Ayurveda History

8/18/2019 Ayurveda History

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History of Ayurveda… a heritage of healing

The Origins –

The word ‘veda’ means knowledge.The evolution of the Indian art of healing and living a

healthy life comes from the four Vedas namely : Rig veda !ama veda "a#ur veda and

$tharva veda .$yurveda attained a state of reverence and is classified as one of the %&a'

Vedas ' a su(section ' attached to the $tharva Veda. The $tharva Veda contains not only the

magic s&ells and the occult sciences (ut also the $yurveda that deals with the diseases

in#uries fertility sanity and health.

$yurveda incor&orates all forms of lifestyle in thera&y. Thus yoga aroma meditation gems

amulets her(s diet astrology color and surgery etc. are used in a com&rehensive manner in

treating &atients. Treating im&ortant and sensitive s&ots on the (ody called )armas is

descri(ed in $yurveda . )assages e*ercises and yoga are recommended.

History

The knowledge we have now is (y three surviving te*ts of Charaka, Sushruta and Vaghbata.

+haraka ,-st century $../ wrote Charaka Samhita ,samhita' meaning collection of verses

written in !anskrit/. !ushruta ,0th century $../ wrote his !amhita i.e Sushruta Samhita.

Vagh(ata ,1th century $../ com&iled the third set of ma#or te*ts called Ashtanga Hridaya and

Ashtanga Sangraha. +haraka’s !chool of 2hysicians and !ushruta’s !chool of !urgeons

(ecame the (asis of $yurveda and hel&ed organi3e and systematically classify into (ranches

of medicine and surgery.

!i*teen ma#or su&&lements ,4ighantus/ were written in the ensuing years – hanvantari

5ahava&rakasha Ra#a and !haligrama to name a few – that hel&ed refine the &ractice of

$yurveda. 4ew drugs were added and ineffective ones were discarded. 6*&ansion of

a&&lication identification of new illnesses and finding su(stitute treatments seemed to have

(een an evolving &rocess. +lose to 7888 &lants that were used in healing diseases anda(ating sym&toms were identified in these su&&lements.

ridha(ala in the 0th century revised the +haraka !amhita. The te*ts of !ushruta !amhita

were revised and su&&lemented (y 4agar#una in the 9th century.

There develo&ed eight (ranchesdivisions of $yurveda:

-. ;aya'chikitsa ,Internal )edicine/


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7. !halakya Tantra ,surgery and treatment of head and neck O&hthalmology and ear

nose throat/

088 metrical verses. The !amhita deals mainly with the

diagnosis and treatment of disease &rocess through internal and e*ternal a&&lication of

medicine. +alled ;aya'chikitsa ,internal medicine/ it aims at treating (oth the (ody and the

s&irit and to strike a (alance (etween the two. Bollowing diagnosis a series of methods to

&urify (oth the (ody and s&irit with &urgation and deto*ification (loodletting and emesis as


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well as enema ,known as 2ancha'karma/ are utili3ed. The em&hasis seems to (e to tackle

diseases in the early &hase or in a &reventative manner (efore the first sym&toms a&&ear.

$yurvedic diagnosis and treatment is traditionally divided into eight (ranches ,sthanas/ (ased

on the a&&roach of a &hysician towards a disease &rocess. +haraka descri(ed them thus:

-. !utra'sthana ' general&rinci&les

7. 4idana'sthana ' &athology

. !iddhi'sthana ' successful treatment.

etailed accounts of various methods of diagnosis study of various stages of sym&toms and

the com&rehensive management and treatment of de(ilitating diseases like dia(etes mellitus

tu(erculosis asthma and arthritic conditions are to (e found in the +haraka !amhita. There is

even a detailed account of fetal develo&ment in the mother’s wom( which can rival

descri&tions of modern medical te*t(ooks.

+haraka also wrote details a(out (uilding a hos&ital. $ good hos&ital should (e located in a

(ree3y s&ot free of smoke and o(#ectiona(le smells and noises. 6ven the e?ui&ment needed

including the (rooms and (rushes are detailed. The &ersonnel should (e clean and well(ehaved. etails a(out the rooms cooking area and the &rivies are given. +onversation

recitations and entertainment of the &atient were encouraged and said to aid in healing the

ailing &atient.

SushrutaSamhita

!ushruta was a surgeon in the Cu&ta courts in the 0th century $.. Though Indian classics is

full of accounts of healing through trans&lantation of head and lim(s as well as eye (alls

!ushruta !amhita is the first authentic te*t to descri(e methodology of &lastic surgery

cosmetic and &rosthetic surgery +esarean section and setting of com&ound fractures.

!ushruta had in his &ossession an armamentarium of -71 surgical instruments made of

stone metal and wood. Borce&s scal&els trocars catheters syringes saws needles and

scissors were all availa(le to the surgeon. Rhino&lasty ,&lastic surgery of the nose/ was first

&resented to the world medical community (y !ushruta in his !amhita where a detailed

method of trans&osition of a forehead fla& to reconstruct a severed nose is given. !evered

noses were common form of &unishment. Torn ear lo(es also were common due to heavy

#ewelry worn on ear lo(es. !ushruta descri(ed a method of re&air of the torn ear lo(es. Bitting

of &rosthetics for severed lim(s were also commonly &erformed feats.


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!ushruta wrote DOnly the union of medicine and surgery constitutes the com&lete doctor. The

doctor who lacks knowledge of one of these (ranches is like a (ird with only one wing.E @hile

+haraka concentrated on the kaya'chikitsa ,internal medicine/. !ushruta’s work mainly

e*&ounded on the !halya Tantra ,surgery/.The !amhita contains mostly &oetry verses (ut also has some details in &rose. =7 different

o&hthalmic diseases and their treatment are mentioned in great detail. 2terygium glaucoma

and treatment of con#unctivitis were well known to !ushruta. Removal of cataract (y a method

called couching wherein the o&a?ue lens is &ushed to a side to im&rove vision was &racticed

routinely. Techni?ues of suturing and many varieties of (andaging &uncturing and &ro(ing

drainage and e*traction are detailed in the manuscri&t.

Ashtanga Hridaya

Vagh(ata in the 1th century com&iled two sets of te*ts called $shtanga !angraha and

$shtanga Aridaya. It details the ;aya'chikitsa of +haraka !amhita and the various surgical

&rocedures of !ushruta !amhita. The em&hasis seems to (e more on the &hysiological rather

than the s&iritual as&ects of the disease &rocesses. $shtanga !angraha is written in &rose

whereas the $shtanga Aridaya is in &oetry for recitation of the Verses.

The Ancient ayurvedic Physician

Originally only 5rahmins , a certain caste / were &racticing &hysicians. Fater &eo&le from

other castes (ecame well versed in the art of healing and a term Vaidya came to (e a&&lied tothe &ractitioners. )erely (y their art and knowledge the &hysicians gained high social status

regardless of their caste of (irth. The court &hysician was of &olitical im&ortance and sat on

the right side of the throne an im&ortant sym(olic &lace. Though the &hysician &atient the

nurse and the medicine were all im&ortant in curing a disease the &hysician was thought to

(e the most im&ortant.

The codes of conduct for &hysicians and medical students were laid down (y the te*ts. The

&oor and downtrodden were to (e treated free of charge. Others were charged according to

their a(ility to &ay.

The &hysician was e*&ected to (ehave in an e*em&lary manner conforming to the highest

ideals of &rofessional and &ersonal life. Ais dress manner and s&eech were e*&ected to (e

(eyond re&roach. )edical education was arduous consisting of many years of sacrifice

learning the art of healing. Visiting the sick collecting her(s and &re&aration of drugs

memori3ing the Vedic te*ts of $yurveda &erforming &rocedures on dead animals melons

and leather (ottles and (ladders were &art of the training. These e*ercises hel&ed refine (oth

theoretical and &ractical training of the student. @hen finally the student is deemed ready to

&ractice on his own he was certified (y the ruler.


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Recent History

5efore $yurveda (egan its recent renewal in the @est it went through a &eriod of decline in

India when @estern medical education (ecame dominant during the era of 5ritish rule. $yurveda (ecame a second'class o&tion used &rimarily (y traditional s&iritual &ractitioners

and the &oor. $fter India gained its inde&endence in -G0= $yurveda gained ground and new

schools (egan to (e esta(lished. Today more than five hundred $yurvedic com&anies and

hos&itals have o&ened in the last ten years and several hundred schools have (een

esta(lished. $lthough $yurveda remains a secondary system of health care in India the trend

toward com&lementary care is emerging and @estern and $yurvedic &hysicians often work

side (y side.

Interest in $yurveda in the @est (egan in the mid -G=8Hs as $yurvedic teachers from India

(egan visiting the %nited !tates and 6uro&e. 5y sharing their knowledge they have ins&ired a

vast movement toward (ody'mind's&irit medicine. Today $yurvedic colleges are o&ening

throughout 6uro&e $ustralia and the %nited !tates.

OUR COSMC !"#$$$#

TR#U$A

Three &rimordial forces or &rinci&les ,C%4$!/ namely !attva Ra#as Tamas interweaving

to create the five elements ' s&ace air fire water and earth – (irth the entire creation.

