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Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor > 101 Foundations of Ayurveda > Flashcards

101 Foundations of Ayurveda Flashcards

1
Q

What is the meaning of Ayurveda?

A

Science/Wisdom of Life

Ayur = life

Veda = wisdom, knowledge, science

practical applied science

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2
Q

What makes ayurveda special?

A
  • it respects the uniqueness of the individual
  • it considers all levels of individual - body, mind, spirit (spiritual, emotional, intellectual, behavioral, physical, familial, social, environmental, universal levels)
  • it offers natural ways of treating diseases and promoting health
  • it emphasizes prevention
  • it empowers everyone to take responsibility for their own well-being
  • it is cost-effective
  • it works
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3
Q

What is life? Life definition in Ayurveda

A

Life is the duration in which we are able to keep the physical body, sense organs, mind, soul together in one unit, this is life. Constant uninterrupted flow of material, energy, and consciousness flows through a form – that duration is life. Starts at inception and ends at last breath.

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4
Q

Why do you want to lead a balanced long life?

A

for dharma, artha, sadhana, sukhanam. Sadhana = accomplishment through focused practice. What do you accomplish? Dharma. Duty. When you are dharmic, you make yourself as valued balanced human being. Elevating yourself in life. Help you stay positive. Artha = prosperity. In Ayurveda, prosperity is health as wealth. Fundamentally, if you are not healthy and happy, what is the point of having a lot of financial wealth? Second prosperity is knowledge. The more you are aware, the more you make your life and others’ life better. Sukha = wellness, happiness, satisfaction, fulfillment.

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5
Q

Name the 4 vedas, and which is ayurveda a part of?

A
  1. Rig veda
  2. Yajur veda
  3. Sama veda
  4. Atharva Veda (ayurveda part of this one)
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6
Q

what are the two schools of ayurveda?

A

Atreya = school of physicians

Dhanvantari = school of surgeons

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7
Q

What is the Brihat Trayi?

A

The Great Trio - the three oldest, most authentic and respected Samhitas (the chanting of mantras and religious aspect of medicine in vedas was gradually supplemented by observations based on scientific thinking. material scattered throughout vedas was collected, subjected to rigid tests for efficacy, and then rearranged into compilations - called Samhita)

  1. Charaka Samhita
  2. Sushruta Samhita
  3. Asthanga Hridaya Samhita
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8
Q

Charaka Samhita

A
  • classical textbook of internal medicine (kayachikitsa)
    • ​What are diseases, how do they manifest, how do you manage them?
  • considered prime work on basic concepts of Ayurveda
  • Represents Atreya Sampradaya (Atreya School of Physicians)
  • Systematic work divided into 8 sections, further divided into 120 chapters
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9
Q

Sushruta Samhita

A
  • Represents the Dhanvantari School of Surgeons and Sushruta is considered in Ayurveda to be the father of surgery
  • Contains sophisticated descriptions of surgical instruments and various procedures such as plastic surgery
  • Contains descriptions of the marmas - vital points in the body that are comparable to the system of acupuncture meridians in Chinese Medicine.
  • Hastam eva pradhan yantram. The work surgery comes from Greek word meaning manual operation. Sushruta emphasized that among all surgical instruments, the hand is most important because instruments are useless without it.
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10
Q

Ashtanga Hridaya

A
  • Vagbhata wrote the Ashtanga Hridaya in poetic verse
  • broken into two sections: The Ashtanga Sangraha and Ashtanga Hridaya
  • Ashtanga Sangraha is the third important composition of the great triad. It is divided into 150 chapters that deal with all 8 brances of ayurveda (Ashtanga = 8, Sangraha = collection)
  • Ashtanga Hridaya is more concise and written in verse - easier to remember in concise form
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11
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda -

name the 8 branches in Sanskrit & English

A
  1. Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)
  2. Shalya Tantra (Surgery)
  3. Shalakya Tantra (Ear, Nose, Throat, Eye Diseases)
  4. Kaumarbhritya (Pediatrics)
  5. Agada Tantra (Toxicology)
  6. Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)
  7. Rasayana (Rejuvenation)
  8. Vajikarana (Aphrodisiacs)
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12
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - (8 branches)

