Human body through the eyes of Ayurveda

A system of medicine that has its roots in Vedic India has been curing and healing people for the past 5000 years.Ayurveda continues to benefit masses with very little or no side effects on the body that it cures. Though refuted by the modern medical sciences for several practices,Ayurvedais said to have attracted several medical practitioners from abroad for understanding the principles behind the practice and also learn some of the techniques.

With several successful treatments and people who have complete faith in the Ayurvedic medicine, the system has survived with substantial quality.

As part of the Ayurvedic system, a human body is a combination of three doshas or the subtle energies of the body.Ayurvedaplaces a lot of emphasis on maintaining right balance between the three energies to attain the best health status. Here we discuss the three kinds of bodies that are categorised as per the Ayurvedic system and the three doshas.

Essentially, the body is made of five elements that include space, fire, earth, air and water. The human body has a combination of these elements that dominate their presence and thus form the three kinds of body types named Vaata, pitta and kapha.

Vaata combines space and air, kapha has a little earth with the dominance of water while pitta includes a lot of fire with a little water.

1. Vaata body type: People in this category usually are thin and creative and strong and require a routine that completely uses up their energies. These people often have problem when travelling by air or when they eat cold or frozen foods. They are advised to keep a regular routine to have a healthy life.

1. Kapha body type: Those under this category have very good endurance and strength as well. They are usually prone to diseases related to kapha or mucus formation. Such people are usually heavy and have a tendency for sinusitis, congestion and related problems. They should eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables and should add some physical activity to their lifestyle.

1. Pitta body type: Such people usually have very good digestion thus they are generally lean and thin. They are prone to developing rashes and skin problems. They are advised to stay cool and not get exposed to much of heat and humidity. The fire dominance makes them easily angry and jealous. Though they have very strong will and determination to excel.

Any imbalance in the basic energies results in ill-health, which according to Ayurveda can be cured through changes in food, exercise and following certain detoxification procedures.