Conscious Choice: Creating Health Through Ayur-Veda

March 1996

Creating Health Through Ayur-Veda

by Veronica Butler, M.D.

Within you lies an unlimited reservoir of energy and intelligence. Ayur-Veda offers you a life of fullness by allowing you to tap into your own personal field of perfect health.

Ayur-Veda is the oldest system of natural medicine in the world. Over 6,000 years old, Ayurveda (which translates as "knowledge of life") is a natural approach to maintaining balance and strengthening the body’s self-healing abilities through practical and enjoyable diet lifestyle, herbs and rejuvenation therapies.

Over time, much of the comprehensive knowledge of Ayurveda had become fragmented due to foreign influences in India. In the last decade, however, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — otherwise known for bringing the Transcendental Meditation program to the West — worked closely with leading ayurvedic experts to restore and pool their combined wisdom into a comprehensive body of knowledge. The result is Maharishi Ayur-Veda, which has been introduced broadly in the U.S. by the Maharishi Ayur-Veda Association of America, an organization of doctors who integrate ayurvedic techniques into their practices.

The concept of balance is one of the pillars of Ayurveda. According to Maharishi Ayur-Veda each person has a unique natural state of balance which is determined by the relative presence of three fundamental biological principals called doshas — known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — that control the entire mind-body structure and processes. Each dosha regulates many functions in the mind-body system but these functions can be summarized in three basic principles. Vata is responsible for any form of movement in the body, including blood circulation, the passage of food through the digestive tract, breathing, the movement of nerve impulses, and so on. Pitta is responsible for metabolism and biochemical processes as well as the transformation of food, air and water into the building blocks of the physiology. Kapha is responsible for the formation and structure of tissues, muscles, bones and so forth.

The Maharishi Ayur-Veda health system identifies the specific physical and psychological differences you see in individuals in terms of their current state of mind-body balance — the natural predominance of one or more doshas at that point in a person’s life.

Physical appearance, mental characteristics, and social characteristics can be identified within the dosha framework. In addition, preferences for food, movies, friends and types of weather, housing, and even vacation spots can all be understood in terms of which dosha(s) are currently predominant.

Everyone has all three doshas active in their physiology. When the natural balance of one or more dosha is disturbed, ill health and disease can result. Usually the dominant dosha in one’s body will tend to be the one that becomes unbalanced. A range of behavioral, dietary, mental, emotional and environmental factors can cause this to happen.

Let’s look for a moment at examples of doshas when they are in balance and when they are out of balance. Vata represents the bodily functions concerned with movement in our minds and bodies. Vata is also associated with lightness, quickness, subtlety, thinness, roughness and coldness. Those with a strong predominance of Vata are blessed with a kind of lightness and flexibility, charm and sense of humor. In its healthy state Vata is expressed as joy, creativity and exuberance.

In imbalance or excess, Vata can manifest as unfounded fear, worry, insomnia, vertigo and loneliness or emptiness. Too much Vata can be physically expressed as dryness, whether in the skin, nails or nose. Dryness in the bowels is expressed as constipation. Vata imbalance in the joints can cause certain types of arthritis. An imbalance of Vata is also associated with conditions such as endometriosis, poor digestion, lightheadedness and a lack of coordination, or a general sense of not feeling grounded.

A Story of Vata (scenario 1)
As she began to approach age forty, Janet realized that it was time to pay more attention to her health. As a clinical psychologist, she had devoted many years to her training, and later to caring for her patients. Now her own mind and body were demanding attention.

Although Janet always had been a "worrier," now she was not only worried, but fatigued and depressed. Psychotherapy and antidepressants had helped her mood considerably, but a series of troubling physical symptoms remained.

A lifelong tendency toward constipation had become so problematic that she needed laxatives to have a normal bowel movement. Her digestion was poor, with constant gas, bloating, and heaviness after eating. She suffered from various aches and pains, particularly tension headaches. Moreover, she had lost twelve pounds over the past year, had not had a menstrual period in five months, and was concerned about her decreased libido.

When Janet first came for an Ayur-Vedic evaluation, she weighed only 90 pounds, which was extremely light even for her petite frame. Her physical exam was normal except for her low body weight. In modern medical terms there was nothing physically "wrong" with her health. In Ayur-Vedic terms, however, she was suffering from a multitude of Vata-related symptoms. Primarily a Vata constitutional type, Janet was particularly susceptible to the Vata-aggravating effects of long hours, irregular and rushed meals, and lots of intense mental and emotional work, of which she had had plenty in her ten years of training and private practice.