  1. what is Kayachikitsa
A

Kayachikitsa (Internal Medicine)

prevention, etiology, prognosis, management of disease

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13
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Shalya Tantra
A

Shalya Tantra (Surgery)

shalya means foreign body, that which disturbs/needs to be removed

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14
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Shalakya Tantra?
A

Shalakya Tantra (Ear, Nose, Throat, Eye Diseases)

Ayurvedic branch of opthalmology and otorhinolaryngology

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15
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Kaumarbhritya?
A

Kaumarbhritya (Pediatrics)

prenatal, postnatal baby care and care of mother before conception/during pregnancy. delivery care, postpartum care for mother & baby, then taking care of children + childhood diseases/treatment

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16
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Agada Tantra?
A

Agada Tantra (Toxicology)

toxicity and purification of herbs, mineral and animal products. poisonings/toxins

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17
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Bhuta Vidya?
A

Bhuta Vidya (Psychiatry)

treatment = diet, herbs, yogic methods to improve state of mind. ample research in Atharva Veda and other Ayurveda chapters

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18
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Rasayana?
A

Rasayana (Rejuvenation)

prevent disease/promote healthy living. Check effects of ageing, increase lifespan and memory. Promotes assimilation/delivery of nutrients needed by body tissues for optimum structure and function. boosts ojas (vitality) and thus helps healthy person maintain good health or re-establish impaired physical or mental health.

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19
Q

Ashtanga Ayurveda - 8 branches

  1. What is Vajikarana?
A

Vajikarana (Aphrodisiacs)

increasing sexual vitality and efficiency. for achieving healthy and intelligent progeny, rasayana + vajikarana are closely interrelated. Vajikarana medicines are also rejuvenatives.

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20
Q

What does Shatdarshana mean and name them?

A

shat = six

darshana = philosophy/understanding (seeing things in the right way. the light.)

6 fundamental systems of philosophy derived from vedas or vedic systems. considered most important philosophies derived from vedic texts.

  1. Sankhya
  2. Nyaya
  3. Vaisheshika
  4. Yogadarshana
  5. Mimamsa
  6. Vedanta
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21
Q

Shatdharshana

What does Sankhya mean?

A

derived from sat meaning truth and khya meaning to realize

Philosophy to know the truth

another definition of Sankhya is a number that is related to the 24 elemental building blocks (principles) which constitute the Sankhya view of the universe

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22
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is the source of everything in existence?

A

Combination of Prakriti and Purusha - everything that exists in the cosmos.

Prakriti and Purusha are the ultimate, causeless, omnipresent and all pervasive causes of the universe. When they combine, creation begins.

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23
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Purusha?

A

Purusha = the one that brings the flow of this life (in this time/space continuum – no beginning/no end). Anything that facilitates the flow of everything, subtle to gross, is purusha. The Cosmic Consciousness. Beyond energy.

PURUSHA: PURE CONSCIOUSNESS
• The origin of creation
• Conscious ground for creation
• Passive in creation (Purusha is beyond of 24 elements of
Sānkhya philosophy)
• Reflects in each and every living being
• Male energy

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24
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Prakriti?

A

Prakriti = the whole material and energy available in the whole cosmos. Energies from sun, moon, wind, etc are included. sum total of energy/material available in cosmos. The root nature is always the same/no change. Sum total will remain the same. Any change is transformation from one material/energy into another. Energy/material is never destroyed or created, only transformed.