The &rinci&le of stillness tamas, re&lenishes the universe and its (eings and is the main

&rinci&le of su&&ort within the &hysical universe. The &rinci&le of self'organi3ing activity rajas,

gives motility and co'ordination to the universe and human life. The 2rinci&al of harmonic and

cosmic intelligence sattva, maintains universal and individual stasis and awareness. These

three cosmic &rinci&les called gunas, o&erating through the five elements they have created

directly interface with human e*istence.On the &hysical &lane tamas works closely with the &hysical functions of the (ody

summari3ed as (odily humors called doshas tissues and wastes. Tamas is said to e*ercise

the greatest influence on the (ody’s water as&ect or Kapha dosha(humour)* human and

gives the (ody its a(ility to cogitate and to endure long &eriods of gestation.

Ra#as influences the &sychic &lane of e*istence and works closely with the &sychological

functions of the (ody. On the &hysical level ra#as is said to e*ercise the most influence on the

(ody’s air as&ect Vata Dosha (humour)*. It gives us our &ower to transform what is (eing

&erceived e*ternally into thoughts conce&ts visions and dreams.


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Referred to as the universe’s cosmic intelligence the third &rinci&le sattva &ermeates each

and every minute cell of our (eing. It functions through our e*istential states of awareness

although it also influences the &hysical organism to some e*tent. @ithin the &hysical (ody

sattva is said to e*ercise the most influence on its fire as&ect itta dosha (humour)*. +losely

linked to the universal su(tle fire te#as the sattva &rinci&le maintains the cosmic memory ofthe entire creation' the collective memory of every human' each individual’s memory

accumulated from the (eginning of time through each re(irth until the &resent time i.e– our

&ersonal wisdom.

Jall the a(ove mentioned doshas will (e e*&lained in detail in the coming cha&ter, tridosh/The

Panchamaha%hutas

$s mentioned earlier the three &rimordial forces , sattva ra#as tamas / interweave to create

the five elements, &anchmaha(hutas/ which (irth the entire creation.

$ccording to $yurveda everything in life is com&osed of the Panchamahabhutas – Akash

,!&ace/ Vayu ,$ir/ Jal ,@ater/ Agni ,Bire/ and Prithvi ,6arth/. Omni&resent they are

mi*ed in an infinite variety of relative &ro&ortions such that each form of matter is distinctly

uni?ue. +onstantly changing and interacting with each other they create a situation of

dynamic flu* that kee&s the world going.

This is a small e*am&le: @ithin a sim&le single living cell for e*am&le the earth element

&redominates (y giving structure to the cell. The water element is &resent in the cyto&lasm or

the li?uid within the cell mem(rane. The fire element regulates the meta(olic &rocessesregulating the cell. @hile the air element &redominates the gases therein. The s&ace

occu&ied (y the cell denoting the last of the elements.

In the case of a com&le* multi'cellular organism as a human (eing for instance akash

,s&ace/ corres&onds to s&aces within the (ody ,mouth nostrils a(domen etc./K vayu ,air/

denotes the movement ,essentially muscular/K agni (fire) controls the functioning of en3ymes

,intelligence digestive system meta(olism/K jal ,water/ is in all (ody fluids ,as &lasma saliva

digestive #uices/K and prithvi ,earth/ manifests itself in the solid structure of the (ody ,(ones

teeth flesh hair et al/.

The Panchmahabhutas therefore serve as the foundation of all diagnosis treatment

modalities in Ayurv!da and has served as a most valua(le theory for &hysicians to detect and

treat illness of the (ody and mind successfully. Bor e*am&le if a &erson has more of the fire

element in the (ody he may suffer from more acid secretion ,gastric digestive/ which if

causing harm in the form of hy&eracidity etc. can (e controlled (y giving him food which

contains more of #ala ,water/ maha(huta in it like sugarcane #uice etc.

Ta(le – -

PanchMaha%hutas

SenseOrgans

Sensory&aculty Pro'erties Actions


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!&ace 6ars AearingJ+reates natural s&acein the (ody

2roduces softness lightnessand &orosity

J 4o distinct taste

$ir !kin Touch JFight clear and dry.

+reates dryness lightness and

wasting

JCoverns (reathingmovement of eyelids #oints and other motorfunctions.

Jslightly (itter taste

Bire 6yes !ight JRough (rightAel&s in digestion im&roveseye sight

J+ontrols tem&eratureand luster of (odycolour.

J2ungent taste

6arth 4ose !mellJAeavy immo(ilecom&act rough.

JIncreases firmness strengthof the (ody

J+ontrols organs asteeth nails flesh skintendons muscles.

J$cts as a nutrient and&urgative

J!weet taste.

@ater Tongue Taste J+old heavy fluid JIm&arts glossiness.

J!limy fat and sweat(y nature

J6nhances fluid content &urgative

J!weet astringent

sour saline taste. J$cts as nutrient &urgative.

(anguage of the )oshas*

The 2hysical &sychic and cosmic language of the (ody is created from the circadian rhythm

of the universe set in motion some (illions of years ago when the five great elements were

(orn. !&ace air fire water and earth the first material for life are the (asis of the Vedic

sciences. In $yurveda human &hysiology and anatomy is rooted in (odily humors ,doshas)

tissues ,dhatus) and wastes ,ma"as). These three &rinci&les su&&ort all of life and are more

than the &hysical su(stance of our anatomy.

oshas are three in num(er called Tridoshas ,tri meaning three and doshas (eing the (asic

&hysical energieshumors/ . They are the &rimary and essential factors of the human (ody

that govern our entire &hysical structure and function. erived from the Panchmahabhutas

(five elements) each dosha – which like the elements cannot (e detected with our senses

(ut their ?ualities can (e. They are the com(ination of any two of the five bhutas ,five

elements) with the &redominance of one. +alled Vata, Pitta and apha in !anskrit these

three are res&onsi(le for all the &hysiological and &sychological &rocesses within the (ody

and mind – dynamic forces that determine growth and decay. 6very &hysical characteristic

mental ca&acity and the emotional tendency of a human (eing can therefore (e e*&lained in

terms of the tridoshas.


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@hen e*isting in the (ody of all living organisms the five elements congregate in a certain

&attern and are known in !anskrit as doshas the literal meaning of which is !that "hich is

#uick to go out of balance$% oshas im&ly that the human system maintains a delicate

(alance its dynamic elemental com&osition always (eing on the verge of disorder.

The doshas are a classic e*am&le of energy and matter in dynamic accord. $ll matter (orn

from energy remains intricately woven within its core nature of energy. In a state of (alance or

e?uili(rium doshas are considered an energy force in that we cannot visi(ly detect them as

they move through and su&&ort (odily function.

Bor e*am&le most of the &hysical &henomena ascri(ed to the nervous system (y modern

&hysiology for e*am&le can (e identified with Vata. Lust as the entire chemical &rocess

o&erating in the human (ody can (e attri(uted to Pitta, including en3ymes hormones and the

com&lete nutritional system. $nd the activities of the skeletal and the ana(olic system

actually the entire &hysical volume of an organism can (e considered as apha.

In a state of im(alance or dise?uili(rium the doshas (ecome visi(le as e*cessive mucus (ileflatus and &hysical matter. @hen these early signs of disorder are ignored im(alances can?uickly (ecome full'(lown diseases.

In this uni?ue system of e*&laining health air and s&aceM(oth ethereal elements – form one

of the three doshas called Vata. Aere air e*ercises its &ower of mo(ility only when s&ace is

availa(le.

The elements fire and water form a second dosha called Pitta. Aere the (odily water &rotects

the heat of the (ody from (urning through. $n e*am&le of (odily fire is the acid in our

stomachs which if leaked from the stomach is ca&a(le of (urning the organism with the

force of a raging fire. @ater is the (uffering force that contains the (ody’s fires.

The elements water and earth com(ine to form the third dosha called apha. 5ecause of

their mutual density water gives earth its fluidity. @ithout water earth would (ecome

stagnated and inert. Thus the ;a&ha dosha ena(les a certain fluidity in the (ody without

de&riving it of its solid su&&ort. Thus the three doshas co'e*ist in all living organisms.

It is im&ortant to reali3e that these three are forces and not su(stances. apha is not mucusK

it is the force that causes mucus to arise. !imilarly pitta is not (ileK (ut that which causes (ile

to (e &roduced. $nd they are called doshas – literally meaning Nfaults’ or Nout of whack’' as

they indicate the fault lines along which the system can (ecome im(alanced.

It is e?ually im&ortant to understand that the three doshas within any &erson kee& changing

constantly due to their doshic ?ualities ,e*&lained in the ne*t cha&ter/ the s&ecific lifestyle

and environment of the &erson time and the season. Remem(er that these three are not

se&arate energies (ut different as&ects of the same energy &resent together in an infinite


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variety of com(ination .The degree to which each dosha e*ists within a &erson determines the

individual’s constitution commonly referred to as (ody ty&e ,&rakriti which will (e mentioned

in the forthcoming &ages/.

6ach dosha thus shares a ?uality with another ,although there remain slight differences in thenature of shared ?uality/. $lso each has an inherent a(ility to regulate and (alance itself

which comes from the o&&osite ?ualities that arise from the doshas constituent ,(asic/

elements.

@hen the doshas are in (alance i.e. in a state of e?uili(rium we remain healthy. $s

&haraka the great ayurvedic sage e*&lained: Vata, pitta and kapha maintain the integrity

of the living human organism in their normal state and com(ine so as to make the man a

com&lete (eing with his indriyas ,sense organs/ &ossessed of strength good com&le*ion

and assured of longevity.

It is only when that there is im(alance within these three doshas that disease is caused. $nd

since it is the strongest dosha in the constitution that usually has the greatest tendency to

increase one is most susce&ti(le to illnesses associated with an increase of the same.