Given an understanding of the characteristics of her constitutional type, and the knowledge of how to balance Vata through measures such as changing her schedule (allowing more time for meals, sleep, and relaxation), going on a Vata-pacifying diet program, and giving herself a daily oil massage, Janet set out to recover her health again. Within two months she reported, "Normalcy has returned....I am feeling happier, much more balanced, free of my former mood swings, and I definitely have more energy.

After eight months, she had gained ten pounds back and her periods had resumed. Elimination and digestion were no longer problematic, and she reported "feeling great." One year later, after having also begun to practice the stress-reduction Transcendental Meditation technique, Janet finds she now feels balanced in body and mind, without tranquilizers or antidepressants; moreover, only if she has an extended break in her routine does she suffer temporarily from any of her previous symptoms. She writes, "I feel so fortunate to have found this Ayur-Vedic approach to my health. For me, it has been a treasure; so gentle yet powerful."

Pitta represents bodily functions concerned with metabolism, particularly digestion. The qualities associated with Pitta are heat, acidity, oiliness, sharpness and fluidity. Those with a predominance of Pitta dosha tend to be intense, but the intensity, unlike Vata, is focused, more like laser light. This produces a sharp mind, clear, direct speech. Pitta’s are decisive, efficient, well-spoken, passionate, and hungry for life. Pitta’s are often courageous, clearheaded, and successful. In excess, Pitta can show up as a bad temper, annoyance, heartburn, stress-associated heart attacks, peptic ulcers, colitis, acne, rashes, early graying and excessive hot flashes during menopause.

A Story of Pitta (scenario 2)
Karen, an energetic, successful CPA, at age 50 was an acknowledged hard-driving, intensely-focused Type A, although at times she felt perhaps she should slow down a bit. She had always enjoyed relatively good health except for an annoying problem with hypoglycemia, which had forced her to be careful about eating too many sweets, which she nonetheless craved, and to have frequent snacks, especially when she was exercising.

Then she began to experience recurring pain. Without warning, for minutes or even hours at a time, she would feel a searing pain in her abdomen, in her chest, and sometimes in her back. Her initial medical diagnostic workup was inconclusive. However, the bouts of pain continued to occur every few weeks over the next year and a half. One night, the pain was so severe that her husband drove her to the emergency room, determined that he wouldn’t take her home until they found out what was wrong.

Several hours later, the verdict was that she had more than ten large stones in her gallbladder, blocking the common bile duct. Her doctors strongly urged her to undergo immediate surgery. At that point there really seemed no choice, the pain was too great and was not expected to go away on its own.

Four days after the surgery, while still in the hospital, Karen was rudely awakened from a deep sleep: unbelievably, the pain was back. This time it did not last, however; after further tests, it was decided that yet another gallstone had been passed. She was discharged from the hospital a few days later, but did not recover as quickly as she had expected. Two weeks later, she was still weak, with pains in her stomach and severe aching in her arms and legs. Her appetite was low, and in general she felt quite ill. She decided to go for an Ayur-Vedic evaluation.

At her evaluation, it was clear that Karen had a predominantly Pitta constitution, and that both Pitta and Vata were quite out of balance. In particular, Ranjaka Pitta, a more specific level of Pitta that functions in the liver and gallbladder, was severely disturbed, accounting for both her long-term problem with hypoglycemia and her current problems with the biliary tract. Due to the disturbance in Pitta, her digestion had remained poor even after the gallstones were removed, hence her persistent low appetite. The weakness and aching joints and muscles were a side effect of her poor digestion, caused by the accumulation of improperly digested food in her body.

Karen learned that her gallbladder problem was an imbalance primarily in Pitta dosha, which governs digestion and metabolism, and that to rebalance Pitta, she would need to make adjustments not only in her diet but also in her life-style. Her innate drive and energy, characteristic of a Pitta constitution, had driven her not only to career success but also to a state of psychophysiologic imbalance. She was given a Pitta-pacifying diet, specialized herbs, recommendations for how to improve her overall digestion, and guidelines on how to balance the doshas as part of each aspect of her daily routine. It was also suggested that she learn the Transcendental Meditation technique to reduce her stress level and to promote a smoother, more intimate connection between her mind and body.