1 PRAKRITI: THE FIRST STEP OF CREATION

  • The entire universe is created from Prakriti
  • Contains prime attributes behind all things as forms of perception
  • Has three qualities called Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas
    • Sattva Guna is knowledge, clarity, and purity
    • Rajas Guna is action, mobility, stimulus
    • Tamas Guna is ignorance, inactivity, heaviness and darkness
  • Prakriti and its three gunas are responsible for the diversity in the universe while the existence of Purusha is responsible for unity.
25
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Mahat?

A

2 MAHAT: COSMIC INTELLIGENCE

  • The First Manifestation of Prakriti
  • The cosmic intelligence, intuition and/or wisdom
  • Buddhi is individual intelligence
  • In every cell of an individual there is inborn intelligence. This intelligence puts everything in its proper place.
26
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Ahankara?

A

3 AHANKĀRA: THE COSMIC EGO
Ahankāra represents the power of differentiation or diversification, the awareness of the self, or the feeling I am.
The three gunas manifest here in the form of Sattvic Ahankāra, Rajas Ahankāra and Tamas Ahankāra.

  • Sattva – purity, quality, balance, pious, devotion, care
  • Rajas – energy of the quality of activity and intensity. Movement and intensity.
  • Tamas – inertia, heaviness, dullness
  • Sense organs are more sattvic in nature
  • Mind is more rajasic in nature, movement.
  • The 5 elements (5 tanmatras = causal elements and 5 mahabhutas = the elements) are more tamasic in nature.
27
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Manasa?

A

4 MĀNASA: MIND
Mānasa represents the formulating principle of emotions and ideas, as well as the individual consciousness projected by Rajas Ahankara. It connects the inner and outer worlds.

28
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Panchagyanendriyani?

A

5 – 9 PANCHAGYĀNENDRIYĀNI: THE FIVE SENSE ORGANS

  1. Ears
  2. Skin
  3. Eyes
  4. Tongue
  5. Nose

The five sense organs are derived from Sāttvic Ahankāra. They perceive sound, touch, vision, taste and smell respectively. The entire knowledge of the universe is obtained through these sense organs. Therefore they are called Gyāna Shakti, or the knowledge of all that is.

29
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Panchakarmendriyani?

A

10–14 PANCHAKARMENDRIYĀNI: THE FIVE ORGANS OF
ACTION

  1. Vocal Chords
  2. Hands
  3. Feet
  4. Urethra (Urogenital Tract)
  5. Anus

The Five Organs of Action derive from Rajas Ahankāra. As organs of action, Rajas is called Kriya Shakti, which translates to the actions directed toward all that is, or the five powers of action.

30
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What is Tanmatras?

A

15 – 19 TANMĀTRĀS: THE FIVE CAUSAL ELEMENTS

  1. Shabda: Sound
  2. Sparsha: Touch
  3. Rupa: Vision
  4. Rasa: Taste
  5. Gandha: Smell

The Five Causal Elements derive from Tamas Ahankāra and represent the unmanifested forms of the five elements.

31
Q

Shatdarshana - Sankhya

What are Panchamahabhutas?

A

20 – 24 PANCHAMAHĀBHUTAS: THE FIVE ELEMENTS

  1. Ākasha: Space/Ether
  2. Vāyu: Air
  3. Tejas: Fire
  4. Aap: Water
  5. Prithvi: Earth

Matter is created by the combination of these five material elements. Therefore tamas is called Dravya Shakti, which translates to the power of substance.

32
Q

Shatdarshana - Nyaya

Summary of Nyaya

A
  • Founded by the sage Gautama.
  • First written between the 3rd and 4th century BC and called the Nyāya Sutras.
  • Divided into five chapters.
  • Deals with the logic for achieving truth. What are the means of acquiring knowledge?
  • Accepts four means of knowledge or proofs, called Pramānas, which Ayurveda has accepted in the process of obtaining practical information about the health of a patient or client:
      1. Pratyaksha: Direct Perception
        * Observed via the senses and the mind. The mind is the instrument for acquiring knowledge, happiness, sorrow, desire and in the planning of action.
      1. Anumāna: Inference
        * Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
      1. Upamāna: Analogy
        * Racing mind, swan pulse, snake pulse.
      1. Shabda Upadesa: The word spoken by an authority (Apta: Authoritative Instruction)
        * Teachers
        * Books
33
Q

Shatdarshana - Nyaya

What are the 4 Pramanas?

