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PRINCIPLES

About Ayurveda
History & Origin

Principles

Dhatus

Ashtangas

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Ayurveda mainly works on two principles:

Tridosha: Imbalances in Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
Rejuvenation of Ojas: A subtle form of Sukra.
1. Tridosha:
Tri means three.
Dosha means imbalance.
The imbalances in Vata, Pitta and Kapha are called as Tridoshas.
Elements World Body:
This whole world is created by five elements. These five elements are called as Panchabhootas in
Sanskrit. They are:
Earth
Water
Fire
Air
Space
These five elements are affecting the world as well as the body through different forms.
Elements combinationForms affecting the world
Forms affecting the body
Air and space Air Vatam [Vata]
Fire Sun Pittam [Pitta]
Water and Earth
Moon
Kapham, Sleshma [Kapha]
For example the element fire is related to the sun in the world. This fire is also related with Pitta of
the body.
Importance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha:
The Vata, Pitta and Kapha play very important roles in human anatomy and physiology.
They are as follows:
Vata Body movements, running, walking, excretion of urine and feces.
Pitta Digestion of food, functionality of eye, body colour, hunger and thirst.
Kapha Movements of joints, strength, braveness, weight of the body.
Balancing these Vata, Pitta and Kapha in order to maintain a healthy life, is the one of the basic
principles of Ayurveda.

Tridosha - food:
In order to balance these Vata, Pitta and Kapha, a person has to take proper food according to their
body nature.
In nature every matter contains a taste created by the six basic tastes [Shadruchis]. They are sweet,
sour, salty, spicy, astringent and bitter.
These six tastes are also formed by the combination of the five elements:
Union of elements Taste
Effect
Earth+Water Sweet It gives cooling effect, increases Kapha diseases and decreases Vata and
Pitta diseases.
Earth+Fire
Sour It gives heat effect, increases Kapha diseases and decreases Vata and Pitta
diseases.
Water+Fire Salty
It gives heat effect, increases Vata diseases and decreases Kapha and Pitta
diseases.
Fire+Air Spicy [Chili taste] It gives heat effect, decreases Kapha diseases and increases Vata and
Pitta diseases.
Earth+Air
Astringent
It gives cooling effect, increases Vata diseases, decreases Kapha and
Pitta diseases.
Space+Air
Bitter
It gives cooling effect, increases Vata diseases and decreases Kapha and
Pitta diseases.
The Vata, Pitta, Kapha and all six types of tastes are present in human. Just like in human beings,
they are also present in trees, plants and food materials.
So basically Ayurveda deals with the knowledge about which food contains which taste, which
taste cures which dosha. And it then prescribes a remedy to cure a disease by balancing the related
dosha. It can only be done by knowing the nature of disease and remedy.
Seasons Tridosha Disease:
The seasons have some effect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha of our body. This effect may cure some
doshas and may cause new doshas. To cure doshas of a particular season, nature provides proper
herbs to human in that season. By knowing this fact, ancient yogis developed some festivals in
such seasons and prescribed some rituals to take those herbs in various forms to balance tridosha
in that season.
Along with seasonal herbs, nature provides some herbs with good medical properties, throughout
the year. Some of them are Azadirachta indica [neem], Ocimum sanctum [holy basil], Aegle
marmelos [bilva], Ficus relegiosa and Curcuma longa. These herbs and spices developed
important roles in daily rituals and in food, too. By treating trees and plants as gods and goddess,
the yogis enhanced the purity and importance of those herbs.
Some of these herbs are:

Name of the plant God and goddess

Ficus bengalensis, Butea frondosa Brahma [creative principle]
Ficus religiosa

Diet according to Dosha

We all know that for healthy living we require a balanced diet constituted of protein,
carbohydrates and fats, minerals ,vitamines etc.
Ayurveda has considered about the diet in detail. The Ayurvedic diet is one that not only nourishes
the body, but also restores balance of 'Tridoshas' wich is very much essential for maintaining
Health. Depending on our dosha, or constitutional type, some foods can be beneficial, and others
should be avoided. These same foods may have the opposite effect on another dosha. The science
of Ayurveda teaches that right diet is the foundation of healing. For maximum health and vitality,
the ideal diet is one that balances our doshas.
Here we are recommending foods to balance each of the three doshas.
VATA DOSHA
The qualities of vata are cold, dry, light, hard, and rough.
VATA PACIFYING FOODS:
General : excess vata can be counterbalanced with nutritive and tissue-building foods that are
warm, moist, heavy, soft and oily, as well as foods with a sweet, sour and salty taste. For example,
vata pacifying foods include ghee, soft dairy products, wheat, rice, corn and bananas. A person
with a vata constitution should favor foods like hot cereal with ghee, hearty soups and vegetables,
and whole cooked grains and chapatis. Spicy foods are generally okay for vata.
Vegetables : Asparagus, beets, carrots, cucumber, green beans, okra (bhindi), onions and garlic ,
radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips.
Fruits : Bananas, coconuts, dates, mangoes, melons, peaches, all sweet fruits in general.
Grains : Oats, rice and wheat
VATA AGGRAVATING FOODS:
General : Foods with the vata qualities, such as crackers, frozen desserts, and large amounts of raw
vegetables and salads, will aggravate vata. Also, refined foods such as white flour and sugar, have
light and dry qualities and would be best avoided by people with vata constitutions.Pungent, bitter,
astringent; light, dry, cold foods,stimulants like smoking, alcohol, junk food, sugar, tea (esp. long
leaf teas and green tea), brown rice.
Vegetables : Cabbage, cauliflower, celery, brinjal, leafy green vegetables, mushrooms, peas,
peppers (simla mirch) potatoes, sprouts, tomatoes, zucchini (tori). If you do have these vegetables

