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| The Elements and Ayurveda - An introduction
-Tao Te Ching Air, earth, fire and water. The elements according to ancient and medieval philosophy- the very source of what we are made up of- are so much a part of our everyday lives and being, yet most of us do not even consider how inextricable they are to our mental, physical and emotional functioning. Imagine a way of thinking that allows you to realize this. This would be a way to understand that the complex organisms we call human beings are made up of a mixture of matter and anti-matter and that it is the interaction between those two that determines our state of physical and mental health. |
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| Ayurveda,
(a Sanskrit word meaning the 'science' or 'wisdom' of life) is an
ancient philosophy and system of medicine that originated in India
5000 years ago, but whose precepts and tenets are applicable more
then ever today. Unlike western medicine which treats each disease
as an isolated occurrence, Ayurveda believes that nothing functions
in isolation: your body and mind are intricately connected to your
environment and to the universe, and where there is imbalance, illness
and disorder ensue. According to Ayurveda the universe also has a fifth element- the lightest of the five- known as Ether or 'Space.'Together, these elements are not interpreted literally, but rather as principles that allow us to perceive the nature of existence and of the universe. They all hold meanings in the context of life. Air is movement- setting other aspects of creation into being, Fire is the force that produces heat and light essential to life, Water holds everything together like a fluid glue, Earth is matter itself, and Ether is the emptiness between matter. |
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| Ayurvedic
doctrine holds that all organic matter - plants, grains and animals-
are formed from the Earth element, which it believes gave birth
to all other matter. The doctrine also proposes that the five elements
may be present in all matter: Water when it is frozen becomes solid
like Earth, Fire melts it back to Water, more Fire turns the water
into steam, and steam disappears into Air and Ether. The five human senses also correspond directly
to the elements. Sound is transmitted through Ether, Air, which
Ayurveda teaches is related to the nervous system, is believed to
correspond to touch, Fire which we see as light and colour relates
to sight, Water is necessary to taste, (a dry tongue cannot taste
food), and Earth is connected to our sense of smell. These five elements are seen in the body
in the form of three principal mind/body types known as doshas.
'Dosha,' is a Sanskrit word for "force" or "fault."
The doshas exist in all matter and are composed of different combinations
of the five elements. They are: vata (air), pitta (fire), and kapha
(water). Their influence affects all mechanisms of the body, both
physiological and chemical. |
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| Most
individuals are a combination of the doshas but tend to have a predominant
dosha which determines their body type and temperament. It is also
possible to have an imbalance of a dosha, which will lead to disorder
in the body or mind. In fact, the more balanced the doshas are,
the healthier a person is. Vata is the lightest dosha portrayed by the colour blue, pitta is the medium one portrayed by red, and kapha is the heaviest portrayed by yellow. Someone with dominant vata energy tends to be thin, restless and creative. The pitta type mostly conforms to a happy medium, and kapha people tend to be slow and lethargic. The doshas are combinations of the elements: vata is Ether and Air, pitta is Fire and Water and kapha is Water and Earth. (See additional characteristics in tables below.) Vatta, pitta and kapha energies move throughout the body and produce both good and bad effects. The role of an Ayurvedic physician, then, is to assess the effects of the doshas on a patient and to counter the effects of those which are harmful. Rather than treating the symptoms of disease directly, Ayurvedic treatment aims to rebalance your doshas according to your constitution (also known as your Prakriti), resulting in a body and mind that is healthy and sound. By becoming familiar with your own unique dosha pattern you can lead a life that is more in harmony with your individual nature. The aim of Ayurveda is to balance out the interplay of the elements in our bodies and achieve harmony and oneness. It recognizes the importance of physical balance, emotional release, mental health, environmental mindfulness and spiritual progression in achieving health. If we live calm, well-ordered lives with a sense of purpose - working at never being too laid back or anxious, sticking to unprocessed foods that are preferably vegetarian, sleeping regular hours and not taking artificial stimulants - we will be likely to achieve dosha balance and longer, healthier lives.
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Additional Info on the Doshas Characteristics of the primarily Vata individual Characteristics of the primarily Pitta individual Characteristics of the primarily Kapha individual
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Earth represents the solid
state of matter. It is stability, permanence and rigidity such as
that of rocks. In our bodies, parts such as bones, teeth, cells
and tissues are manifestations of the earth. Earth is considered
a stable element. Water characterizes change: time change, flows of the water cycle
in nature, evaporation, condensation, clouds and rain. Water is
necessary for the survival of all living things. A large part of
the human body is made up of water. Our blood, lymph, and other
fluids move between our cells and through our vessels, bringing
energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, bringing disease
fighters, and carrying hormonal information from one area to another.
Water is an element without stability. Fire is the force that produces both heat and light essential to
life. It has the power to transform solids into liquids, liquids
into gas, and back again. In other words, it possesses the power
to transform the state of any substance. Within our bodies, the
fire or energy binds the atoms together. It also converts food to
fat (stored energy) and muscle. Fire transforms food into energy.
It creates the impulses of nervous reactions, our feelings, and
even our thought processes. Fire is considered a form without substance. Air represents movement, catalyzing other aspects of creation into
being. Air is the gaseous form of matter which is mobile and dynamic.
Within the body, air (oxygen) is the basis for all energy transfer
reactions. It is a key element required for fire to burn. Air is
existence without form. Ether is the space in which everything happens. It is the field that is simultaneously the source of all matter and the space in which it exists. The chief characteristic of ether is sound. Here sound represents the entire spectrum of vibration.
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