A

Four means of knowledge or proofs

  • Pratyaksha: Direct Perception
    • Observed via the senses and the mind. The mind is the instrument for acquiring knowledge, happiness, sorrow, desire and in the planning of action.
  • Anumāna: Inference
    • Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
  • Upamāna: Analogy
    • Racing mind, swan pulse, snake pulse.
  • Shabda Upadesa: The word spoken by an authority (Apta: Authoritative Instruction)
    • Teachers
    • Books
34
Q

Shatdarshana

Summarize Vaisheshika Philosophy

A
  • Originated by Sage Kanāda.
  • Vaisheshya means specific. how you differentiate the knowledge.
  • Deals with the creation of the universe and explains seven categories of knowledge or objects of cognition (prameyas) as follows:
  1. Dravya: Substance (e.g. Herbs, fruits, wood
  2. Guna: Quality (e.g. Cold, hard, heavy)
  3. Karma: Action (e.g. Digestive, laxative, nervine)
  4. Samānya: Similarity (e.g. Like increases like)
  5. Vishesha: Dissimilarity (e.g. Opposites cure or neutralize each other)
  6. Samavāya: Unbreakable Relation (e.g. Ginger and heat have samavāya relationship.)
  7. Abhāva: Absence or Non-Existence (e.g. In amalaki or garlic, the salty taste is absent, so there is an abhāva of salty taste. Another example: Kapha has an abhāva of heat.)
35
Q

Shatdarshana - Vaisheshika

Translate and name the 7 Prameyas

A

seven categories of knowledge or objects of cognition (prameyas)

  1. Dravya: Substance (e.g. Herbs, fruits, wood
  2. Guna: Quality (e.g. Cold, hard, heavy)
  3. Karma: Action (e.g. Digestive, laxative, nervine)
  4. Samānya: Similarity (e.g. Like increases like)
  5. Vishesha: Dissimilarity (e.g. Opposites cure or neutralize each other)
  6. Samavāya: Unbreakable Relation (e.g. Ginger and heat have samavāya relationship.)
  7. Abhāva: Absence or Non-Existence (e.g. In amalaki or garlic, the salty taste is absent, so there is an abhāva of salty taste. Another example: Kapha has an abhāva of heat.)
36
Q

Shatdarshana -

Summary of Yogadarshana

A

Bring mind to right alignment

37
Q

Shatdarshana

Summary of Mimamsa

A

Rituals and practices to bring order and balance to life.

38
Q

Shatdarshana

Summary of Vedanta

A

Everything is one.

39
Q

Define Panchamahabhutas and name them in Sanskrit and English

A

The Five Elements

  1. Akasha = Ether/Space
  2. Vayu = Air
  3. Teja = Fire
  4. Aap = Water
  5. Prithvi = Earth
  • The 5 elements establish the structural basis of life. The entire cosmos is made up of 5 fundamental elements.
  • Akasha is the most subtle element, prithvi is the grossest.
  • Elements are nothing but different densities of Akasha
  • Denser elements have subtler elements infused within them. Each element contains the elements before it - combined/condensed.
40
Q

Panchamahabhutas

What are the Qualities of Prithvi?

A

Earth is

  • Gross
  • heavy
  • static
  • hard
  • dense
41
Q

Panchamahabhutas

What are the Qualities of Aap?

A

Water is

  • Flowing
  • wet
  • dull - especially if keep still for a long time
  • soft
  • cloudy - can get cloudy if kept still
42
Q

Panchamahabhutas

What are the Qualities of Teja?

