Ayurveda Explained

By Dylan Roche

“The science of life.” That’s how Ayurveda translates from Sanskrit. And with a name like that, it’s difficult to not find yourself curious about what this practice has to offer those who are seeking a healthy lifestyle. But it’s important not to get carried away—while many aspects of Ayurveda are great practices to adopt, health experts emphasize that the science behind Ayurveda is insufficient and it should be used to complement, not replace, conventional medicine.

Johns Hopkins Medicine describes Ayurveda as a natural system of medicine, one that traces back to 3,000 years ago in India. The practice involves health interventions like a special diet, herbs, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy to achieve balance between a person’s mind and body, thereby fending off disease and maintaining good health.

What sets Ayurveda apart from similar holistic practices is its emphasis on the five elements that make up the universe: air (called vayu in Sanskrit), water (iala), space (akash), fire (teia), and earth (prithvi). As the National Ayurvedic Medical Association explains, these elements make up different types of energy, called dosha, in your body that enable you to take care of bodily functions—everything from your sense of hunger to your ability to move.

For example, the dosha known as vata is vital for breathing or moving your muscles, while the pitta is what digests food and regulates your body temperature. Then there’s kapha, which keeps all your bones, tendons, and muscles structured and working. Ayurveda teaches that all people have a dominant dosha, but nobody’s balance of dosha is exactly the same. Your dosha is as uniquely yours as your fingerprints. Once a person understands their energy, they have a better understanding of what external factors—like poor diet, stress, or lack of physical movement—are most likely to throw them out of balance. They also understand what type of lifestyle works best for them.

Johns Hopkins Medicine points out that Ayurveda is regarded as a form of medical care in India, where practitioners pursue the same kind of institutionalized training for it as a doctor would for conventional Western medicine here in the United States. By contrast, there is no national standard for training, certification, or licensing for Ayurveda in the United States, although there are paths of study for those who are interested. Maryland University of Integrative Health, for example, offers a post-baccalaureate certificate in ayurvedic wellness practices.

Those who adopt the practices of Ayurveda into their lifestyle are likely to see many benefits, even if they don’t follow it as strictly or as exactly as it would be done in India. The National Ayurvedic Medical Association encourages eating whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains while limiting red meat, sugar, and preservatives. Ayurveda encourages being present, or mindful, especially when consuming food, so you’ll be less like to eat from emotional cues. This can ultimately help people curb binge eating or overeating and will help in controlling weight as well as alleviating depression or anxiety.

A few other general practices you should consider? The Ayurvedic Institute recommends things like keeping warm, keeping calm, keeping a regular routine, and getting plenty of rest for vata; avoiding excess oil, limiting your salt intake, and exercising during cooler parts of the day for pitta; and staying active and avoiding heavy, oily foods for kapha.