TH" THR"" )OSHAS + TH"R !ASC ,UA(T"S

Ta(le'7

Vata Pitta apha

-Air and S'ace* -&ire and .ater* -.ater and "arth*

Fight Fight Aeavy

+old Aot +old

ry Oily Oily

Rough !har& !low

!u(tle Fi?uid !limy

)o(ile !our ense

+lear 2ungent !oft

is&ersing6rratic

$stringent

6ash dosha also has a &rimary function in the (ody. Vata is the moving force 2itta is the force

of assimilation and ;a&ha is the force of sta(ility.

Vata the most dominant of the doshas governs (odily movement the nervous system and

the life force. @ithout Vata’s mo(ility in the (ody 2itta and ;a&ha would (e rendered lame.

2itta governs en3ymatic and hormonal activities and is res&onsi(le for digestion


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&igmentation (ody tem&erature hunger thirst and sight. Burther 2itta acts as a (alancing

force for Vata and ;a&ha.

;a&ha governs the (ody’s structure and sta(ility. It Im(ricates #oints &rovides moisture to the

skin heals wounds and regulates Vata and 2itta. Vata 2itta and ;a&ha &ervade the entire(ody (ut their &rimary domains are in the lower middle and u&&er (ody res&ectively. ;a&ha

rules the ,%226R/ head neck thora* chest and u&&er &ortion of the stomach fat tissues

and the #oints. 2itta &ervades the ,)IF6/ chest um(ilical area stomach small intestines

sweat and lym&h glands and the (lood. Vata dominates the ,FO@6R/ (ody &elvic region

colon (ladder urinary tract thighs legs arms (ones and nervous system.

$&art form its main siteK each dosha has four secondary sites located in different areas of the

(ody. Thus each dosha then has five sites considered to (e its centres of o&eration which

include the various outreach systems (ecause of which the entire (ody functions. The doshas

interact continuously with the e*ternal elements to re&lenish their energy within the (ody.

6ach of the three doshas’ five sites has a s&ecific res&onsi(ility towards the maintenance of

the organism.

PH/SO0 PS/CHO(O#CA( A$) PATHO(O#CA( $ATUR" O& TH" )OSHAS

&ive Airs of 1ata

The five sites or centres of o&eration and systemic outreach through which Vata casts itsinfluence on the entire organism are called the five airs of Vata namely: &rana udana

samana a&ana and vyana

Air of Res'iration2 Prana

2rana means ‘life’ is the first air of the universe and of the (ody. $lthough located in the (ody

(etween the dia&hragm and throat it not only &ervades the region of the heart and chest (ut

also u& into the face and (rain. 2rana aids in the chewing and swallowing of food and

&rovides immediate nourishment to all vital tissues of the (ody. The system is constantly

(eing re#uvenated through the natural rhythm of the (reath’s inhalation e*halation and timely

retention. The activity of the colon is attuned to the res&iration’s rhythmK the main function of

&rana is e*tracting ‘&rana’ i.e life from the digested food and diffusing it into all of the tissues

in the (ody. @hen the colon is distur(ed and una(le to fulfil its natural a(ility to e*tract and

diffuse &rana this unused &rana (ecomes waste.

2rana facilitates all movement in and out of the (ody. It moves in the region of the heart

causing it to (eat. It carries food through the oeso&hagus into the stomach. 2rana sustains

the heart arteries veins senses and our wisdom faculty ,buddhi). @hen &rana cannot

function &ro&erly our very life force is threatened. Res&iratory ailments such as (ronchitis and

asthma result. Aeart ailments and the im&ulse to vomit are also related to &rana’s im(alance.


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Air of the Throat2 Udana

%dana the second air of Vata which means Drising airE flows u&ward from the um(ilicus

through the lung and into the throat and nose. ;nown as the air of e#ection it &rovides us with

our vocal &owers and clarity of sense &erce&tions. It also &reserves our (ody’s natural forcessuch as its strength of will and ca&acity for effort.

%dana has the su&reme task of kee&ing track of the num(er of (reaths we e*&end.

$n e?ually su&reme task is udana’s ca&acity to &reserve memory (oth e*&eriential

,memories gathered within a &resent lifetime/ and cognitive ,cumulative memories carried into

all lives from the (eginning of creation through all time/. Im&airment of udana can result in

loss of memory im&aired s&eech giddiness or heaviness in the head dee&'seated fears and

a shortened life s&an/.

Air of the Stomach2 Samana

!amana the third air of Vata is located (etween the dia&hragm and navel. It aids the

movement of food through the stomach and small intestines fans the fires of digestion (y

stimulating the &roduction of gastric #uices and digestive en3ymes and hel&s in the

assimilation of nutrients e*tracted from our food. !amana is the moving force that trans&orts

these nutrients to the various tissue elements and discharges wastes into the colon. @hen

the samana air is distur(ed it can cause mucus accumulation in the stomach called ‘ama’

indigestion &oor assimilation and diarrhoea.

Air of the Colon2 A'ana

The fourth air of Vata a&ana is located in the colon and the organs of the &elvic region. $lso

known as the air of elimination a&ana’s &rimary function is to relieve the (ody of feces urine

flatus semen and menstrual waste. Its down ward &ressure maintains &osition of the foetus

and the flow of its eventual (irth. $&ana is the most dominant of the five airs situated as it is

in Vata’s &rimary location. $&ana maintains the delayed nutrition of &rana in the organism.

@hen a&ana is im&aired diseases of the (ladder anus testicles uterus menstrual &ro(lems

and o(stinate urinary diseases including dia(etes &revail.

Air of Circulation2 1yana

Vyana is the fifth and final air of the Vata and is located in the heart. It diffuses the energy

derived from food and (reath throughout the entire organism including the skin. +irculatory in

nature Vyana functions in the (ody’s circulation channels such as the (lood vessels to

trans&ort nutritive #uices and (lood throughout the (ody. Vyana also carries sweat from the

glands to the skin and is the force (ehind (odily e*&ressions such as yawning and (linking.

@hen vyana malfunctions there is dryness of the skin and other (ody e*tremities &oor

circulation and diseases such as fever.

Ta(le '


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)oshas Site $ormal function

2rana Aeart Aead (etween

dia&hragm and throat

5reathing and swallowing of food life

thinking heart rhythm

%dana Brom um(ilicus to lung throat

and nose

!&eech voice colour strength

immunityenergy memoryca&acity for effort

!amana 5etween dia&hragm and navel

,stomach and intestines/

Ael&s action of digestive en3ymes

assimilation of end &roducts of food and

se&aration into their various tissue elements

waste &roducts.

$&ana +olon organs of &elvis 6limination of stool urine flatus semenfetus and menstrual (lood.

Vyana Aeart iffusion of energy from food and (reath in

the whole (ody hel&s in the functioning of

circulating channels as (lood vessels.

&ive &ires of Pitta

2itta formed from the elements of fire and water also is said to reside in five sites. These

sites are the centers of o&eration and systemic outreach through which the 2itta dosha

influences the entire organismK they are: pa#haka, ranjaka, sadhaka a"o#haka and bhrajaka.

&ire of the Stomach2 Pachaka

2achaka is referred to in $yurveda as the first fire of the (ody. It e*ists in the small intestine

duodenum gall (ladder liver and &ancreas and su&&orts the remaining four fires to (e

discussed (elow. 2achaka’s main action is to dissolve and digest the food we eat. It also

regulates (ody tem&erature. Once digestion has taken &lace &achaka se&arates the food’s

nutritive elements from its waste elements. $n im(alance in this first fire &achaka causes

indigestion as well as a revulsion for food.

&ire of the !lood 2 Ran3aka

True to its name ran#aka the second fire of 2itta controls the formation and &reservation of

(lood. Focated in the liver s&leen and stomach ran#aka &rovides the (lood with its colour

and o*ygen. @hen ran#aka is im&aired (ile com&ounds may a&&ear in the (lood and

diseases such as anaemia and #aundice may follow.

&ire of the Heart2 Sadhaka


13/91

The finest of the fires sadhaka the third fire is central to the activity of 2itta. It reigns along

with &rana in the heart. @ith udana it governs memory and the retention and wellness of all

mental functioning. @hen sadhaka is im&aired there may (e &sychic distur(ances mental

disorientation e*treme emotional states and craving for e*treme foods drugs and so on.

&ire of the "yes2 Alochaka

$lochaka the fourth fire of 2itta e*ists in the &u&ils of the eyes. It gives the eyes their lustre

and diffuses light and its s&ectrum of colours throughout the (ody @hen the fourth fire is

vitiated there is im&airment of vision and yellowness may a&&ear in the eyes.

&ire of the Skin 2 !hra3aka

The fifth fire (hra#aka is located in the skin given the skin its lustre and gleam. 5hra#aka

&rotects the (ody from e*treme atmos&heric conditions and facilitates the assimilation of light

wind water and oil through the skin. @hen this fire is distur(ed skin diseases such as

&soriasis ec3ema and leukoderma may result.

Ta(le '1

)oshas Site $ormal function Ailments caused %y its

vitiation

2achaka !tomach small

intestinesgall

(ladderliver&ancreas

igesting and dissolving of

foodregulating (ody

tem&eraturese&aration of

nutritive elements from

wastes

Indigestion $nore*ia

Ran#aka Fiver s&leen and stomach 5lood formation and

&reservation

$nemia Laundice

Ae&atitis

!adhaka Aeart )emory and other mental

functions.