A

Fire is

  • Hot
  • sharp - can penetrate through very quickly
43
Q

Panchamahabhutas

What are the Qualities of Vayu?

A

Air is

  • rough - when more dryness, there is more roughness
  • dry - hang clothes to dry in air
  • light
  • cold - jump in pool then stand outside - breeze can bring cold. nature of air is cooling.
  • mobile - can see trees blowing in breeze
44
Q

Panchamahabhutas

What are the Qualities of Akasha?

A

Ether/space is

  • subtle - can’t perceive through senses
  • soft
  • clear
  • smooth - no resistance in space, need minimal energy to move
  • expanding
45
Q

Sound - aum/om - where does the sound come from?

A

Sound – aum – covers all frequencies. Where does the sound come from? From vibration. Primary reason for the union of energy particles is the vibration/resonance. The primordial vibration is the reason for new creation

46
Q

Panchamahabhutas

Name the Main Quality, Sense, Sense Organ, and Bhoutic Composition of: Prithvi

and other notes on this element

A

Principle of Form and Structure

  • Main quality = stability
  • Sense = smell
  • Sense organ = nose (if you want to get the smell of something, you need particle of material to touch olfactory space)
  • Bhoutic Comp = Akasha + Vayu + Agni + Aap + Prithvi
  • Aap (Water) dries and forms Prithvi (Earth). A substance or particle with shape indicates the presence of Prithvi Mahābhuta.
  • All structures whether an atom, molecule, rock, mountain, planet, solar system or galaxy, is determined by Prithvi.
  • Governs the shape and structure of every branch, leaf and flower in plants and every organ, tendon, muscle and bone in animals and humans.
47
Q

Panchamahabhutas

Name the Main Quality, Sense, Sense Organ, and Bhoutic Composition of: Aap

and other notes on this element

A

Principle of Liquidity and Cohesion

  • Main quality = Cohesion
  • Sense = taste
  • Sense organ = tongue (need moisture to taste through saliva. can only taste if there is presence of water)
  • Bhoutic Comp = Akasha + Vayu + Agni + Aap

Agni condenses to form Aap (Water) e.g. steam, which, when it cools becomes water. Governs a substance’s ability to change shape without separating or losing its integrity.

Water is the most common manifestation of Aap Mahabhuta on this planet and is the major component of all life. Function of Aap is to nourish and protect

  • in blood, it binds nutrients and oxygen within plasma so vayu can circulate it throughout the body to nourish cells.
  • Sap of the tree carries nutrients to all parts of the plants (water acts as medium through which vayu carries nutrients to leaves and branches)
  • Saliva protects mucus membrane of the oral cavity
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), nourishes brain cells and protects brain and spinal cord from injuries.

Practical e.g. of cohesion – We make dough by adding water in the flour (so particles stay together)

48
Q

Panchamahabhutas

Name the Main Quality, Sense, Sense Organ, and Bhoutic Composition of: Tejas/Agni

and other notes on this element

A

Tejas = Principle of Conversion, Heat, Light

  • Main quality = Conversion, Illumination
  • Sense = sight
  • Sense organ = eyes (without agni and light creation would not be possible. agni allows us to see form, degrees of dark and light and various frequencies of color)
  • Bhoutic Comp = Akasha + Vayu + Agni

Light and heat are produced from friction inherent in movement. Water & earth will reduce fire; ether & air will increase fire. Need air/space to create fire.

Sun offers most striking example of this principle. Sun’s heat is directly and indirectly responsible for conversion (metabolic processes). Without it, there would be no transformation and no life. Conversion is the key concept in defining Agni’s role in creation.

49
Q

Panchamahabhutas

Name the Main Quality, Sense, Sense Organ, and Bhoutic Composition of: Vayu

and other notes on this element

A

The Principle of Movement

  • Main quality = Movement
  • Sense = touch
  • Sense organ = skin (sense air through touch - a little movement, can feel the air on skin)
  • Bhoutic Comp = Akasha + Vayu

Subtle vibrations create Vayu which gives direction to all motion and change and to all processes and functions in creation.

