Deep Ayurveda

According to Ayurveda, there are three primary energies, or Doshas. The Doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These Doshas regulate all physical and psychological behaviors, from basic cell structure to the most complex mental functions. The Doshas are found in unique proportions in every individual. This singular combination of the Doshas is called our constitution or Prakriti, and it will determine our basic physical appearance, preferences, behaviors, and emotional tendencies. When the Doshas are in their natural balance with one another, our physical and mental states are at optimum health. When the Doshas fall out of balance, disease may manifest. Ayurveda seeks to return the Doshas to and maintain them at their natural balance in our individual constitution.

VATA (Kinetic Energy)
Physically such people are either very tall or very short, non- muscular, with thin and bony limbs and have a quick gait with short fast steps. Skin is generally thin, darkish and cool. The hair is thin, dark, coarse and either kinky or curly. The face is usually long and angular, often with an underdeveloped chin. The neck is thin and scrawny. Nose is small and narrow. May be long, crooked or asymmetrical also. Eyes tend to be small, narrow or sunken, dark brown or gray in color, with dull luster. The mouth being small, with thin, narrow or tight lips. Teeth are irregular, protruding, or broken, set in receding gums. And while the voice is weak, low or cracked, speech is fast with interruptions.

Vata people have restless minds and weak memories. They avoid confrontation. Have active and sensitive natures and express themselves through sport and creative pursuits. Likely to be artistic nd creative with a good imagination, they will sometimes overindulge in pleasures. And are sexually the most active. Fearful, worrisome and anxious they are into questioning, theorizing and over-analysis. Often dissatisfied with and unable to sustain friendships, they spend money quickly, often on trifles. With light, interrupted sleep of 5-7 hours a day.
Vata is known as the moving force. Vata is mainly concerned with the nervous system and all bodily movement. It chews and swallows food, moves nutrients into and wastes out of cells, circulates blood and air, and retrieves and stores memories.

Physical Appearance of Vata
Physique: Thin, Very tall or very short, Little muscular development
Skin: Cool, Dry, Rough
Hair: Dark, Curly, Dry
Eyes: Small; Brown, Grey, or Slate blue       

Temperament of Vata
Mental: Nervous, Fluctuating moods, Quick but short memory, Creative
Physical: Irregular appetite, Irregular elimination, Prone to Constipation, Light sleeper
Energy: Comes in bursts, Active, Poor stamina , Constipation

Remedies for Vata
Foods: Nourishing, Well-cooked, Warm, Mildly spiced, Moist
Tastes: Sweet, Sour, Salty
Exercise: Regular, Gentle, Moderate
Single Herbs: Ashwaganda, Shatavari, Haritaki, Bibhitaki
Herbal Supplements: Chitrakadi, Triphala, Brahmi, Chandra Prabha, Guggulu, Vasavaleha
Rasayanas: Arjuna, Ashwaganda, Haritaki, Gokshura, Shatavari
Skin Care: Tridosha cleanser, Tridosha after shave gel, Vata Hydrating tonic lotion, Vata Moisturizing cream, Vata Nourishing cream, Vata Body oil
 
Pitta: (Thermal Energy)

Pitta governs biological fire. Pitta is mainly concerned with the body's balance of kinetic and potential energies. Pitta's processes involve digestion, whether it be digestion of food and nutrients or digestion of thoughts and theories in the mind.
A moderately well developed physique with muscular limbs and a purposeful, stable gait of medium speed. With a loud, strong voice and precise, convincing speech. The skin is fair, soft, lustrous, warm, and tends to burn easily in the sun - has freckles, many moles, and a tendency to rashes. And the bodies are hot and sweaty. Characterized by fine and soft, either fair or reddish hair that tends to gray soon. Face is heart-shaped, often with a pointed chin. While the neck is proportionate and of average size. A neat, pointed, and average sized nose matches the average sized eyes that are either light blue, light gray or hazel in color, with an intense luster which get red in summer or after bathing. The mouth being medium, with average lips and medium-sized, yellowish teeth.

Pitta's have an intellectual and precise disposition due to a very alert, focused mind. Sharp and knife-like in anger, they are irritable, jealous and aggressive by nature. Discriminating and judgmental, they are articulate, learned and proud. With a developed sense of responsibility, they can take decisions and organize affairs well. Argumentative, but with a sense of humour, their selectively excellent memory makes them fast learners. Moderately passionate in their sexual pursuits, they spend moderately, usually on luxuries.

