Western medication generally follows the same pattern: a patient sees a doctor because they are showing symptoms and they are looking for a fix. The doctor can then make a diagnosis and give treatment to the patient that will ebb or relieve symptoms. Ayurveda is a word that directly translates to “the science of life” and was first heard of in India over 5000 years ago. It is a science of healing that has been deeply thought out and focuses primarily on the prevention of sickness. The best way of preventing sickness is to maintain balance within the body. Vasant Lad provides an abundance of knowledge explaining Ayurveda and maintaining balance on the ayurveda.com website.
In Ayurveda, there are three energy types that need to be in balance in order to keep the body healthy. Vata is described as the energy of movement, and it is made of space and air. The body functions covered by vata include blinking, breathing, movement of muscles and tissues, heartbeat, and movement of cell membranes and cytoplasm. When vata is in balance, creativity and flexibility are promoted; when not in balance, fear and anxiety are set in. Pitta is said to be the energy of digestion and metabolism, and it is made of fire and water. Functions that fall under pitta are digestion, water absorption, nutrition, metabolism, and body temperature. When pitta is balanced, the result is understanding and intelligence, and when out of balance, there is anger, hatred, and jealousy. The final energy type is kapha, the energy of lubrication and structure. It is made of earth and water and is responsible for supplying water to the body for functions such as joint lubrication, skin moisture, and immunity. A balance of kapha is shown as love, calmness, and forgiveness, and attachment, greed, and envy are seen when out of balance. Learning how to balance these three energy types is the key to attaining balance, according to Lad’s article (2006).
Also according to Lad’s same article, Ayurveda is different from western medicine in that it focuses on prevention of disease rather than ridding disease with toxins that may weaken the body after disease has already set in. A particularly outstanding assumption about Ayurveda is that a doctor may tell a patient that nothing is wrong, but that is just because disease has not become apparent yet and it is just starting with an imbalance in the body that the patient is subconsciously aware of.
Ayurvedic diets focus on maintaining balance in the body. People are born with a predominance for one of the three energy types. There are different foods included in these diets to focus on one’s individual dosha, or dominant energy type. In an article by Rachel Link, there are many benefits listed for Ayurvedic diets. Some of these include the encouragement of whole foods, weight loss, and mindfulness. She lists some downsides as well, including confusion, feeling of restriction, and that issue of the subjectiveness of the diet (2019).
Diabetes is a great disease for discussing Ayurveda. In many cases, diabetes is completely avoidable. In terms of Ayurveda, this is a disease brought on by an imbalance in the body. Type 2 diabetes is the most preventable form of diabetes. It is causes by factors such as age and obesity, whereas type 1 diabetes is seen in people with thin or normal body types and can occur at any age. Type 1 diabetes can be prevented with frequent physical activity and keeping weight and cholesterol under control. Diabetes can cause damage in basically every area of the body. So many people have diabetes now that it can be considered a pandemic. It has not ben kind on the economy either; diabetes has been estimated to cost a total of $245 billion, according to a study fro the American Diabetes Association in 2012. This number is comprised of #176 billion in medical costs plus an additional $69 billion in reduced productivity from diabetes patients.
Whether or not people think Ayurveda is based off of credible science or not, it would be helpful for people to be mindful of the inner balance of their bodies and make self care a priority. By exercising and eating right, we are giving our bodies the things they need to maintain balance and function properly, therefore preventing disease. In many cases, damage done to the body can be reversible but often times it’s not. By maintaining balance in the body, benefits arise for both people and the economy.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2013). Economic costs of diabetes in the US in 2012. Diabetes care, 36(4), 1033-1046.
Link, Rachel. What Is the Ayurvedic Diet? Benefits, Downsides, and More. healthline.com, Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company, 31 July 2019, www.healthline.com/nutrition/ayurvedic-diet#bottom-line.
Lad, Vasant. Ayurveda: A Brief Introduction and Guide. The Ayurvedic Institute, 2006, www.ayurveda.com/resources/articles/ayurveda-a-brief-introduction-and-guide.
I think your description of Ayurveda taught me more about it. With your description of the three energy types made want to go learn more about it. I find vata interesting because it like the movement of us and how we fit on earth. However, like you said learning each of these brings us balance. I also found it interesting how we each are born with a dominant energy type and how we must learn how to make all of them dominant in our lives. It made me think what energy type is dominant in my life. What a great way to help us understand this concept more. Hopefully we can all have more of an inner balance in our lives.
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