Ayurveda and Its Simple Approach to Diagnosis - The Three Body Types

By [http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Onkarnath_Singh/2277377] Onkarnath Singh

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient methods of treating diseases. It is different in the manner it approaches treatment of disease. It is based more on natural principles and using the body's healing capacity rather than chemical based medicines used by modern medical science. Also, Ayurveda treats every patient as a different entity with completely new medicines for him/her. In the case of modern medical science, it is a bit more focused towards the kind of disease rather than the patient. Now the scientists are realizing that everyone reacts differently to the same medicine and hence efforts are being made to develop individual medicines. This is what Ayurveda has been doing for thousands of years.

Ayurveda treats disease based on the body types. The human body has three elements which decide and govern the functioning of systems in our body. These elements decide the body built personality and the body's response to different kinds of ailments. The elements are referred to as doshas in the ancient medical science of Ayurveda. Yoga is one of the ways to treat these doshas. Yoga teacher training courses teach this as a part of the anatomy classes.

The Meaning of Doshas

Dosha is a Sanskrit word which means a defect. They are the connection between the physical body and the energy (Soul) which makes us all living. These doshas are invisible and the imbalance in them leads to different kind of ailments.

There are three doshas as per Ayurvedic texts - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. When a person is born he/she is born with a certain ratio of these three doshas. It is a fact that every human being is born with a unique genetic composition, and similarly with a unique combination of doshas. It is the variety which keeps us alive as a race as explained by research.

Composition of Doshas

There are five elements on our planet Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Ether (Space). Ayurveda defines the doshas as being made up of these five elements. The three doshas are Vata - Consists of Space and air elements, Pitta which consists of fire and water elements and Kapha which is composed of earth and water elements.

The doshas are inherent qualities and remain with us the whole life. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. They affect not only our physical attributes but also the emotional part of us. The balancing of these doshas leads to healthy body and mind. One or two doshas dominate every individual, though everybody has all three. In very rare cases the three types of doshas are equally present in a human being.

Physical and Emotional Traits and Doshas

Vata Dosha has its own Physical and emotional traits. They are:

Physical Traits:

(1) Flexible and thin body which is lightweight

(2) Light muscular with low-fat

(3) Less stamina

(4) Tendency of gas and constipation

(5) Prone to irregularity in sleep pattern.

Emotion Traits:

(1) Extremely prone to mood swings

(2) Quick action taking tendency

(3) Tendency to over exert in all situations.

(4) Experience bursts of emotions which are short-lived.

(5) Creative and imaginative mind with thought clarity.

Pitta Dosha also has physical and emotional traits that are quite different. They are:

Physical Traits:

(1) Medium built body with strong bones

(2) Prone to baldness and premature greying of hair

(3) Soft and fair-skinned

(4) Very strong digestive system and like eating. Hence, they experience sharp urges of hunger and thirst.

(5) Have slightly higher body temperature.

Emotion Traits:

(1) Intellectual and hence can be rude.

(2) Get angry very easily and cannot absorb stress.

(3) Very articulated speech due to highly developed language abilities.

(4) Love to be challenged

(5) Want everything arranged and do not like disorder.

Kapha Dosha can also be predominant in people. In the modern age, this is the Dosha which is the dominant one. The characteristics of this Dosha are:

Physical Traits:

(1) Well built body and physically strong

(2) Tendency to gain weight and require high physical activity to keep in shape.

(3) Bones are heavy and very strong.

(4) Prone to sinus and chest infection.

(5) Like food rich in sugar.

Emotion Traits:

(1) Relaxed in their approach.

(2) Caring, loving and forgiving.

(3) Sharp memory and remember things for a long time.

(3) Slow in decision-making.

(4) Do not like changes in life.

(5) Have a steady supply of energy and can work for longer periods.

Knowing the body type and the traits can help one balance food and lifestyle. Each body type is unique and should be accepted with its strength and weakness.

The best way is to learn about doshas is to join a yoga teacher training school. The trained yoga instructors have deep knowledge about this factor of diagnosis. Ojashvi Yogashala in Rishikesh (http://www.ashtangayogattc.com ) is one of the options with expert trainers in this field. They will help you improve your life and make it full of happiness.

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