Physical Appearance of Pitta
Physique: Medium, Good muscular development
Skin: Warm, Oily, Prone to Reddening or Blemishes
Hair: Light Colored, Straight, Fine
Eyes: Sharp, Lustrous, Bright blue or Light brown

Temperament of Pitta
Mental: Easily irritated, Goal oriented, Organized, Good memory
Physical: Must eat regularly, Quick digestion, Regular elimination, Sound sleeper
Energy: Moderate, Average stamina, Enjoys physical activity

Remedies for Pitta
Foods: Cool to warm, Mildly spiced
Tastes: Sweet, Bitter, Astringent
Exercise: Moderate, Non-Competitive, Involving water and winter
Single Herbs: Haritaki, Brahmi, Neem, Shatavari, Bhringaraj
Herbal Supplements: Samsamani, Triphala, Punarnavadi, Kaishore guggulu, Vasavaleha
Rasayanas: Nimba, Ashoka, Pitta Chyavana prasha, Haridra, Brahmi, Gokshura, Shatavari
Skin Care: Tridosha cleanser, Tridosha after shave gel, Pitta Soothing tonic lotion, Pitta Soothing cream, Pitta Purifying cream, Pitta Body Oil

Kapha: (Potential Energy )

Kapha gives us substance and support. Kapha is mainly concerned with providing the physical field for the Vata and Pitta energies. It governs cell structure, bodily secretions, and gives the mind stability.
A thick, broad, well-developed frame and large, long limbs go well with a pleasant, deep and resonant voice with low, slow, rhythmic speech. The skin is usually thick, oily, pale or white and cold. Plentiful, thick, wavy, lustrous and generally brown hair is set on a large, rounded and full face. The neck is solid, with a near tree-trunk quality. A large, rounded nose and large, attractive, blue or light brown in color eyes are found in a mouth that is large with big, full lips. Teeth too are big and white and set in strong gums.

Kapha predominated people are calm, steady, considerate - stable, patient personalities they are slow to anger. Not easily provoked, once angry they do not calm down easily. They are honorable, true to their word and avoid lies. Loyal, forgiving and understanding, they can be lethargic, even lazy, if not driven by others. Learning may be slow but memory will be strong. Excellent in logical analysis, they take time before reaching conclusions. Long hours of deep sleep and a strong, enduring sex drive come naturally. While they do save money, it does get spent on food. And there can at times be an element of dullness, given that a Kapha mind is usually too content to seek fresh mental stimulation.

Physical Appearance of Kapha
Physique: Large, Rounded build, Good muscular development
Skin: Cool, Smooth, Moist
Hair: Thick, Wavy
Eyes: Large, Attractive, Brown

Temperament of Kapha
Mental: Calm, Tranquil, Compassionate, Thorough, Rarely Forgets
Physical: Steady appetite, Slow digestion, Regular elimination, Deep sleeper
Energy: Steady, Lethargic, Good endurance

Remedies for Kapha
Foods:Warm, Dry, Light, Spicy
Tastes: Pungent, Bitter, Astringent
Exercise:Regular, Vigorous
Single Herbs:
Herbal Supplements: Lasunadi, Triphala, Brahmi, Chandra prabha, Guggulu, Vasavaleha
Rasayanas:Kapha Chyavana prasha, Haridra, Sage, Shatavari
Skin Care: Tridosha cleanser, Tridosha after shave gel, Kapha Energizing tonic lotion, Kapha Energizing cream, Kapha Body oil.

The Trigunas
Just as the Doshas are the essential components of the body, the three Gunas - Satva, Rajas and Tamas - are the three essential components or energies of the mind. Ayurveda provides a distinct description of people on the basis of their Manasa (psychological) Prakriti (constitution). Genetically determined, these psychological characteristics are dependent on the relative dominance of the three Gunas.
While all individuals have mixed amounts of the three, the predominant Guna determines an individual's Mansa Prakriti. In equilibrium, the three Gunas preserve the mind (and indirectly the body), maintaining it in a healthy state. Any disturbance in this equilibrium results in various types of mental disorders.
Satva, characterized bylightness, consciousness, pleasure and clarity, is pure, free from disease and cannot be disturbed in any way. It activates the senses and is responsible for the perception of knowledge. Rajas, the most active of the Gunas, has motion and stimulation as its characteristics. All desires, wishes, ambitions and fickle-mindedness are a result of the same. While Tamas is characterized by heaviness and resistance. It produces disturbances in the process of perception and activities of the mind. Delusion, false knowledge, laziness, apathy, sleep and drowsiness are due to it.
Rajas and Tamas, as with the Doshas, can be unbalanced by stress and negative desires as kama (lust), Irshya (malice), Moha (delusion and halucination), Lobha (greed), Chinta (anxiety), Bhaya (fear) and Krodha (anger). Each of these three properties is also comprised of sub-types and the particular sub-type to which one belongs to determine the qualities of that individual.