Vayu impulses blood to move through arteries and veins, food to move through digestive tract and nerve impulses to be carried at lightning speed to and from the brain.

50
Q

Panchamahabhutas

Name the Main Quality, Sense, Sense Organ, and Bhoutic Composition of: Akasha

and other notes on this element

A

The Principle of Space

  • Main quality = Non-resistance
  • Sense = sound
  • Sense organ = ear (hollow spacious structure with very thin, light bones, responsible for transmitting sound from environment into neural impulses)
  • Bhoutic Comp = Akasha

nothingness is the quality of space. akasha serves as the medium in which the other bhutas are able to manifest. Sound is born from and propagates through space. Basic requirement to generate sound = vibration. Primary requirement for vibration = space. If no space, can’t move.

51
Q

What is the importance of Panchamahabhutas in health?

A

All natural things are comprised of Panchamahabhutas (e.g. fruits, vegies, grains, herbs composed of different combos of mahabhutas, which is why herbs can be digested by the body while synthetic medicines cannot)

Mahabhutas with opposite qualities are used in treatment with the goal of maintaining or restoring balance. E.G. to lose weight (heaviness/earth element), use lighter food (popcorn/air). Lightheadedness use grounding, heavy foods (e.g. nuts, seeds soaked overnight in water) or root veg.

52
Q

Panchamahabhutas & Tanmatras

(5 elements + 5 senses)

how are they related?

A

¸ Sound cannot exist without space and lack of resistance, qualities of Ākasha.
¸ Touch depends on vibration or movement, aspects of Vāyu.
¸ Sight occurs because of light and heat, characteristics of Agni.
¸ Taste cannot function without the liquid and cohesive nature of Aap.
¸ Smell needs Prithvi’s solidity and form.

53
Q

How are Mahabhutas and their Senses (Tanmatras) used as Diagnostic Tools?

A

The Sense of Sound

  • By auscultating certain parts of the body, the physician understands the quality of the organ.
  • We can hear an asthmatic person breathe heavily.
  • Gurgling sounds in the stomach is a sign of bloating.

The Sense of Touch

  • Nādi Vigyan-pulse diagnosis is the most exceptional diagnostic tool in Ayurveda
  • Palpation of abdomen gives idea about different digestive organs – tenderness, enlargement, bloating etc.
  • Palpating joints, tender areas on the body, etc.; gives more information about the underlying cause

The Sense of Sight

  • Visual inspection of the client also important.
  • It gives idea about person’s Prakriti or Vikriti

The Sense of Smell

  • Body odor, foul smell, smell of the urine are examples
  • Ancient texts identify twenty types of diabetes based on the specific degeneration of the tissues giving specific smell to urine.

We do not use the sense of taste in Diagnosis.

54
Q

what is the relationship between:

  • mahabhuta (elements)
  • density
  • volume
  • tanmatras (senses)
  • sense organs (gyanendriyani)
  • organs of action (karmendriyani)
A

Element/Mahabhuta - Density - Volume - Sense/Tanmatra - Sense Organ/Gyanendriyani - Organ of Action/Karmendriyani

  1. Ether/Akasha - 1 - 5 - Sound/Shabda - Ears - Vocal Cords
  2. Air/Vayu - 2 - 4 - Touch/Sparsha - Skin - Hands
  3. Fire/Tejas - 3 - 3 - Vision/Rupa - Eyes - Feet
  4. Water/Aap - 4 - 2 - Taste/Rasa - Tongue - Urogenital Tract
  5. Earth/Prithvi - 5 - 1 - Smell/Gandha - Nose - Anus
55
Q

What are the Tridoshas?