2sychic distur(ances

+ardiac diseasesmental disorientation

and e*treme emotional

states

$lochaka 6yes Vision lusture of eyes Im&airment of vision

yellowness of eyes

5hra#aka !kin +olour and gla3e of the skin Feucoderma Other skin

diseases eg &soriasis

ec3ema


14/91

Pitta )osha m%alance

$ll the a(ove mentioned functions of &itta and its various su(ty&es are e*ecuted when they

are in their (alanced state. ue to various reasons J&itta gets im(alanced and causes the

following results. If &itta dosha is in e*cess it results in:

Ta(le '9

$m(ition Aate

$nger Lealously

6nvy Ludgemental or critical tendencies

Bear of Bailure Fack of discernment

!arcastic s&eech and actions 2ride

!ke&ticism 5urning sensations

6*cessive thirst +raving for cold

Foss of slee& Bever

Brustration

ecreased 2itta results in:

Indigestion Foss of luster in the skin

$(normal loss of (ody heat Irregular (owel movements.

&ive .aters of 4a'ha

;a&ha formed from the elements water and earth also manifests in five doshic sites through

these centres of o&eration and systemic outreach it influences the entire organism. The five

waters of ;a&ha are: k"!daka, ava"ambaka, bodhaka, tarpaka and s"!saka.

.ater of the Stomach2 4ledaka

The first water of ;a&ha kledaka originates in the stomach. It is the cause of mucus

formation in the (ody. )ost im&ortant of the waters kledaka’s moist foamy li?uid aids

digestion li?uefies foods and nourishes the remaining waters of ;a&ha. @hen the first wateris aggravated the digestion &rocess (ecomes im&aired heaviness of the a(domen &revails

and nausea may also occur.

.ater of the Heart 2 Avalam%aka

The second water of ;a&ha avalam(aka resides in the chest and heart. It &rovides a &lasmic

, fluid / tissue covering to the heart thus insulating it from heart acting as a shocka(sor(er.

$valam(aka also &rovides the lim(s with their energy. @hen this water is distur(ed la3iness

and lethargy ensure. Aeart originating diseases such as rheumatic fever and &ains in the

&ericardium,tissue around the heart/ may also occur.


15/91

.ater of the Tongue2 !odhaka

5hodhaka the third water of ;a&ha is the one which #oins the five waters of (ody’s river. It

sends water to the tongue and &alate and gives the &erce&tion of taste. It registers each of

the si* tastes in nature and sends the a&&ro&riate im&ulses to the receiving tissue long (efore

the food is ingested. 5odhaka water also li?uefies the food.@hen this water is distur(ed crimes against the (ody’s natural instincts are committed due

to the im&airment of taste. This creates Ama the foul undigested remnants of food which

stick in the tissues and &romote diseases such as o(esity (ulimia and anore*ia. Cenerally a

thick white coating on the tongue indicates the &resence of ama in the (ody.

.ater of Head2 Tar'aka

Tar&aka ;a&ha’s fourth water flows in the (rain and s&inal cord. It soothes the sense organs

and as a result lu(ricates and &rotects the nervous system. @hen this water is out of

(alance the sense organs (ecome im&aired. Foss of memory and dullness of sensory

&erce&tions are the natural result.

.ater of the 5oints2 Shlessaka

The fifth water of ;a&ha slesaka is located in the #oints. It lu(ricates the #oints and gives

them their solidity. !lesaka’s unctuous gel &rotects the #oints from heat and gives ease and

fle*i(ility of movement. @hen this water is im&aired the #oints may (ecome swollen &ainful

and dysfunctional.

Ta(le =

oshas !ite 4ormal function $ilments caused (y its

vitiation

;ledaka !tomach )oistens food which hel&s

in digestion formation of

mucus in (ody.

Im&airment of digestion

heaviness in a(domen

nausea

$valam(aka +hest Aeart 6nergy in lim(s controls

tem&erature of the heart

Fa3iness Rheumatic heart

disease

5odhaka Tongue

&alate

2erce&tion of taste. Im&airment of

digestion(ulimiaanore*ia

o(esity

Tar&aka 5rains&inal

cord

4ourishment of the sense

organs lu(rication and

&rotection of nervoussystem.

Foss of memory

Im&airment of function of

sense organs


16/91

!hlesshaka Loints Fu(rication of

#oints&rotection of #oints

from heat

2ain in #oints Im&airment

of function of #oints.

4a'ha )osha m%alance

$ll the a(ove mentioned functions of ka&ha and its various su(ty&es are e*ecuted

when they are in their (alanced state. ue to various reasons Jka&ha gets im(alanced and

causes the following results. If ka&ha dosha is in e*cess it results in:

Ta(le >

5oredom Fack of interest+arelessness !ecretions from the mouth

Fack of com&assion Fethargy

Creed 6*cessive slee&

Beeling lack of su&&ort or love Im&ro&er digestive function

O(sessive (ehavior O(esity

%nkindness 4ausea

And decrease apha gives 6ay to2

Thirst +ram&s

Ciddiness

5ody aches

ryness of mouth

J The various reasons for the aggravation of vata &itta ka&ha are mentioned (elow in the,do’s don’t’s chart / factors increasing vata &itta ka&ha food charts.

Agni

5eing the (iological fire that governs meta(olism agni encom&asses all the

changes in the (ody and mind from the dense to the more su(tle. !uch changes

include the digestion and a(sor&tion of food cellular transformations

assimilation of sensory &erce&tions and mental and emotional e*&eriences. Agni

therefore covers all the se?uences of chemical interactions and changes in the (ody and

mind. igestive a(ilities are directly &ro&ortional to the strength of agni .


17/91

Agni and pitta are closely connected. @hile (oth are hot and light agni is su(tle and dry

while &itta is gross li?uid .The heat energy to hel& digestion contained (y pitta is agni .

Pitta is therefore the container and agni the content. Agni is acidic in nature and stimulates

digestion. It is su(tly related to the movement of vata. In every tissue and cell agni is &resent

and is necessary for maintaining the nutrition and auto'immune mechanism which is&erformed (y destroying micro'organisms foreign (acteria and to*ins in the stomach and the

intestines.

$ (alanced agni therefore is vital for health. The strength of the (ody to resist disease and

also its &hysical strength are directly related to its heat energy determining the meta(olic

&rocesses of the (ody. istur(ances to Agni are usually the chief causes of disease leading

to ama in the (ody.

$s &er Ayurveda there are thirteen ty&es of $gni, -7 dhatwaPtissueQagnis given (elow -

#atharagni/ in the (ody and mind according to the conversion and the transformation made.

The most im&ortant of them is the Jatharagni the gastric fire res&onsi(le for digesting the

food eaten ,can (e correlated to hydrochloric acid in the stomach and the digestive en3ymes

and #uices secreted into the stomach duodenum and the small intestines/. If digestive agni is

low and the its ca&acity is im&aired one may e*&erience &ain discomfort7 feeling of

heaviness or gases gurgling7 consti'ation or loose stools8

JIn such conditions one should &ractice the sansar3ana kram given in the ‘diet’ &art of the

course (elow &reventing the accumulation &roduction of ama, !$p"ain!d in th! s!!d o%

dis!as!, b!"o& / thus diseases.

)hatus2 !odily Tissues

PH/SO(O#CA( A$ATOM/

$yurveda has identified seven constituent tissues where(y the (ody (oth lives and dies.

These tissues are called dhatus. Fike doshas dhatus are formed from the five elements –

s&ace air fire water and earth. The 'apta ,seven/ hatu ,tissues/ elements form the &illars

of the (ody that form the means of nourishment and growth while &roviding su&&ort to the

(ody as well as the mind.

@ith the hel& of the digestive fire the dhatus form the (ody’s &rotective (iological system. In

other words they nourish and defend the internal immune system. If one dhatu is defective

each successive dhatu is affected there(y triggering a chain reaction of im&airment

throughout the entire tissue system.

The concentric formation of dhatus occurs through the ingestion of food su(stances. Infinitely

well e*&ressed (y +haraka the use of naturally healthy foods is essential to the ?uality of


18/91

nutrients res&onsi(le for sustaining the dhatus: DThe availa(ility and consum&tion of a

wholesome diet are essential to &romote the healthy growth of a &ersonK likewise indulgence

in unwholesome foods &romotes diseases.E 6?ually relevant is the recognition that mental

unrest or a negative outlook contaminates even the most wholesome foods once these have

(een ingested.

Through an enormously so&histicated &rocess of chemical reactions ,main digestive fire

called 3atharagni/J s&urred (y (oth the energy in the food and the energy vi(rations of (odily

tissues and mental thoughts the nutrient called ahara rasa is &roduced.

The main digestive fire lies in the um(ilicus region called #atharagni,macrosco&ic' can (e

seen as hydrochloric acid&ancreatic #uice etc /. 6very dhatu has its own digestive fire called

dhat&a'agni ,microsc&ic'on the tissue and cellular level cannot (e seen/ which is a su(tle

&art of the #atharagni and is totally de&endent on the #atharagni. !o if the #atharagni of a

&erson is strong and well working all the dhatwagnis will (e working &ro&erly and the all the

tissue formation ,each cell/ will (e of su&erior ?uality and vice the versa.

The nutrient once a(sor(ed into the digestive tract is synthesi3ed (y the rasa' dhatu

digestive fire i.e rasadhat&a'agni to form the first of seven tissues rasa dhatu. This tissue a

milky sticky cold chyle resem(ling the ?uanlities of ;a&ha is the (ody’s &lasma tissue and

derives its e*istence from the water element. The &ro&er conversion of the &rimary nutrient

ahara rasa into &lasma is de&endent u&on the ?uality of the foods the state of mind health

of (odily &rana ,&rana vayu/ the main digestive fire i.e L$TA$R$C4I and the tissues

digestive fire ,rasadhatwa'agni/. In wholesome conditions these factors contri(ute to the&roduction of &lentiful rasa. In unhealthy conditions they contri(ute more to the &roduction of

wastes in the form of mucus i.e ‘ama’ rather than to the &roduction of healthy &lasma.

