How Does Ayurveda Work?

Written By Tara Ferris, LMT, AHC

The primary goal of Ayurveda is to preserve health. The second goal is to restore health if there is disease or imbalance.

To understand what disease or imbalance is, we need to understand our reference point: health.

Definition of A Healthy Person According to Ayurveda?

Ayurveda defines a healthy person as having all of the following qualities:

- Balanced, functional energy (doshas)

- Balanced Agni (digestive fire)

- Balanced tissues

- Balanced elimination of waste

- A calm, peaceful mind

- Sharp, well-functioning sense organs

- Clear, focused thoughts

- Sense of being fulfilled and established within their unique constitution (Prakriti)

Any deviation from that list, either in excess or deficiency, means “imbalance” in Ayurveda. An example of a minor imbalance is feeling hungry or thirsty.

We all experience these alert messages from our body telling us what it needs at that moment – these are healthy, natural imbalances. When we eat or drink water, balance is restored.

Imbalance a little further along the spectrum could include skin irritation, constipation, anxiety, excess saliva, really stinky sweat, allergies, insomnia, etc.

We’ve all experienced some of these at one point or another. Again, these are messages from our body that something is a little out of whack.

Progressing further, imbalances lead to diseases – arthritis, anemia, diabetes, acid reflux, recurrent UTIs, sciatica, asthma, migraines, etc.

The most severe expression of imbalance would be auto-immune disorders or cancer.

The Spectrum of Imbalance begins with hunger or thirst and progresses to cancer – pretty vast, right?

Ayurveda understands that the more symptoms and the higher the severity of the symptoms indicates the degree of imbalance, and has different ways of identifying and addressing the severity and the stage.

For example, heart rate is a normal function of the body. There’s a range where it’s “normal,” or it can be too fast or too slow. Cholesterol or blood pressure can be too high or too low.

An imbalance is a healthy function that has gone beyond the rage of normal for YOU. Each person has a unique normal – their Prakriti, or constitution. What is normal for me is not necessarily normal for you.

Ayurveda uses this lens as a primary understanding of what is healthy for each person.

Ayurveda and Elements

Another essential viewpoint of Ayurveda is the importance and influence of elements. This theory is embedded in every aspect of Ayurveda.

Here’s the gist:

• Space is always clear and expanding. It holds everything else.

• Air is always light and drying. It moves things.

• Fire is always hot and sharp. It transforms things.

• Water is always wet and soft. It binds things.

• Earth is always heavy and dense. It stabilizes things.

Our environment is made up of these elements in various combinations. We are a part of that environment, and we are of the same elements.

The innate qualities of these powerful forces and energies create, sustain, transform, nurture, grow, and support every single piece of life, including us.

The elements are constantly in flux, which we can perceive through the changing seasons and the day and night cycle.

We are active during the day when the energizing sun is at its peak and restful at night when the restoring moon is at its peak.

This is a simple example of how connected we are to the rhythms of nature and their influence on our internal system.

The changes in elements in the external environment are reflected in our internal environment.

In the spring, the frozen water is melting, and the earth is thawing – we can experience congestion, an expression of channels opening, and excess water is removed from the body.

In the fall or winter, the air becomes dryer, and there is more wind – we can experience dryness in our sinuses or skin, a message that we need earth and water to bring moisture to our bodies.

What is happening outside gets reflected inside; what’s happening inside gets reflected outside. It is a constant flow, exchange, and transformation of energy. Any shift that occurs externally in the elements also happens within us.

Likewise, any shift within us (like a shift in our mindset) becomes perceivable in our physical, material lives.

Let’s summarize so far. And work our way to answering the question: How does it all work??

We understand what health is, which allows us to know what imbalance is.

We briefly explained the influence of the elements on our health.

Okay, Now. What’s the point of the elements?

The importance of the elements is that they are used to restore health.

Whaaat?

Elements restore health? How?

Maybe you think I’ve lost it at this point but stick with me a little longer. It’s a lot to explain in summary! I needed to provide you with a reference point.

The elements are essential because their innate qualities (dry, hot, heavy, wet, etc.) are either responsible for increasing or excess in the body OR restoring balance.

Like increase like, the Opposite brings balance.

If you have room temperature water and add boiling water, the water gets hotter. If you have hot water and add ice, the water cools down.

This is one of {the many} philosophies of Ayurveda integral to the GOAL of preserving health.

By observing the symptoms' qualities, we use the elements to understand the imbalance's nature.

Woah. What does that mean?

It means if there’s inflammation or acidity, that’s a symptom of fire (Pitta). If there’s swelling or stagnation, that’s a symptom of water/earth (Kapha). If there’s dryness or irregularity, that’s a symptom of air/space (Vata).

We use air and water to bring coolness if there's too much fire. If there’s too much water or earth, we use fire and air to bring warmth for movement and clarity. We use earth and water to bring moisture and stability if there's too much air and space.

Starting to make sense?

Now that I have, albeit very briefly, explained the basic concepts behind Ayurveda, I have answered the question of how it works.

Ayurveda works by first understanding the individual, their uniqueness, and their specialness.

Then it understands in what direction the imbalance has gone by identifying the qualities and location of symptoms an individual is experiencing.

Then, using the laws of nature, introducing opposite qualities that will both support the natural balance of an individual while restoring the natural healthy function to your normal.

It works because YOU are noticed, listened to, and considered. No leaf is left unturned by an Ayurvedic counselor/practitioner. Your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being is of the utmost importance.

Being “healthy” includes all these facets, and Ayurveda provides time-tested practices to navigate the shifts in your internal and external environments.

Your functional energy, digestion, metabolism (physical and mental), and the quality of your blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow, nervous system, and reproductive health are assessed.

Your ability to eliminate waste effectively and efficiently, your ability to receive information through your sense organs, and your state of mind and mental well-being are of great importance to an Ayurvedic counselor/practitioner.

The goal is to guide you towards feeling whole and established within your special uniqueness.

Even though we’re all made up of the same stuff, we’re still unique.

Ayurveda supports that in every way, shape, and form. Guiding you towards a life of peace, health, balance, and LONGEVITY!

Schedule a consultation to learn how Ayurveda can help you!