As Indians, we have grown up hearing our elders telling us how natural remedies are the best alternatives to heal any sort of ailment. While with the advancement of technology and medicine, it almost feels like going for natural remedies to cure ailments such as colds and fever would not make sense, the long-preserved secrets of Ayurveda are catching attention even on an international level.?
Ayurveda, which basically originated in our own country is based on the fact that in healing, there should be a balance between the mind, body and spirit. Ayurveda helps in balancing all three factors through several means such as massage, aromatherapy, exercise, diets and even incense. However, the word Ayurveda is a Sanskrit term that means 'science of life' or 'the life span built on knowledge'.?
The role and effects of Ayurveda have been proving its benefits in recent times where it has been proven to cure certain chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, arthritis, and asthma, which are untreatable in modern medicine. As per?Lad V. Ayurveda, the Science of Self-Healing: A Practical Guide, 'In Ayurveda?each cell is considered to be inherently an essential expression of pure intelligence hence called self-healing science.'
Other than this, the Government of India has been making attempts to push traditional medicines this is where Ayurveda has been getting the attention. The government has been fostering several avenues where people can innovate and experiment much more in the Ayurveda sector. This has led to a rise in medicines and even Ayurvedic beauty products.?
One of the most important concepts of Ayurveda which sets it apart from Western medicines is that it goes through the underlying problem in a person's body rather than just solving the 'over the surface problems'.? Ayurvedic practitioners believe in the idea of a connection to the mind with the body and understand that problems occur due to doshas in the body.?
As per practitioners, there are three types of energy types or personalities. These are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Even though every personality and body type is different in its own way, everybody has a dominant dosha among these three which dictates the person's, appetite, mood, energy and even personality.?As per two separate pieces of research by the National Library of Medicine titled 'Dosha brain-types: A neural model of individual differences' and 'Relationships among classifications of Ayurvedic medicine diagnostics for imbalances and Western measures of psychological states: An exploratory study', the doshas have been described in detail.?
Vata is based on air and space. It is mostly signified by the autumn season.?
Certain characteristics define the Vata body type. Those with this dosha are generally slim in structure. They are energetic and creative in nature. They feel cold a lot. They have dry skin and delicate hair. Other than that, their mood is generally based on the people around them and the environment.?
Their strengths:
They always have a vibrant and energetic expression. Their behaviour and decision-making are flexible. They tend to learn things quickly.?
Their weaknesses:
They tend to be overstimulated. Sleep doesn't come easy to them. They have irregular appetites and irregular bowel movements and gas problems. They can have an excess of fears and phobias.?
These personalities are known to be tenacious and are based on fire and water. It is signified by the summer season due to the season being hot. These people are generally athletic and have a muscular build. They also serve as strong leaders, have a competitive spirit and are goal-oriented.?
Their strengths:
They tend to take charge of things and are warm friends. They aren't afraid of solving a problem head-on. They have healthy skin and hair and also have a quick metabolism. They are also quick learners and know how to master skills they want to learn.?
Their weaknesses:
They have impulsive behaviour. They are always hungry and can get irritable when they are not able to eat. They can get prone to conflicts and have a high sensitivity to hot weather.?
Kapha can be described as steady, stable, heavy and soft. They are based on earth and water. It is signified by the spring season.?
These personalities are known for being the rock for people and for being their support system. They are known for being calm and they rarely get upset over things or at least don't show it. They are conservative in nature.?
Their strengths:
They have an easy personality. They remain calm and composed. They are caring and empathetic in nature. They easily fall asleep and stay asleep. They are easygoing and not easily provoked.?
Their weaknesses:
They are sensitive to cold and dampness. They have low metabolism and tend to gain weight easily. They have a higher risk of heart disease and can have breathing issues.?
There are several benefits of practising Ayurveda which can take care of your overall wellbeing. Here are some things it can do to benefit your body, mind and spirit:
A lot of people are going for expensive cosmetic and chemical options to keep their skin and hair in healthy shape. Ayurveda's general guidelines are taking a well-balanced diet and doing exercises as per the needs of every individual. This can take care of the body and overall well-being. Even ayurvedic supplements can have slow but effective effects on the skin and hair.?
As discussed, the entire ideology of Ayurveda revolves around minimising the effects of doshas. Ayurveda guarantees stress reduction and anxiety with the help of various formats such as yoga, meditation, herbal treatments, massages and other exercises and food supplements.?
Ayurveda with its combination of a healthy diet and other Ayurvedic treatments can help in toning down the weight. The most important aspect of Ayurveda is to promote a diet full of nutrition based on your body type and what your dosha type is.?
An imbalanced dosha can lead to illness and different kinds of diseases. While the research and studies on Ayurvedic doshas are still very minimal, the natural uses of the Ayurvedic lifestyle and the food can definitely promote the overall health of a person.?