6ach of the si* su(se?uent dhatus is fed (y the &revious dhatu. Once rasa tissue is formed

The nutrients are refined through a &rocess (y raktadhat&a'agni and trans&orted to form

(lood tissue rakta dhatu. $gain if the nutrients ?uality is defective the &roduction of (odily

waste in form of (ile is &roduced at e*&ense of healthy (lood tissue. The main universal

element com&rising (lood is fire. Rakta ,(lood/ hatu – Regarded as the (asic of life it notonly nourishes the (ody tissues (ut &rovides &hysical strength and colour to the (ody.

4ot sur&risingly then once the hemoglo(in of the (lood is nourished the nutrients are further

refined (y mamsadhat&a'agni , to &rovide the fuel necessary to &roduce muscle tissue

mamsa dhatu. asma hatu – The muscle tissues main function is to &rovide &hysical

strength and su&&ort for the meda dhatu . )uscle tissue’s dominant element is earth the

most matter'like element of the five elements from which the dhatus derive their form. The

(ody’s muscle tissue shares earth’s nature of matter. 4e*t in the dhatu nourishment is the fat

tissue from medadhatwa'agni called m!das dhatu which is &ervaded (y water element. It’smain function is lu(ricating the entire (ody system.


19/91

The (one and cartilage tissue ,asthi dhatu) from the asthidhatwa'agni which is &ervaded (y

the elements air and s&ace is ne*t in the dhatu nourishment lineage. Ashti hatu –

+om&rising of (one tissues including cartilages its main function is to give su&&ort to the

majja dhatu and &rovide su&&ort to the masma dhatu .

The continuously refined nutrients are then trans&orted and converted (y majjadhat&a'agni

to the tissue com&rising the (ody’s red and white (one marrow majja dhatu. ajja hatu –

enoting the yellow and red (one marrow tissue its main function is to fill u& the ashti and

give fullness to the (ody.

Binally the refined nutrient remaining after all these dhatus have (een fed re&lenishes the

s&erm and ovum tissues shukra and artava res&ectively (y their shukradhat&a'agni . This last

dhatu once formed is fed (y the su(tle essences of the nutrients refined through the

synthesis of all the &revious dhatus. It is the su(tle &ervasive essence remaining in the (ody

(efore it (ecomes the material for &rocreation. If this dhatu is contaminated or not &ro&erly

formed due to &ollution of the nutrients the new life formed from the union of s&erm and

ovum is usually adversely affected in some way or other.

!ince the dhatus su&&ort and derive energy from each other affecting one can influence

others. Bor instance interference in the manufacture of the &lasma affects the ?uality of the

(lood which in turn affects the muscle. $s mentioned earlier each tissue ty&e has its own

agni ,digestive fire' dhatwa'agni/ which determines meta(olic changes in the tissues and

forms (y'&roductsJ which are either used in the (ody or e*creted. )enstural &eriods for

e*am&le are a (y'&roduct of rasa. The tissues are also governed (y the three doshas, and

any im(alance in them also causes im(alances in dhatus.

J see the chart (elow ,ta(le no G/

O3a2 The #lo6 of Health

O#a is the cumulative essence remaining after the cycle of dhatu nutrition is com&lete. Our

&hysical mental and s&iritual strength is totally de&endent on o#a. Our &ersonal aura the

strength and glow we are meant to e*ude is &roduced from an a(undance of o#a. This is our

(est safeguard against mental and &hysical disease. $s o#a thrives so does the (ody’s

natural immunity. )ental clarity and cognitive memories flourish. If on the other hand the

(ody has insufficient rasa the tissues (ecome dry and contaminated resulting in the

de&letion of o#a. ecreased o#a also fosters an increase in the ama or wastes &roduced (y

the (ody thus ham&ering the &hysical and mental ca&acity of an individual.

)hatus2 !odily Tissues

PH/SO(O#CA( A$ATOM/


20/91

$yurveda has identified seven constituent tissues where(y the (ody (oth lives and dies.

These tissues are called dhatus. Fike doshas dhatus are formed from the five elements –

s&ace air fire water and earth. The 'apta ,seven/ hatu ,tissues/ elements form the &illars

of the (ody that form the means of nourishment and growth while &roviding su&&ort to the

(ody as well as the mind.

@ith the hel& of the digestive fire the dhatus form the (ody’s &rotective (iological system. In

other words they nourish and defend the internal immune system. If one dhatu is defective

each successive dhatu is affected there(y triggering a chain reaction of im&airment

throughout the entire tissue system.

The concentric formation of dhatus occurs through the ingestion of food su(stances. Infinitely

well e*&ressed (y +haraka the use of naturally healthy foods is essential to the ?uality of

nutrients res&onsi(le for sustaining the dhatus: DThe availa(ility and consum&tion of a

wholesome diet are essential to &romote the healthy growth of a &ersonK likewise indulgence

in unwholesome foods &romotes diseases.E 6?ually relevant is the recognition that mental

unrest or a negative outlook contaminates even the most wholesome foods once these have

(een ingested.

Through an enormously so&histicated &rocess of chemical reactions ,main digestive fire

called 3atharagni/J s&urred (y (oth the energy in the food and the energy vi(rations of (odily

tissues and mental thoughts the nutrient called ahara rasa is &roduced.

The main digestive fire lies in the um(ilicus region called #atharagni,macrosco&ic' can (e

seen as hydrochloric acid&ancreatic #uice etc /. 6very dhatu has its own digestive fire called

dhat&a'agni ,microsc&ic'on the tissue and cellular level cannot (e seen/ which is a su(tle

&art of the #atharagni and is totally de&endent on the #atharagni. !o if the #atharagni of a

&erson is strong and well working all the dhatwagnis will (e working &ro&erly and the all the

tissue formation ,each cell/ will (e of su&erior ?uality and vice the versa.

The nutrient once a(sor(ed into the digestive tract is synthesi3ed (y the rasa' dhatu

digestive fire i.e rasadhat&a'agni to form the first of seven tissues rasa dhatu. This tissue a

milky sticky cold chyle resem(ling the ?uanlities of ;a&ha is the (ody’s &lasma tissue and

derives its e*istence from the water element. The &ro&er conversion of the &rimary nutrientahara rasa into &lasma is de&endent u&on the ?uality of the foods the state of mind health

of (odily &rana ,&rana vayu/ the main digestive fire i.e L$TA$R$C4I and the tissues

digestive fire ,rasadhatwa'agni/. In wholesome conditions these factors contri(ute to the

&roduction of &lentiful rasa. In unhealthy conditions they contri(ute more to the &roduction of

wastes in the form of mucus i.e ‘ama’ rather than to the &roduction of healthy &lasma.

6ach of the si* su(se?uent dhatus is fed (y the &revious dhatu. Once rasa tissue is formed

The nutrients are refined through a &rocess (y raktadhat&a'agni and trans&orted to form(lood tissue rakta dhatu. $gain if the nutrients ?uality is defective the &roduction of (odily


21/91

waste in form of (ile is &roduced at e*&ense of healthy (lood tissue. The main universal

element com&rising (lood is fire. Rakta ,(lood/ hatu – Regarded as the (asic of life it not

only nourishes the (ody tissues (ut &rovides &hysical strength and colour to the (ody.

4ot sur&risingly then once the hemoglo(in of the (lood is nourished the nutrients are furtherrefined (y mamsadhat&a'agni , to &rovide the fuel necessary to &roduce muscle tissue

mamsa dhatu. asma hatu – The muscle tissues main function is to &rovide &hysical

strength and su&&ort for the meda dhatu . )uscle tissue’s dominant element is earth the

most matter'like element of the five elements from which the dhatus derive their form. The

(ody’s muscle tissue shares earth’s nature of matter. 4e*t in the dhatu nourishment is the fat

tissue from medadhatwa'agni called m!das dhatu which is &ervaded (y water element. It’s

main function is lu(ricating the entire (ody system.

The (one and cartilage tissue ,asthi dhatu) from the asthidhatwa'agni which is &ervaded (y

the elements air and s&ace is ne*t in the dhatu nourishment lineage. Ashti hatu –

+om&rising of (one tissues including cartilages its main function is to give su&&ort to the

majja dhatu and &rovide su&&ort to the masma dhatu .

The continuously refined nutrients are then trans&orted and converted (y majjadhat&a'agni

to the tissue com&rising the (ody’s red and white (one marrow majja dhatu. ajja hatu –

enoting the yellow and red (one marrow tissue its main function is to fill u& the ashti and

give fullness to the (ody.

Binally the refined nutrient remaining after all these dhatus have (een fed re&lenishes the

s&erm and ovum tissues shukra and artava res&ectively (y their shukradhat&a'agni . This last

dhatu once formed is fed (y the su(tle essences of the nutrients refined through the

synthesis of all the &revious dhatus. It is the su(tle &ervasive essence remaining in the (ody

(efore it (ecomes the material for &rocreation. If this dhatu is contaminated or not &ro&erly

formed due to &ollution of the nutrients the new life formed from the union of s&erm and

ovum is usually adversely affected in some way or other.

