Introduction

to
Ayurveda

Ayurveda
Tri thức cuộc sống
What is Ayur-veda?
 The Science of Life
 Mother of All Healing Systems/Sciences
 Based on Wholeness or a Holistic Medicine
 Self-care, person-centered
 To correct imbalances on a deeper level
 Not superficial
 Interconnectedness of body-mind systems
 Dynamic process of balancing health
Ayurvedic Approach to Health

 Adopt a healthy happy lifestyle

 Physical, Mental, Spiritual
 Three Pillars of Life
 Food, Sleep, Control of Energy
 Excessor Deficiency
 Rejuvenation
Approach to Health cont.
 Increase the Ojas or O Principle
 Essential Energy of Immunity/Vitality
 nourishes 7 Tissue levels
 Plasma & lymph
 Blood
 Muscle & ligaments
 Fat & connective tissues
 Bones
 Bone marrow & nerve tissue
 Reproductive tissue
Tridosha Theory
3 Biological Principles
controlling 5 elements:

Type A (Vata) – Air, Ether

Type B (Pitta) – Fire, Water

Type C (Kapha) – Water, Earth

Take the Dosha Test

ABC’s of Ayurveda (7 Types)

 Pure Types  Dual Types

 A  AB
 B  AC
 C  BC

 Equal Type (rare)

 ABC
 Type A (Vata, air)
that which moves things
 Tallor thin body
 Lesser body strength
 Poorer endurance
 Easily disturbed by weather changes
 Dry skin & hair
 Often cold hands, feet, body temp
 Sensitive to coldness
 Lower resistance to disease
 Low interest in food
Type A (Vata, air)
that which moves things
 Difficultygaining weight
 Variable digestion and metabolism
 High enthusiasm, creativity, innovation
 High energy & tend to be talkative
 Effective communicators
 Intellectuals & quick-minded
 Nervous and sensitive
 Easily sidetracked, scattered
 Type A
disturbed qualities
 Worry, anxiety, nervous tension & breakdowns
 Fear, depression, easily stressed
 Prone to addiction or to be under emotional
and physical dominance by someone/thing
 Headache
 Dry cough
 Varied appetite
 Constipation & gas
 Insomnia
 Type B (Pitta, fire)
that which digests things
 Average body build & frame
 Strongest circulation, warm body
 Strongest digestion & metabolism
 Hot tempered & easily irritated
 Prone to heart, blood problems
 Needs cool and moist food & drink
 Require cool environment
 Soft, oily, smooth skin
Type B (Pitta, fire)
that which digests things
 Premature balding or greying hair
 Sharp & penetrating eyes
 Average strength
 Good immune system
 Good comprehension, strong minds
 Very intelligent & perceptive
 Natural leaders, entrepreneurs
 Seek motivated & intelligent work
 Need purpose in life
 Type B
disturbed qualities
 Aggressive & controlling
 Anger, irritability, jealousy
 Hot emotions, non-constructive expression
 Passive-aggressive
 Inflamed skin diseases
 Dizziness, headache
 High fever
 Vomiting, indigestion, hyperacidity
 Diarrhea, loose stools with burning sensation
 Type C (Kapha, water)
that which holds things together
 Hefty, robust, thick body frames
 Well developed bones, hair, teeth
 Slowest digestion & metabolism
 Shouldn’t be in cold, damp place
 Has greatest love for food
 Prone to be obese
 Sports & strength oriented activity
 Smooth voices, good looking
Type C (Kapha, water)
that which holds things together
 Calm, quiet, easily attached
 Caring and nurturing
 Seeks love and security
 Good in public relations
 Brings people together
 Slower mentally & making decisions
 Resistant, slow to change, stubborn
 Strongest immune function
 Longer life span
 Type C
disturbed qualities
 Weak water metabolism – kidney function
 Prone to edema, swelling, stagnation
 Easily accumulates mucus, fat
 Tumors, internal growths
 Overeating, obesity, diabetes
 Colds, allergies
 Lung, respiratory problems, cough, asthma
 To be obsessive, controlling, needy, greedy
 Neurotic tendencies
 The 6 Tastes and 3 Doshas
Dosha Decreases Increases
Type A Sweet, Sour, Salty Bitter, Astringent,
(Vata) Pungent
Type B Bitter, Astringent, Pungent, Sour, Salty
(Pitta) Sweet
Type C Pungent, Bitter, Sweet, Salty, Sour
(Kapha) Astringent
 Recommended Food

Type A - Fruits
 SweetFruits –
Bananas, berries,
coconut, grapes,
mango, melons,
oranges, papaya,
pineapples
Recommended Food

Type A - Veggies
 Cooked
Vegetables –
Carrots, beets,
garlic, cooked
onions, radish,
spinach, camote,
tomatoes
 Recommended Food

