Ayurveda is a Sanskrit name. “Ayu,” in Sanskrit, means life, and “Veda” signifies science or knowledge. So Ayurveda,quite literally, means “science of life.” It is said to have originated in India over 5000 years ago. Ayurveda believes in bringing balance to life at a physical, mental and emotional level.

The  universe is made up of five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. The human body is also made up of the same elements. The body solids are made of the Earth element, while body fluids are comprised of the Water element. Body heat is made of the  Fire element. There is air present within the human body, and there is space as well. Each element plays a vital role in determining physical attributes, mental and emotional attributes, skin type, and so on. If we understand the properties of these elements, we can follow how they manifest in our bodies.

What are Doshas? Doshas are functional principles, as defined in Ayurveda, that relate to human biology. Vata dosha is composed of Space and Air, Pitta dosha is made up of Water and Fire, and Kapha dosha is formed from Earth and Water. Everyone has Vata, Pitta, and Kapha qualities where one Dosha is prominently expressed, one is secondary, and the third is somewhat dormant.

Vata Dosha is composed of Air and Space. Air and Space are light, mobile, and expansive in nature, and most Vata-dominant individuals are active, sometimes restless. They tend to think and talk fast. When a Vata-dominant person is out of balance, some of the conditions they tend to experience are dry skin, aching joints, constipation, nerve disorders, mental confusion. On a mental/emotional level, they may experience anxiety, nervousness, fear and restlessness.

Pitta dosha is made up of Fire and Water; fire is the predominant one. Fire represents heat and intensity. Pitta-dominant individuals tend to have a sharp, penetrating intelligence. They tend to perspire easily, and they have a low tolerance for heat and sunlight. When the Pitta dosha is out of balance, one tends to experience skin rashes, sunburn, ulceration, and anger issues, among other conditions.

Kapha is composed of Earth and Water. Mix earth and water, and you get mud. A typical Kapha-dominant person will have oily, smooth skin. They have a slow metabolism, and may gain weight easily. When Kapha is out of balance, these individuals tend to experience obesity, diabetes, flu, and sinus congestion. On a mental/emotional level, they may feel envy, attachment and possessiveness when they go out of balance.