to imbalances and illness, getting to the root of
the problem.
2. Daily Routine
Learning about Ayurveda can help you establish a dinacharya, or daily routine, to help
you feel grounded, stable, and ready to start each day. Your daily routine might involve
cleaning your tongue upon waking, practicing some yoga or meditation daily, and
soothing your system periodically with a loving oil massage.
3. Ayurvedic Diet and Food Combining 
Ayurveda has many diet and food combining suggestions to help maximize the agni,
or digestive fire. Learning about your constitution and state of balance will help you
determine which dietary choices are right for you.
4. Exercise: Ayurveda and Yoga

Certain asanas can have a cooling or heating effect on the body. Learning yoga poses
from an Ayurvedic perspective is helpful for determining which poses would bring you
optimal wellness.
5. Ayurvedic Herbal Support

Ayurveda has many insights into the world of herbal medicine. While we always
encourage reaching out to a practitioner for additional guidance, discovering more
about Ayurveda can help you learn more about Ayurvedic herbs, as well as which
method of taking herbs is right for you.
6. Ayurveda for Energy and Vitality

Ayurveda’s approach to energy and vitality is multifaceted, with a special focus on
adrenal health. By supporting your adrenals and finding natural sources of energy, you
can stay active and doing what you love without experiencing a crash or depleting
yourself afterward.
7. Ayurveda for Beauty

The Ayurvedic perspective on beauty focuses on the whole being, body, mind, and
spirit. Ayurveda has tips for luscious hair, smooth skin, and more. Its holistic approach
will leave you feeling beautiful from the inside out.
8. Ayurveda for Sleep

A surprising number of life’s challenges are caused by imbalanced sleep. Whether you
need to sleep more or less, Ayurvedic methods can help improve your waking hours
by helping you get to bed peacefully and consistently.
Next Step: Create Your Ayurvedic Profile™

Again, we encourage you to discover your Ayurvedic Profile™. It is a simple
questionnaire that, within just a few minutes, helps you to establish both your
constitution and your current state of balance.
Perhaps even more significantly, your results will generate a personalized set of
recommendations and an extensive library of helpful resources tailored to your
specific needs.
Your Ayurvedic Profile is intended to be a celebration of who you are from an

Ayurvedic perspective, and ultimately, it is designed to support you in your pursuit of
optimal health.
In closing, we would like to offer you a warm-hearted welcome as you begin to

explore the world of Ayurveda. We hope that you find it as inspiring as we do and that
we can support and serve you in your process of discovery.
References
1
Essential Medicines and Health Products Information Portal: A World Health Organization
resource. http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/d/Jh2943e/8.4.html
2
Laursen, Marisa. “Ayurveda: A Brief History of an Ancient Healing Science.” California College of
Ayurveda. http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/blog/ayurveda-brief-history-ancient-healing-science
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Banyan Botanicals products are not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not a
substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. For more information pertaining to your personal needs please see a
qualified health practitioner.
© 2022 Banyan Botanicals All Rights Reserved. All content and images found on BanyanBotanicals.com may not be reproduced
or distributed without written permission. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. View our Accessibility Statement. Banyan
Botanicals, 6705 Eagle Rock Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

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5/7/22, 6:20 PM Intro to Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Medicine | Banyan Botanicals

Ayurveda is more than just a popular form of alternative medicine. It is a system of

According to Ayurveda, everyone is born with a mixture of these three doshas.

Sync up with our truest inner nature 

Honor and develop our strengths

Hone in on our challenge areas

Redirect detrimental tendencies

Maintain balance in the face of adversity

Ayurveda: A Brief History

Take the Quiz

These Ayurveda basics are foundational tools for:

Interpreting the laws of nature

Identifying various states of health or imbalance

Charting a course toward improved well-being

The Five Elements

The Twenty Qualities

Slow (Dull) Sharp (Penetrating)

Cloudy (Sticky) Clear

The Doshas and Your Ayurvedic Body Type

Each of them embodies a combination of elements and qualities to create a functional

The Difference Between Constitutions and Imbalances

Ayurveda recognizes seven basic constitutional types:

Vata-Type: A greater amount of vata, lesser amounts of pitta and kapha.

Pitta-Type: A greater amount of pitta, lesser amounts of vata and kapha.

Kapha-Type: A greater amount of kapha, lesser amounts of vata and pitta.

Which Dosha Should I Focus on Balancing? 

Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicine

So whether we are attempting to mitigate the effects of certain innate vulnerabilities,

8 Health Benefits of Ayurveda

3. Ayurvedic Diet and Food Combining 

4. Exercise: Ayurveda and Yoga

5. Ayurvedic Herbal Support

6. Ayurveda for Energy and Vitality

7. Ayurveda for Beauty

8. Ayurveda for Sleep

Next Step: Create Your Ayurvedic Profile™

Your Ayurvedic Profile is intended to be a celebration of who you are from an

In closing, we would like to offer you a warm-hearted welcome as you begin to

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