!ince the dhatus su&&ort and derive energy from each other affecting one can influence

others. Bor instance interference in the manufacture of the &lasma affects the ?uality of the

(lood which in turn affects the muscle. $s mentioned earlier each tissue ty&e has its own

agni ,digestive fire' dhatwa'agni/ which determines meta(olic changes in the tissues and

forms (y'&roductsJ which are either used in the (ody or e*creted. )enstural &eriods for

e*am&le are a (y'&roduct of rasa. The tissues are also governed (y the three doshas, and

any im(alance in them also causes im(alances in dhatus.

J see the chart (elow ,ta(le no G/

O3a2 The #lo6 of Health


22/91

O#a is the cumulative essence remaining after the cycle of dhatu nutrition is com&lete. Our

&hysical mental and s&iritual strength is totally de&endent on o#a. Our &ersonal aura the

strength and glow we are meant to e*ude is &roduced from an a(undance of o#a. This is our

(est safeguard against mental and &hysical disease. $s o#a thrives so does the (ody’s

natural immunity. )ental clarity and cognitive memories flourish. If on the other hand the(ody has insufficient rasa the tissues (ecome dry and contaminated resulting in the

de&letion of o#a. ecreased o#a also fosters an increase in the ama or wastes &roduced (y

the (ody thus ham&ering the &hysical and mental ca&acity of an individual.

The )hatus7 U'adhatus7 and Malas

$t the end of the dhatu feeding chain a secondary grou& of tissues is created called the upadhatu. These

tissues do not &rovoke a chain reaction with su(se?uent u&adhatus as is seen in the dhatus. $lso each

&rimary dhatu after having (een fed &roduces its own (odily waste called malas. The &rimary dhatus along

with their u&adhatus malas and &hysical and emotional functions are &resented in the following chart.

Ta(le G

TA6 2RI)$R" A$T%! TA6IR %2$A$T%! )$F$!.

2A"!I+$F $4 6)OTIO4$F B%4+TIO4!

)HATU UPA)HATU MA(A PH/SCA( "MOTO$A(

&U$CTO$ &U$CTO$

Ingested Beces 2roduction of Loy

Boods urine 4utrient

!u(stance

Rasa ,&lasmatissue/

5reast milk )ucus 4ourishment 6*hilaration

menstrualsecretion

Rasa ,(lood tissue/ 5lood vesselstendons

5ile !timulation Invigoration

)amsa ,muscle

tissue/

)uscles skin 6ar wa* naval

lint

5uffering the 4urturing

(ody

)edas ,fat tissue/ OmentumJ !weat Fu(rication Fove

$sthi ,(one andcartilage tissue/

Teeth 5ody hair(eard nails

!u&&orting the(ody

+ourage

)a##a ,(one marrowtissue/

Aead hair Tears filling of the Bullness

(ones

!hukra $rtava,re&roductivetissue/

'''' '''' 2rocreation Fife

J $ fold of &eritoneum from another organ that su&&orts an organ8


23/91

MA(AS2 !O)(/ .AST"

alas are the various waste &roducts of the dhatus &roduced during the normal meta(olic

&rocess. The three &rimary malas (eing Purisa ,faeces/ utra ,urine/ and '"eda ,sweat/.

Ayurveda clearly states that only a (alanced condition of doshas, dhatus and malas is

arogya ,good health or disease free condition/ and their im(alance is the cause of ill health or

disease.

Purisa is the waste left (ack after nutrients of digested food have (een a(sor(ed in the small

intestine. The consistency of the faeces de&ending on the main digestive fire i.e #atharagni

and a&ana vayu, refer to the 1th ty&e of vata/.This system is known as Purishvahastrotas.

The tridoshas must (e in (alance to ensure normal evacuation. Pitta and kapha hel&

digestion and vata governs the mo(ility throughout the &rocess. $ny im(alance (etween

these can lead to various sym&toms of a(dominal heaviness or &ain flatulence consti&ation

or diarrhea. It may also give rise to diseases as rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis low'(ack

&ain asthma (ronchitis as well as stomach ulcers and irrita(le (owels.

utra is derived during the course of digestion within the human (ody. The first stage of urine

formation (egins in the large intestine where fluids are a(sor(ed into the system. The entire

urinary system i.e ootravaha strotas'kidneys uterus (ladder and urethra take &art in the

formation and elimination of urine regulating the fluid (alance in our (ody and also

maintaining (lood &ressure. $ny im(alance of increased or decreased urine may result in

disorders as kidney stones urinary infections cystitis a(dominal &ain and (ladder disorders.

'"eda ,sweat/ is the third &rimary mala and it occurs as a waste &roduct during the

synthesis of meda dhatu ,fatty tissue/. 6liminated through skin &ores it controls (ody

tem&erature. The channels res&onsi(le for (ringing the sweat to skin surface are known as

s"eda vaha srotas. It is essential that normal formation and flow of sweat takes &lace as

otherwise it may lead to skin infections itching(urning sensation over the (ody loss of fluid

(alance and reduced (ody tem&erature.

The three &rinci&al malas are urine feaces and sweat. These waste &roducts like the

doshas and dhatus are com&osed of the five elements. !econdary malas include the

intestines fatty e*cretions earwa* hair ,(ody head and (eard/ nails tears and menstrual

discharge.

The normal flow of the malas is o(structed whenever the oshas are increased or decreased

(eyond their natural state. 2ancha karma the five'fold $yurvedic cleansing thera&y is

designed to assist the (ody in the elimination of The Malas8


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a"an#!d oshas (humors), h!a"thy Agni (digestive fire), a good stat! o% tissu!s( dhatus )and th!ir prop!r m!tabo"i# !nd' produ#ts( mala ) "!ad to a ba"an#!d stat! o% th! s!ns!s, mindand spirit, a"" o% &hi#h "!ad to sound h!a"th.

AMA2 TH" S"") O& )S"AS"

@hen the (ody’s digestive fire is not ade?uate foods remain undigested and una(sor(ed inthe intestinal tract and ama is the result. Boul'odour and sticky ama clogs the intestines and

other channels of the (ody including its (lood vessels. $ma &revents the colon in its attem&t

to carry out its &rimary functions like e*tracting the vital force or &rana from the digested

foods. $ma undergoes a multitude of chemical changes gradually creating to*ins which are

released into the (loodstream. $s mentioned earlier if the main digestive fire vitiates so do

the seven other fires ,dhatwagni/ on the cellular ,tissue/ level thus creating ama in the

tissues. 6*cess dosha and to*ins ,from ama/ form a sinister team as they travel through

different channels ,as mentioned in the ne*t to&ic/ with great ra&idity to a weakened ,disease

&ronevulnera(le/ &art of the (ody. Through its to*icity ama elicits a negative immune

reaction in the (ody’s tissues until finally disease manifests in these organs.

$ll internal diseases (egin with ama’s &resence in the (ody and all e*ternally created

diseases eventually &roduce ama. In addition to o(structing the (ody’s channels ama causes

a deterioration in our strength and energy levels. It reduces rasa inducing lethargy and

fatigue. 6?ually cri&&ling to the system is mental ama gathered through mis&erce&tion and

distur(ed emotions. Creed selfishness &ossessiveness stu((ornness anger and e*cessive

desires (ecome mental &ollutants are also ama.

$n early sign of ama in the (ody is a sticky coating on the tongue. In ;a&ha ty&esJ the

coating is usually thick sweetish and whitish in colour. 2itta ty&esJ tend to have a slimy

sourish yellowish coating and Vata ty&esJ have a dryish (itter grayish coating. @hen these

early sym&toms occur fasting may readily alleviate ama andor the &ancha karma thera&ies

administered according to the (ody ty&e and in the a&&ro&riate season.

J escri(ed in the cha&ter on (ody ty&es ,&rakruti/

Role of Taste

It is as im&ortant to reali3e that every foodHs uni?ue com(ination of attri(utes will influence its

taste and the action it causes in the (ody. @ith every taste having a different action – asdetailed (elow. Astanga Hrdayam clearly descri(es the characteristics of each of the si*

tastes and &ro(lems that might (e e*&erienced from its ha(itual over'consum&tion. )ost

foods (eing a com(ination of two or more of these tastes e.g. coffee is (itter and &ungent.

Sour

+om&rised of the elements earth fire it increases pitta and kapha and is good for heart

and digestion. !timulates agni , moves inactive Vata energy down the &elvic cavity sets the

teeth on edge and increases salivation. 6*cess use may cause looseness and fla((iness


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loss of strength giddiness itching irritation a whitish yellow &allor swelling thirsts and fever

and diseases arising from e*cess pitta and kapha.

S6eet

Related to earth water it increases pitta and vata &roducing greater strength in the tissues

and value to the aged wounded emaciated and children. %niversally liked it often adheres to

the inside of the mouth giving a feeling of &leasure contentment and comfort. Cood for the

com&le*ion hair senses and o#a it also increases (reast milk and hel&s unite (roke &arts like

(ones. 5y its virtue it &rolongs life and hel&s life activities. In e*cess however it may cause

diseases arising from fat and e*cess kapha e.g. o(esity skin infections unconsciousness

dia(etes enlargement of neck glands or malignant tumors etc.

Salt

The water fire in salty taste increases pitta and kapha. It clears o(struction of channels and

&ores and increases the digestive activity and salivation. $lso res&onsi(le for lu(rication and

sweating it &enetrates the tissues. $n e*cess of it may cause (aldness and graying of the

hair wrinkles thirst skin diseases (lood disorders and loss of (ody strength.

