Thank you for joining me for this talk,
Which is part of my Introduction to Ayurveda series.
We'll explore some Ayurvedic treatment principles based on the doshas as a framework for supporting a holistic approach to our health practices.
For more information and background on Ayurveda and the doshas,
Feel free to go back and listen to part one and two of this series of talks.
From an Ayurvedic perspective,
Following the appropriate life regimen according to our unique constitution is an important part of any Ayurvedic treatment plan.
As we explore our relationship to the doshas and the elements,
We can recognize the ebb and flow of the doshas within us and the various imbalances they can bring.
The Sanskrit word dosha is often translated to English as fault or the causative agent in our imbalances.
The doshas become out of balance when they accumulate and are provoked in our environment or within us.
They can also become deficient,
But we most often experience them clearly when they're excessive,
Especially as beginners.
The doshas are provoked,
Accumulate,
And become aggravated by factors within our lifestyle.
Including how and what we tend to eat,
What we do for a living,
Where we live in the world,
The type of exercise we do,
The amount of stress we're experiencing,
The quality of our sleep and our relationships,
And even what season we're in.
For example,
For Vata Dosha,
The more air and ether qualities in our external and internal environment,
The more Vata is provoked by these qualities.
And the same is true for Pitta and Kapha and their qualities.
When we start thinking about which remedies to choose,
We can start simply looking at the gunas or dosha qualities that are provoked or active within us.
Which lifestyle factors might be contributing to this?
And work with remedies that have qualities opposite to qualities that are out of balance.
For example,
If there are excess Vata qualities of light,
Cold,
Subtle,
Rough,
Mobile,
Or erratic showing up,
We want to bring in qualities through our lifestyle practices that are dense,
Substantial,
Grounding.
Soothing,
Stabilizing,
Warming,
And consistent.
If there are pitta qualities of hot,
Light,
Mobile,
Sharp,
Or oily-like qualities,
We want to bring in cooling,
Grounding,
Substantial,
Stabilizing,
Softening,
Dispersing,
And diffusing qualities in the remedies that we choose.
Or maybe there are kapha qualities of heaviness,
Cold,
Damp,
Stasis,
Or density.
And we want to bring in more light,
Dry,
Stimulating,
And mobile qualities.
Everything around us in nature,
The weather patterns,
The seasons,
The different plants and animals we see around us,
Contain a unique combination of the elements just as we do.
Here are a few examples of how the elements show up in nature.
Picture an oak tree versus a rose bush.
An elephant versus a mouse.
A hummingbird versus an eagle.
Or a cucumber versus a potato.
Oat flour versus wheat flour.
Dairy or beef compared to celery and spinach?
Can you feel into the difference in the elemental composition of the living things around you?
And so,
When considering which foods,
Plant medicines,
Minerals,
Gems,
Yoga and meditation practices are best suited to us,
We can choose those that mitigate the excess or deficient flow of the doshas within us,
And include in our lifestyle practices things that bring in the opposite qualities or gunas to the ones that we are experiencing.
We can go a little deeper into a concept that is important to consider in Ayurvedic treatment.
This is the understanding of the six tastes abundant in nature called rasa in Sanskrit.
Sweet,
Sour,
Salty.
Pungent,
Astringent,
And bitter.
These tastes represent the potential energies and fields of action in nature.
And each taste is composed of a predominance of two of the five elements,
Just as the doshas are.
For example.
Sweet taste is made up of water and earth.
Lowers vata and pitta and increases kapha.
It is substantive and nutritive in its nature.
Things like maple syrup,
Honey,
Sweet potato,
And rice are all sweet in taste.
Sour is made up of earth and fire.
Sour decreases vata,
Increases kapha and pitta.
Examples include lemon,
Cherries,
Pineapple,
And apple cider vinegar.
Salty taste contains water and fire.
Salty taste decreases vata,
Increases kapha and pitta.
Examples include sea salt and seaweeds.
Pungent is fire and air.
Pungent lowers vata and kapha,
Increases pitta.
Such as chilies and ginger root.
Bitter contains air and ether.
Bitter increases vata,
Decreases energy.
Kaffir and pitta.
Examples include endive lettuce,
Dandelion greens,
And rapini.
A stringent is made up of earth and air.
Increases Vata and decreases Kapha and Pitta.
Examples include asparagus,
Brussels sprouts,
And red raspberry tea.
I invite you to explore the rasa or taste of the substances you eat,
Put on your skin,
And generally experience with your senses to get a better understanding of these concepts and how foods,
Plants,
Animals,
Minerals,
And gems express the different elements in nature and reflect the doshas and the six tastes.
I leave you to consider these concepts and invite you to listen to my next talk on Remedies for Vata Dosha.
Wishing you ease and peace in your day.
Thank you for listening.
Namaste.