Three weeks later Karen elatedly called to report how much better she was feeling. She had been following each of the recommendations, and she had made some other changes on her own: "I’ve really changed my workaholic-style schedule. I quit working late at night and am no longer booked every minute. I’m taking time for my daily oil massage and tub bath, which both feel wonderful. TM has me feeling settled and happy within, in both my mind and body. My energy seems strong and steady. Moreover, I can play two hours of tennis without even thinking about my blood sugar."

Kapha represents the supporting structure of the body and also administers its lubrication and hydration. The qualities associated with kapha are cold, wet, and heavy. Kapha creates strong bones, strong teeth and the capability of storing energy, which may result in well-proportioned, heavier bodies. Kapha types often have big, beautiful eyes, lustrous hair and inner calm. Kapha in its healthy state is unflappable, stable, loyal, forgiving and sweet-spoken.

In an unbalanced state, Kapha can give rise to congestion, sinus problems, asthma, diabetes and obesity. Kaphas can become complacent, lethargic, depressed, greedy and are most likely to become "couch potatoes."

A Story of Kapha (scenario 3)
Laura, a forty-three-year-old chemist, was working for the U.S. government when she first sought out Ayur-Vedic treatment. After being transferred to a well-publicized "sick" (toxic) building, Laura had begun to suffer from intense sinus headaches, congestion, and even mild asthma. Her energy was lower than ever, and particularly while in the building, she suffered from lethargy, sleepiness, poor ability to concentrate, and reduced mental clarity. Her digestion was sluggish, her stools loose, and she had gained extra pounds that she just couldn’t lose. She needed nine or more hours of sleep at night and still could barely drag herself out of bed in the morning. She had also become very depressed.

Her Ayur-Vedic examination made it clear that Laura was experiencing a Kapha imbalance. Although triggered by environmental toxins, Laura’s specific reactive symptoms were also a reflection of her innate Kapha constitution and a life-long tendency to develop Kapha-type imbalances.

Laura’s Ayur-Vedic treatment consisted of a Kapha-reducing program to eliminate accumulated toxins stored in her bodymind. She began a Kapha-pacifying diet and increased her intake of fluids, particularly plain hot water. This alone made an immediate impact on her digestion and reduced her sinus congestion. In addition she began to practice TM daily to reduce mental stress, which was expressing itself in the form of a chronic Kapha-type depression — lethargy, low energy, oversleeping, and weight gain. She found that she could now make it through the day without a headache, and was increasingly clear, focused, and productive, even in the same building environment.

In the spring, when she ordinarily became more debilitated by her symptoms during "Kapha season," she underwent Ayur-Vedic "Panchakarma" (puhn-chuh-kahr-muh), a series of treatments to promote elimination of excess waste and balance of the doshas. With these treatments, she experienced an increase of energy in the springtime, and improvement of all her symptoms for the first time in years. Now, although she still has to watch her diet and be alert to keeping Kapha balanced, Laura is leading a far more comfortable life, no longer debilitated by the depression, headaches and fatigue.

Remember, everybody has all three doshas. But many people find that two or even three doshas can be almost equal in predominance. In this case qualities of both doshas will be lively, sometimes simultaneously, but often at different times.

Ayur-Vedic treatment focuses on the balance of similar and opposite qualities. Here’s how it works: You may have created a Vata imbalance by irregular eating habits, rushing, mental overloading, or lack of adequate rest; or a Pitta imbalance by too much sun, too much alcohol, too much focused mental work, visual strain or eating too much hot and spicy food; or a Kapha imbalance by not exercising enough, over eating, lack of mental stimulation, or too much exposure to a damp, cold climate.

Specific diets and other daily recommendations are thus prescribed on the basis of particular doshic qualities that are either in excess or inactive. The purpose is to calm down the overactive dosha or to enliven the dormant one.

In terms of diet, Ayur-Veda has two means of identifying which foods help pacify which dosha; by quality and by taste. Lets look at the qualities of the foods first:

Foods which have qualities similar to the qualities of a particular dosha will increase that dosha. Thus, light, dry, rough, and cold foods will tend to aggravate Vata. Hot, spicy foods will aggravate Pitta. And cold, heavy, oily, foods will aggravate Kapha. For example, apples are considered sweet, light, rough, and cool and therefore increase Vata, decrease Pitta and decrease Kapha.