Pungent

Bire air in &ungent increases vata and pitta and mitigates kapha. Increases hunger is

digestive causes irritation (rings secretion from the eyes nose mouth and gives a (urning

sensation to the mouth. It dilates the channels and (reaks u& the hard masses. 5ut an e*cess

use of it may cause thirst de&letion of re&roductive tissue and strength fainting contracture

tremors &ain in the waist and (ack and other disorders related to e*cess of pitta and kapha.

!itter

$ir s&ace (eing its elements it increases pitta and kapha. rying u& moisture from fat

muscles faces and urine. It cleans the mouth and destroys the &erce&tion of taste. It is said

to cure anore*ia worms (acteria &arasites thirst skin diseases loss of consciousness

fever nausea (urning sensation. 5ut in e*cess it increases vata causing diseases of vata

origin and de&letion of tissues.

Astringent

$ir earth increases vata and controls increased pitta and kapha. It cleans the (lood and

causes healing of ulcers. Fike (itter it too dries u& moisture from fat. It a(sor(s water causing

consti&ation and hindering digestion of undigested food. Its e*cess use causes stasis of food


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without digestion flatulence &ain in the cardiac region emaciation loss of virility o(struction

of channels and consti&ation.

!A(A$C$# S"ASO$A( TAST"S A$) !O)/ T/P" TAST"S

The a&&arent contradictions (etween the tastes and ?ualities (eneficial to each (ody ty&eand the tastes and ?ualities suggested (y the cyclical nature of the seasons are to (e

understood in the following way: The tastes which are generally good for each (ody ty&e may

(ecome heightened or &revalent in the (ody and e*ternal environment due to seasonal

influences. Bor e*am&le of the si* tastes the &ungent flavour naturally &redominates during

the summerK although considered a generally good all'year taste for ;a&ha ty&es it needs to

(e used in the summer season with discretion. This is (ecause in summer the &ungent taste

&revails out of the si* tastes.,$ccording to the seasonal accumulation of the doshas in

summers there is decrease of ka&ha and the &ungent taste also causes decrease in ka&ha

and increase of vata which may lead to vataka&ha disorders/

!imilarly the salty taste which &redominates during autumn although considered a generally

e*cellent all'year taste for Vata ty&es needs to (e reduced during the autumn season even

(y Vata ty&es,$ccording to the seasonal accumulation of the doshas in autumn there is

alleviation of &itta the salty taste also causes alleviation of &itta which may lead to &itta

disorders/.

In the early winter the sweet taste &redominates and although generally an e*cellent all'year

taste for 2itta ty&es needs to (e reduced during the early winter even (y 2itta ty&es.

,$ccording to the seasonal accumulation of the doshas in winter there is increase in ka&ha

and sweet taste also causes increase of ka&ha which may lead to ka&ha disorders/

Ta(le -9

TAST"S O& TH" S"ASO$S

$ortherly Phase -.inter Solstice to Summer Solstice*

Season )ry Tastes "lement Com'osition )osha

Fate @inter 5itter $ir and s&ace Vata

!&ring $stringent $ir and earth Vata ;a&ha

!ummer 2ungent $ir and fire Vata 2itta

4ote: the dry tastes are created (y the &rogressive northward movement of the sun

Southerly Phase -Summer Solstice to .inter Solstice*

Season )ry Tastes "lement Com'osition )osha

Rainy !eason ,early fall/ !our 6arth and fire 2itta and ;a&ha

$utumn !alty @ater and fire 2itta

6arly @inter !weet @ater and earth ;a&ha

4ote: the moist tastes are created (y the &rogressive southward movement of the sun

!eneficial Tastes According to )oshas

Vata : sweet sour salty

2itta : !weet (itter astringent;a&ha: &ungent (itter astringent


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Ta(le -=

S"ASO$A( TAST" A)5USTM"$TS

V$T$ 2ITT$ ;$2A$

F$T6 @I4T6R )a#or: sour saltyunctuous

)a#or: sweetsourJ saltyJ warm

unctuous

)a#or: sourJastringent &ungent

warm moderate

unctuous)inor: sweet )inor: (itter

astringent cool

light

)inor: (itter salty

dry

!2RI4C )a#or: sweet salty

warm moderate

unctuous alkaline

)a#or: sweet (itter

&ungentJ warm

)a#or: &ungent

moderate astringent

alkaline ward dry

)inor: sour &ungent )inor: astringent

cool alkaline

)inor: (itter salty

!%))6R )a#or: sweet sour

warm moderate

unctuous

)a#or: sweet (itter

cool moderate

unctuous

)a#or: (itter

astringent moderate

sweet warm dry

)inor: (itter salty

cool light

)inor: astringent

light

)inor: &ungent cool

R$I4" !6$!O4

,early fall/

)a#or: sweet

moderate (itterJ salty

moderate unctuous

warm

)a#or: (itter

astringent

moderate salty

moderate sweet

warm moderate

unctuous

)a#or: (itter

astringent &ungent

warm light

Tem&erate +limates )inor: sour )inor: &ungent

cool

)inor: salty sour dry

)a#or: sweet (itter

saltyJ warm

moderate unctuous

Tro&ical and

!emitro&ical

)a#or: sweet salty

moderate unctuous

warm

)inor: astringent

&ungent

)a#or: moderate

saltyJ &ungent (itter

warm moderate

unctuous.

+limates )inor: (itter &ungent )inor: astringent dry


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$%T%)4 )a#or: sweet sour

warm light

)a#or: sweet (itter

astringent cool

light)inor: salty

astringent

)inor: &ungent

)a#or: (itter

astringent moderate

sweet warm light

6$RF" @I4T6R )a#or: salty (itterJ

moderate sour warm

unctuous

)a#or: (itter

astringent

moderate &ungentJ

warm moderate

unctuous

)a#or: &ungent

astringent (itter

warm moderate

unctuous

)inor: &ungent sweet )inor: sweet )inor : salty

91ata ty'es: If strong tendency to Vata disorders use (itter as minor tastes and increase

the use of sweet and salty tastes during the seasons indicated.

9Pitta ty'es: If strong tendency to 2itta disorders use sour &ungent and salty as minor

tastes and increase the use of (itter astringent and sweet tastes during the seasons

indicated.

94a'ha ty'es : If strong tendency to ;a&ha disorders use sweetsour and salty as minor

tastes and increase the use of &ungent (itter and astringent tastes during the seasons

indicated.

vata &itta ka&ha disorders can (e seen in the charts mentioning increase in the

respective doshas in )OSHC M!A(A$C"S S

Ta(le ->

S"ASO$A( )O:S A$) )O$:TS

+limates O O4’T

Fate @inter !our salty moderate sweet

unctuous su(stantial ?uantity of

food

6*cess sweet &ungent (itter dry

cold raw foods

!2RI4C 2ungent astringent moderate

sweet moderate salty warm

moderate ?uantity of food

!our e*cess sweet (itter too

many fluids cold

!ummer !weet (itter astringent cool

moderate unctuous

sufficient fluid

!alty sour &ungent hot

insufficiency of fluids

Rainy !eason ,early

fall/ Tem&erate

!weet moderate sour moderate

salty warmfood

2ungent (itter astringent light

cold food. e*cess unctuous

Tro&lcal and

!emitro&ical +limates

!our salty unctuous moderate

sweet moderate unctuous warm

2ungent (itter astringent e*cess

sweet cold dry


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$utumn !weet (itter astringent cool light

non'oily

!our salty &ungent hot oily

e*cess food heavy foods

6arly @inter !alty (itter astringent moderate

sour warm moderate unctuous

)oderate ?uantity

!weet e*cess sour e*cess cold

dry e*cess food raw foods

The D!easonal on’tsE may (e used occasionally as a minor taste. !ee &revious chart.

m'ortant Rules And Regulations Related to )"T 2

CO$C"PT O& )"T $ A/UR1")A 2

;* )efination 2

iet is that – what we eat.

It includes everything we eat or drink.

iet is the cause of the very e*istence 6nergy +olour ‘O#a’ ,immunity%ltimate &urified

form of all the !harir hatus i.e 5ody tissues/ of every living (eing on this earth.


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=/ !hould (e taken in &ro&er ?uantity.

>/ It should not (e incom&ati(le .,mentioned in uneasy com(inations (elow/

The food ,iet/ with all a(ove &ro&erties is said to (e ldeal diet.

The iet which is of all the &ro&erties e*&lained a(ove can only do the functions &rescri(ed to

it.

>* &U$CTO$S O& )"T -food*

-/ Instantly satisfying.

7/ Cives strengthenergy.


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7/ +om(ination of 7 or more food material changes the ?ualities &ro&erties of

food material.


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MPORTA$C" O& &OO) TA4"$ $ PROP"R ,UA$TT/

Taken in $&&ro&riate ?uantity food certainly hel&s the individual in (ringing a(out strength

com&le*ion ha&&iness longevity without distur(ing the e?uili(rium of dhatus doshas of the

(ody.ndicated &ood 20

One should regularly , can take everyday/ take !hastika ,a kind of rice harvested in si*ty

days/ !ali ,ory3a sativum/ yellow gram food cooked in Rock !alt $malaka ,em(lica

officinalis/ Rain @ater Chee )eat of animals dwelling in arid climate Aoney.

Contradicted &ood 2

One should not regularly take heavy articles such as dried meat dry vegeta(les lotus

rhi3omes lotus stalk. One should never take meat of a diseased animal. )oreover one

should not regularly take (oiled (uttermilk ins&issiated milk with &ork (eef meat of (uffalo

with fish curd (arley.

OR)"R $ .HCH O$" SHOU() TA4" TH" )"T

Birst one should eat food of sweet taste for the &ur&ose of Vata 2itta &acification. !weet taste

is hel&ful for &acification of vata dosha &resent in the digestive tract or intestines.