A

Tridoshas are the three energies governing all the functions in the body

while modern medicine is based on the structure of the body, ayurveda is based on the energies behind that structure. The 5 Mahabhutas give rise to three doshas/tridoshas: vata, pitta, kapha

meaning of dosha = can go out of whack/out of balance. when they are in correct balance, they protect and preserve all bodily functions. when go out of balance, cause disease.

56
Q

Doshas - Kapha

What is the bhoutic composition, main energy function, and qualities (and actions of these qualities) of Kapha?

A
  • The One that Helps to Connect or Adhere
  • Aap + Prithvi
  • The energy of construction, lubrication, nourishment
  • in nature, kapha is like water. 2/3 of earth is comprised of water, 2/3 of physical body is also comprised of water.
  • energy of kapha helps us to feel calm and content, notice the taste of our food, nourishes all organs and cells in body, builds tissue, lubricates our joints and air passages and protects all of the physical systems in the body.
  • qualities:
    • moist - Lubricates the whole body and joints, reduces dryness, friction and facilitates the function of any and all tissues.
    • cold - Protects the body against too much pitta, such as heat, burning and acidity, maintains alkaline medium or pH of body, acts as a cooling energy.
    • heavy - Helps to create stability and/or groundedness in the body and mind, increases weight by nourishing the dhātus, builds tissues
    • dull -
    • soft - Keeps the tissues supple, helps protect against too much action and/or friction. Maintains tissue consistency.
    • sticky - Provides insulation; protects dhātus, protects against the hyperactivity of vāta
    • static - Provides stability, counterbalances and/or protects against the hyperactivity of vāta, protects dhātus.
    • Slow - Slow sluggish movement, slow thinking
    • smooth - Smooth surface of the organs, smooth movements.
57
Q

Doshas - Pitta

What is the bhoutic composition, main energy function, and qualities (and actions of those qualities) of Pitta?

A
  • The One that Produces Heat or Anger
  • Tejas + Aap (primarily fire)
  • The energy of transformation, conversion, digestion
  • Pitta is like the sun’s heat, giving light and transforming things.
  • heat or transformative energy in the body
  • Pitta helps us to think, be discriminate, be confident, have clear vision, speak ot the point, and see different things/colors, digest food, maintain body temp, protect from excess heat/cold, and give luster to skin.
  • qualities:
    • oily - Balances dryness; maintains luster of the skin; emulsifies food; mixes food with digestive enzymes for proper digestion
    • sharp - Breaks down food chains into tiny particles, cooks food, digests food (especially those with heavier qualities), penetrates through blockages, and sharpens memory and thinking. Helps in planning and gives confidence
    • hot - Keeps us alive, maintains acidity of digestive enzymes and maintains body temperature.
    • light - Illuminates mind, intelligence and life.
    • moving/spreading - Helps the flow, mixes and moves food
    • liquid - Makes food liquid, helps digestion and overall flow in the body.
    • acidic - Gives acidic smell to sweat and bile, emulsifies and digests fatty foods.
58
Q

Doshas - Vata

What is the bhoutic composition, main energy function, and qualities (and actions of those qualities) of Vata?

A
  • One That Gives Energy
  • Akasha + Vayu
  • The energy of action, transportation, and movement
  • in nature, vata is like the wind. constantly moving/scattering things around.
  • King of doshas because it is the moving force behind everything, including pitta/kapha
  • qualities - actions of qualities
    • dry - Reduces wetness, dampness. Helps reduce mucus, congestion, water retention and swelling.
    • rough - Breaks sliminess, congestion and reduces toxin buildup.
    • light - Makes body light, helps release weight and create a feeling of being energized while reducing lethargy and āma buildup.
    • cold - Balances heat and reduces burning and excessive acidity.
    • subtle - Helps reach the microscopic (very narrow) channels of the body
    • mobile - Balances static (stable); moves energy, nerve impulses. Makes movement possible.

Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor (3 decks)

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