The second aspect of diet to consider is taste. According to AyurVeda, the tastes you choose to eat have the power to help bring your body into a healthy balance. Ayurvedic texts divide all food into six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, astringent and pungent. Sweet doesn’t just mean sugary. It also includes breads, milk, cream and rice. Astringent means dry food such as beans, broccoli and apples. Bitter tastes include greens such as spinach. Pungent foods are hot and spicy.

According to Maharishi Ayur-Veda, it is important to include all six tastes in every meal. If your diet repeatedly omits some of the six tastes, you might develop intense cravings or insatiable hunger, even at the end of the meal. Just expanding the range of tastes to include all six has helped some people overcome unnatural cravings and lose weight easily.

At the same time, you want to favor certain tastes in order to balance your individual balance of doshas. With some foods it is easy to see the connection between the taste and the affect on the doshas. If you eat a hot chili pepper, your eyes water, your body heats up and your mind gets a shot of clarity. This spicy taste increases Pitta which is hot by nature. If you ate some mint-favored pudding it would cool off the hot Pitta.

How do you know which tastes to favor? Vata is balanced by salty, sour and sweet tastes. Pitta is reduced by bitter, sweet and astringent. And Kapha is balanced by pungent, bitter and astringent. Thus if you were trying to balance Vata, you would want to have a larger proportion of sweet, sour and salty tastes, with small quantities of bitter, astringent and pungent tastes. Remember that even if you pacify one dosha by favoring certain tastes, you still want to include a little of all six of the tastes in every meal.

Above all, the Ayurvedic texts advise you to enjoy your food and take time to savor its tastes. This allows messages from your taste buds to prepare your stomach for proper digestion. Maharishi AyurVeda considers good digestion to be central to our health, and sees digestion as perhaps even more important that what we eat. This is because unless our digestion is strong, our food will not be processed properly. When our digestion is working well, the body processes food efficiently, distributes all the necessary nutrients to every cell and burns off and eliminates waste products without leaving any toxins behind.

If our digestion is weak it won’t completely metabolize the food and creates a sticky, noxious residue, called ama (impurity). Ama is indigestible and blocks the channels in the body, inhibiting the normal functioning of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ama is identical to the cellular debris that has been observed by Western medicine to build up on every cell in the body over time, impairing cellular functions and accelerating aging.

One simple way to determine if you have ama in your body is to look at your tongue in the morning. If it has a white coating, its a sign that you have ama elsewhere in your body too.

Maharishi Ayur-Veda has special recommendations to reduce the build up of ama in the body and to promote strong digestion. These include special rejuvenation therapies, home-cleansing treatments, and, of course, a special diet. In general, those with weak digestion should avoid heavy, greasy foods, raw foods, and ice-cold food and beverages. Fresh, cooked foods are best, along with sweet, juicy fruits and plenty of warm liquids. Sipping hot or warm water throughout the day can help the body eliminate toxins.

The most accurate way to determine your current mind-body balance is through the ancient Ayurvedic technique of pulse diagnosis. Doctors trained in this diagnostic technique can detect imbalances in the doshas and irregularities in digestion even before they manifest into symptoms. They can then give you a list of individually tailored recommendations, including diet, herbs and home routines, and rejuvenation treatments to correct any current imbalances.

Ayur-Veda offers you scientifically validated insights that can correct imbalances, purify your physiology and allow you to enjoy the health and happiness that are your birthright.

Dr. Butler is Medical Co-Director of the Maharishi Ayur-Veda Health Center at The Raj in Fairfield, Iowa. She also is on the faculty at the Maharishi College of Ayur-Veda in Fairfield and is Medical Director of the Family Practice Center in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Vata, Pitta & Kapha stories were reprinted with permission by Veronica Butler from A Woman’s Best Medicine by Nancy Lonsdorf, M.D., Veronica Butler, M.D., and Melanie Brown, Ph.D., G.P. Putnam & Sons, 1993.

Resources
Maharishi Ayur-Veda University, Chicago, IL
The Raj, Fairfield, IA 800-248-9050

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