Then one should take sour salty su(stances for they do the function of increasing the

digestive #uices. Fastly one should take food of (itter and &ungent taste for the &ur&ose of

&acification of ‘;a&ha’ .

One should take fruits like &omegranate first in the diet. Then one should take li?uid material

then lastly semisolid solid food."#HT &ACTORS )"T"RM$$# TH" UT(T/ &OO)8

The 6ight factors which determine the utility or otherwise of various ty&es of food are.

-/ nature of food articles

7/ method of their &rocessing

/ @holesomeness to individual who takes it.


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m'ortant Rules And Regulations Related to )iet

-/ 6at to live (ut don’t live to eat.

7/ 6at food which is (eneficial.


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$s the final goal of yoga &ractitioner is elevation and u&lifting of mental faculties to attain

eternal (liss or moksha heshe should do everything to go on increasing his satvaguna

through &ro&er diet and good (ehaviour. "oga (ecomes the destroyer of all woes and sorrows

and can (e accom&lished only (y him who is regulated and moderate in diet and recreation

regulated in s&eech and actions and regulated in thinking and slee&ing too.

The Taste Process

The first su(#ective e*&erience of a su(stance on the tongue is taste ,rasa/. $ short time later

one feels heating or cooling energy ,virya/. Binally the su(stances have an action on urine

fasces and sweat ,vi'ak/. Bor instance for hot chilli &e&&ers one immediately e*&eriences

its &ungent taste ,rasa/ and heating energy ,virya/ o(serving a (urning sensation in the

faces and urine ,vi&aka/ .

Virya D Aeating or +ooling 6nergy

@hen any medicinal her( or food su(stance is &ut in the mouth the first e*&erience is its

taste. Fater and in some cases immediately you feel its heating or cooling energy either in

the mouth or stomach. This change is all due to its action or &otent energy called Virya.

5y e*&erience one can form general rules a(out what a taste feels like in the (ody. Bor

e*am&le the sweet taste has a cooling energy due to its heaviness. This action &rovokes

kapha and is &leasing to pitta and vata. 5ut there are occasional e*ce&tions to this rule.

Aoney is sweet (ut have heating energy. This une*&ected effect is termed Prabhav . In this

same way sour taste is usually heating e*&ect in the instance of lime which is cooling.

Vipak D 2ost'igestive 6ffect

The final &ost'digestive effect of the taste on the (ody mind and consciousness is called

Vipak . @hile sweet and salty taste have a sweet vipak sour taste has a sour vipak (ut that

of &ungent (itter and astringent tastes are all &ungent. ;nowledge of the energy and &ost'

digestive effect of food or medicinal her(s makes understanding of its action on (odily system

easy. This knowledge (eing essential for (oth healing and cooking.

Prabhav D !&ecific %ne*&lained $ction

@hen two su(stances of similar taste energy and &ost'digestive effect show entirely different

action it is called &ra(hav. There is no logical e*&lanation for this. $ll gem stones crystals

and mantras aid healing due to their prabhav .

rabhav is therefore the s&ecific dynamic hidden action of the awareness &resent in the

su(stance.


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)iet Planning

Choice of &ood

In &lanning the diet it is necessary to know which food to have or avoid (ased on ones

&ersonal doshic constitution or im(alance. Bor easy reference therefore some of the

acce&ta(le and avoida(le items for each doshic ty&e has (een listed (elow:

Ta(le -G

&ruits

1ata Pitta 4a'ha

$o /es $o /es $o /esa&&les $vocades a&&les,sour/ a&&les,sweet/ (ananas a&&les

dates gra&es (erries,sour/ (erries,sweet/ dates (erries

figs ,dry/ lemons cran(erries coconuts gra&es cran(er

ries&omegranate (ananas straw(erries dates water melons &omegr

anates

raisin sweet oranges (anana figs sweetners dried

fruits&ears 2lum lemon avocados melons straw(e

rries in

small

amount

sfigs ,fresh/ &eaches sweet melons mango

mango &lums coconut

&omegranates

)airy

1ata Pitta 4a'ha

$o /es $o /es $o /escheese dairy yogurt fresh ghee milk #ust a

little

dairycow’s milk Bresh whole sour cream fresh whole un'

homogeni3ed

milk

clarified (utter

cheese

goat

milk

and

ghee in

modera

tion


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&owdered un'homogeni3ed

milk

yogurt Chee

little (utter

white meat

,chicken fish or

turkey – (aked or

(roiled/

chicken (roth

#rains

1ata Pitta 4a'ha

$o /es $o /es $o /es

5arley white or (rown(asmati rice

+orn white or (rown(asmati rice

wheat

5read,withyeast/

(arley(uckwh

eat

cousou

s millet

corn wheat millet (arley oat,cooked/ muesli

cereals Oats oat,dry/ oat (ran wheat oats granola ?uinoa ?uinoa oats white rice oat

(ran

millet &olenta wheat or wheat

(ran

cane small

amount

of

wheat

ta&ioca

Meat

1ata Pitta 4a'ha



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turkey white meat

,chicken fish and

turkey ' (aked or

(roiled/

meat

ra((it chicken (roth chicken

&ork ducks

lam( eggs

&ork

salmon

sardines

(aked or (roiled

chicken turkey or

white fish in

moderate

amounts

(eef fresh

water

fish

(uffalo shrim& chicken ra((it duck venison

small

amount

of white

meat

1egeta%les

1ata Pitta 4a'ha

$o /es $o /es $o /es +a((age,

raw/

(eets 5eet as&aragus +ucum(er as&arag

us

+auliflow

er,raw/

cauliflower,cooke

d/

greens (roccoli Olives (eets

2eas Feeks +arrots ca((age 2otato (itter 2otatoes carrots Carlic cucum(er 2um&kin melons

!&inach as&aragus Creen +hillies cooked onions !&aghetti (roccoli 6gg&lant cilantro Onion sweet !?uash (eet

greens

)ushroo

m

fennel and a little

(it of garlic

2e&&ers &otatoes Tomato,raw/ ca((ag

e

Raddish,r

aw/

green (eans 2rickly &ear s&routs garlic

!&inach greens chillies Radishes s?uash and a

small amount of

okra and

cauliflower

fennel

Tomatoes

,raw/

Okra !&inach carrot

&arsni&s Turni&s horsera

dish

&um&kins leafy

greens

radishes,

&refera(ly

cooked/

leeks

lettuce okra


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cooked

onions

s&inach s&routs s?uash turni&

and a

small

amount

of

artichok

e

(urdock

root

and

(russel

s

s&routs

S'ices

1ata Pitta 4a'ha



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4one small amount of

almonds

$lmonds

&ecans and

sesame seeds

+ashew

2eanuts

2inenuts

sunflower seeds

and almonds in

moderate amount

$lmonds small

amount

of

almond

s

5lack @alnuts charole

5ra3il nuts

Bil(erts

Aa3elnuts

2eanuts

2ine nuts

@alnuts

Uneasy Com%inations for all %ody ty'es

The ne*t im&ortant factor re?uiring attention in the &lanning of diet is the incom&ati(ility of certain

com(inations of food that distur( the normal functioning of gastric fire and interfere with the e?uili(rium of

the three doshas there(y creating to*ins ,ama/ – the root cause of all ailments. $ list of the same is

indicated (elow :

Ta(le 78

Milk 6ith fish meat curd sour fruits (read containing yeast cherries yogurt

Melons 6ith grains starch fried foods dairy &roducts

Starches 6ith eggs tea dairy (ananas dates most fruits

Honey 6ith when mi*ed with an e?ual amount of clarified (utter (oiled or cooked

honey

Radishes 6ith milk (ananas raisins

$ightshades 6ith &otato yogurt milk melon cucum(er tomato egg&lant

/ogurt 6ith milk sour fruits melons hot drinks meat fish mangos starch cheese

"ggs 6ith milk meat yogurt melons cheese fish (ananas

&ruit 6ith with any other food

Corn 6ith dates raisins (ananas

(emon 6ith yogurt milk cucum(ers tomatoes

TH" THRT""$ CHA$$"(S O& CRCU(ATO$

The (ody contains numerous channels through which the dhatus doshas and malas

circulate known as strotas in $yurveda these consist of (oth gross channels such as the

intestinal tract lym&hatic system arteries veins and the genitor'urinary tracts as well as the


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more su(tle channels such as the ca&illaries., mentioned earlier in ‘malas’ as

mootravahastrotas etc/

In $yurveda a com&le* system of diagnosis is em&loyed to trace the root cause of disease.

The diagnosis of all diseases is (ased on which of the individual doshas are com&romised

and which channels are o(structed. $n e*cess of any one dosha can create a s&ill'over effectin the (ody. Thus a disease originating from one vitiated dosha is a(le to travel through the

channels to the site of another dosha. osha e*cesses can also create (lockages in the

channels there(y o(structing their normal flow.

)en have thirteen grou&s of channels and women have fifteen. Of the thirteen common

grou&s of (odily channels the first three are the channels through which the air ,or (reath/

food and water travelK these are governed (y Vata 2itta ;a&ha res&ectively.

Air Channels0 'ranavahastrotas

The (ody’s air channels originate in the heart and the alimentary tract and conduct &ranic

force and vitality through the res&iration and circulation systems. These channels (ecome

im&aired (y the su&&ression of natural (odily urges (y ingesting dry or stale food and (y

e*cessive &hysical e*ertion. !

Ayurveda History

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