cook them in pure desi ghee or unrefined til oil. Tomatoes are best avoided except as a small
addition to salads.
Fruits : Apples, pears, pomegranates.
Spices: Vatas can have almost all spices and herbs in moderation When there is aggravated Vata,
the following are to be taken with caution : coriander seeds (dhaniya powder), fenugreek (methi
seeds), saffron, turmeric, parsley. Avoid too much hot, dry spices such as dried chili, which will
aggravate dryness.
PITTA DOSHA
Pitta's properties are hot, sharp, oily and light.
PITTA PACIFYING FOODS:
General : you can balance excess pitta with foods that are cool, dry and heavy with a mild,
naturally sweet, bitter or astringent taste. For example, milk, rice, beans, steamed vegetables and
fruit are good for pitta people. Mild spices like cumin, coriander and cilantro are particularly
beneficial for pitta. Sweet, bitter, astringent; cold, heavy, dry. Moderation, coolness, ghee, coconut
oil, olive oil, green coriander (dhaniya), coriander seeds, cardamom, sprouts and raw foods.
Vegetables & Fruits: can eat most vegetables and fruits. Exceptions are given below.
Grains : Barley, oats, wheat, parboiled rice.
PITTA AGGRAVATING FOODS:
General : pungent and oily foods such as curry, fried foods and spicy condiments, as well as spices
such as cayenne, garlic and dry ginger, should be avoided by pitta constitutions. Pungent, sour,
salty, hot, light, oily. Stimulants like smoking, alcohol, coffee, pickles, vinegar, fried foods, spicy
foods, fermented foods, curds, almond, corn, til, mustard oil.
Vegetables : Beets, carrots, brinjal, garlic, hot peppers, onions, spinach, tomatoes.
Fruit : Sour and unripe fruits. If there is aggravated Pitta avoid gra
KAPHA DOSHA
The qualities of kapha dosha are cold, heavy, liquid and unctuous.
KAPHA PACIFYING FOODS:
General : To balance kapha dominance, eat smaller amounts of food and emphasize food with vata
properties of light and dry. Also, foods which are dry, hot or sharp are recommended, so look for
foods with pungent, bitter or astringent tastes. Examples include puffed cereals such as puffed rice
or corn; small, astringent grains, such as millet, amaranth, and quinoa; and light, bitter vegetables
such as leafy greens. Spices like ginger, turmeric and chili are generally good for kapha people.
Favour : Warm light food, dry food cooked without much water, minimum of butter, oil and sugar,
stimulating foods (ginger, chillies, pickles), raw foods, salads, fruits.

Vegetables : Generally all vegetables are good, but if you are suffering from any kapha disorder
like lung congestion, congestive asthma, sinuses, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, high cholestrol,
then avoid all sweet juicy vegetables such as cucumbers, pumpkin family, sweet potatoes,
tomatoes, tori, ghiya etc.
Fruits : Apples, apricots, pears, pomegranates, dried fruits in general (apricots, figs, prunes,
raisins)
Lentils & Legumes : If the dosha is not aggravated all except tofu and kidney beans are
acceptable.
Spices : All are good - ginger is best for improving digestion, turmeric is excellent for drying out
the mucous, chillies are excellent for removing mucous.
KAPHA AGGRAVATING FOODS :
General : Foods such as dairy products, wheat, avocados and oils have these qualities and will
increase kapha in the body. Sweet, sour, salty; heavy, oily, cold. Desserts, sweets, ice cream, deep
fried foods, possessiveness, miserliness, laziness.
Vegetables : all sweet juicy vegetables such as cucumbers, pumpkin family, sweet potatoes,
tomatoes, tori, ghiya etc.
Fruits : All sweet juicy fruits in general.
Lentils & Legumes : Tofu and kidney beans.
Spices : excess salt.