Type A - Grain
 NutritiveGrains –
Cooked oats,
brown rice, wheat,
couscous
Recommended Food

Type A - Beans
 Generallyavoid
beans – except
Munggo is very
good for Vata
 Recommended Food

Type A - Nuts
 All nuts are good
in small quantity –
Almonds, sesame,
cashew, walnuts…
Recommended Food

Vatta Food

 Natural Sugars –
jaggery, raw
sugar, honey

 AllSpices specially
Asafoetida, basil,
cardamom,
cinnamon, ginger,
turmeric, garlic,
fennel
 Recommended Food

Vatta Food
 AllDairy products –
Buttermilk, cheese,
cottage cheese,
ghee, milk, yoghurt

 Oils– Sesame oil,

almond oil, ghee
(clarified butter)
 Recommended Food

Type B - Fruits
 Sweet &
Astringent Fruit –
Apple, avocado,
mangos, sweet
melons, sweet
oranges, pears,
pineapples
Recommended Food

Type B - Veggies
 Sweet & Bitter
Vegetables –
Cabbage,
cucumber,
cauliflower,
celery, green
beans, lettuce,
potatoes, sprouts,
zucchini, peas,
parsley
 Recommended Food

Type B - Grains
 Cooling Grains –
rice (basmati),
wheat, oats,
couscous, barley
Recommended Food

Pitta Food
 All
legumes are
good except lentils
(munggo is best)

 Generally avoid
nuts except
coconut and
sunflower seeds
 Recommended Food

Pitta Food
 Natural
cooling sugars
in moderation except
honey

 Generally avoid spices

except coriander,
cilantro, fennel,
cardamom, cinnamon,
cloves, turmeric, small
amount of black
pepper
Recommended Food

Pitta Food
 Cooling Dairy –
Ghee, butter, milk,
paneer, cottage
cheese
 Cooling oils – Ghee,
coconut oil, olive
oil, sunflowe
 Recommended Food

Type C - Fruits
 Warm & Drying Fruit –
apples, berries,
cherries, dry figs,
mango, peaches,
pears, prunes, raisins
 Recommended Food

Type C - Veggies
 Pungent & Bitter
Vegetables –
beets, cabbage,
carrots, broccoli,
celery, eggplant,
garlic, lettuce,
radish, sprouts,
spinach
 Recommended Food

Type C - Grains
 Drying Grains –
barley,
buckwheat,
corn, millet, dry
oats, rye

 AllLegumes
are good
except Kidney
beans, black
lentils
Recommended Food

Kapha Food
 AllSpices are good
specially black
pepper, cardamom,
cayenne, cinnamon,
cloves, garlic,
ginger, mustard,
turmeric
 Recommended Food

Kapha Food
 Generally avoid Nuts except sunflower nuts
 Generally avoid Sugars only honey and
jaggery in small amounts
 Generally avoid Dairy
 Light oils in small quantity – Canola, corn,
safflower, sunflower
 Type A – Vata

Type A Lifestyle recomendation

 Don’t overexert or stress out
 Eat well, rich, and regularly
 Avoid fasting skipping meals
 Avoid strong, frequent exercise, heavy work
or too much travel
 Type A – Vata

 Protect yourself from

cold and wind
 Avoid air-conditioning
 Reduce stress, worry,
agitation and anxiety
 Take tonic herbs,
sesame oil massage
 Sleep early
 Type B – Pitta

Type B Lifestyle recomendation

 Don’t overheat, avoid pickles, vinegar, chilies,
ketchup, carbonated drinks and alcohol
 Don’t work late at night
 Avoid jobs in hot environment - Protect yourself
from sun, heat and bright lights
 Type B – Pitta

 Take adequate food and liquid

 Donate blood
 Seek water, swim, apply coconut oil on skin
 Avoid conflict and argument
 Cultivate attitude of Peace and
Forgiveness
 Type C – Kapha

Type C Lifestyle recomendation

 Remain active & alert – avoid sleeping during day
 Don’t eat frozen, cold, much sweet and oily food
 Don’t drink ice water or softdrinks
 Avoid sedentary jobs, damp environment, molds
 Protect from cold and dampness
 Type C – Kapha

 Reduce attachments
 Keep body mind light and active
 Mustard oil on skin
 Regular exercise and exert yourself
 Take saunas and steam baths
 Life Regimens and Treatments
 Dietary Therapy
 Sattvic Diets
 Healing Herbs
 Sweating Therapy
 Purgation
 Enemas, Colonics
 Oleation Therapy
 Nasal Medication
 Neti
 Pressure points
 Blood letting
 Psychological Therapy
 Meditation
 Yoga Asanas and Pranayam
 Pancha Karma Detox
Thank You
Namaste