AYURVEDA WICKLOW
nurturing balance
Introduction to Ayurveda
Origins and
Principles of Ayurveda
Ayurveda, the sister science of yoga, is directly translated as ‘life science’ or ‘life knowledge’ Ayurveda is an ancient system of holistic healthcare originating from the Indian subcontinent over 5,000 years ago. Unlike modern science Ayurveda’s basic principles have remained unchanged as they are derived from the eternally true universal laws of nature.
The essence of Ayurveda is anti-aging for the whole body both inside and out. With attention to both quantity and quality we are aiming for a long and healthy life. We should expect to live for 100 years, not experiencing symptoms of old age before the age of 75 or 80 years.
To this end, Ayurveda is primarily a system of preventative healthcare working to maintain our health and avoid disease occurring. In reality, as a result of our modern lifestyles, we find many age related diseases present at an increasingly young age. Ayurvedic treatment includes advice on diet and lifestyle, herbal supplements and bodywork therapies. Ayurveda works subtly and gently to interrupt, prevent and reverse this process allowing for a long and healthy life.
Pancha Mahabhuta
The Five Great Elements
The system of Ayurveda is based on the principle that all life is made up of the five great elements of space (Akash), air (Vayu), fire (Agni), water (Jala) and earth (Prithvi).
Nothing can exist without these elements, each one is built upon the next.
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Akash is empty space, the absence of everything, a vacuum, non-resistance, expansive.
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Vayu is air, the quality of movement and direction, force exerted, our life force (prana).
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Agni is fire and requires air in order to manifest, heat enables transformation.
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Jala is water allowing fluidity, cohesion and growth.
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Prithvi is earth and governs shape, structure and solidity.
All five of these elements are within us and around us throughout the natural world. While Akash doesn’t change and Prithvi doesn’t change easily, Vayu, Agni and Jala are active elements and are constantly changing. These elements are intimately associated with the three doshas and serve as tools in ayurvedic diagnosis and treatment.
Vata, Pitta, Kapha
The Three Doshas
The Five Great Elements are further distilled to three doshas or physical energies and physiological functions of vata, pitta and kapha. These doshas are found throughout nature, in animals and plants, the seasons, the time of day and stages of life.
Vata dosha has the principle element of air giving it cold, dry and light qualities. Its secondary element of space allows the energetic quality of movement. Space is considered to be the king of the elements and vata the king of the doshas. From middle age onwards we are in the Vata stage of life.
Pitta dosha is made up primarily of fire and supported by water, and in a small part air, giving it hot, sharp and acidic qualities. Combined with water and air, pitta has the energetic qualities of heating and transformation. The pitta stage of life runs from through adolescence, from puberty to middle age.
Kapha dosha has the primary quality of water and is supported by earth giving it cold, slow, steady, oily and solid qualities. Kapha dosha controls lubrication, liquefaction and cohesion. Kapha stage of life takes us from infancy through childhood.
Prakriti and Vikriti
Our Nature and Imbalance
Each individual is born with their own unique balance of these three doshas which is created at the time of conception. This state is identified as the one or two dominant doshas eg. pitta or vata-pitta, or an equal balance of all three, tridosha. This balanced natural state is known as our prakriti.
Our lifestyles and life experiences often upset this balance and the assessment of our current balance of doshas is known as our vikriti. Ayurveda strives to treat the imbalances in our vikriti aiming to restore the individual to the natural balance and full health of their prakriti. In order to do this Ayurveda tries to reduce any excesses in the three doshas that are present in our vikriti by using a combination of diet and lifestyle, herbal remedies, therapeutic treatments including panchakarma, and yoga and meditation.
It is common for the predominant dosha in our prakriti to increase more quickly than other doshas as we tend to perpetuate what we know best. For example, if the dominant dosha in your prakriti is Vata, you may naturally incline towards a life filled with activity, due to the mobile quality of Vata. However, if you are too active, you are likely to eventually aggravate Vata and thereby exhaust the nervous system. This will present as increased Vata in your vikriti. In this case you will benefit from Vata reducing Ayurvedic practices and treatments.
Ama
Toxic Residue
Ama refers to toxic substances that accumulate in the body due to improper digestion and metabolic imbalance. It originates from the food which remains undigested in the gastrointestinal tract. This waste from incomplete metabolism becomes a sticky, toxic residue
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It is considered the root cause of many health issues, arising from factors like poor diet, stress, and lifestyle choices. Ama is believed to be a sticky, heavy, and foul-smelling substance that can obstruct the body's channels, leading to disease.
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Common symptoms of the presence of Ama include lethargy, heaviness, foggy thinking, bloating, and skin issues. Ama not only affects physical health but can also influence mental and emotional well-being
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It may be necessary to begin to remove Ama before receiving Ayurvedic Treatments through a practice of Ama Pachana involving ​dietary modifications such as consuming easily digestible foods and incorporating spices like ginger and turmeric—are recommended to improve digestion.
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Understanding and eliminating ama is essential for maintaining optimal health and preventing chronic conditions.
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Agni
The Digestive Fiire
Agni is considered to be the element and universal organising principle of conversion, light and heat.
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In Ayurveda, an indivdual's Agni refers to the vital principle of digestion and metabolism,and is often translated as the digestive fire. It plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and well-being. Agni governs the transformation of food into energy and nutrients, affecting not only physical digestion but also mental and emotional processes.
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Ayurveda identifies different types of Agni, with the primary one being Jatharagni, or the digestive fire located in the stomach. A balanced Agni ensures proper digestion, absorption, and assimilation of food, while a weakened or disturbed Agni can lead to various health issues, including indigestion, toxicity, and imbalance of the doshas .
The state of Agni can be influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, seasonal changes, and emotional health. Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of nurturing Agni through appropriate dietary choices, mindful eating, and lifestyle practices. When Agni is strong, it promotes vitality, clarity, and longevity, whereas a weak Agni can manifest as fatigue, disease, and mental fog. Maintaining a balanced Agni is fundamental for achieving harmony within the body and mind.​​​​