Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for over 5,000 years, and is a comprehensive system of medicine, which places equal emphasis on mind, body, and spirit (Lad 63). Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word meaning ôthe science of lifeö (ôAyurvedicö 2001). It comes from the Vedas which are the basis of Hinduism, and was passed along orally for thousands of years before being written down. It is considered the worldÆs oldest healing science. Ayurvedic medicine is practiced on a very individual level, and its aim is to restore the innate balance to the body (Lad 63). The Ayurvedic physician is concerned with who the patient is, rather than what disease they have. This means determining the patientÆs constitution, which is done primarily through their body type.
There are three major body types, or doshas, in Ayurvedic medicine: vata, pitta, and kapha, and people are classified according to their predominant dosha, although everyone contains elements of all three doshas (Lad 2001). The doshas embody a combination of physical, mental, and emotional characteristics, and represent the bodyÆs energies, composed of the five basic elements: space, air, earth, fire, and water (ôAyurvedicö 2001). The doshas are located in different areas of the body: the vata dosha is seated in the large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears, and thighs (Lad 65). The pitta dosha is located in the small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, skin, and eyes. The kapha dosha is located in the lungs and the cerebrospinal fluid. When the doshas are balanced, a person is in good health and has a vibrant energy, but when they are disturbed, the body becomes susceptible to outside forces such as viruses, bacteria, and stress. Keeping the doshas in balance will help prevent disease and keep the body in good health.
The unique proportion of vata, pitta, and kapha within a person makes them unique, and is known as the personÆs prakriti...