Houston Ayurveda

The Science of Life

Discover your Ayurveda Mind | Body Type

What is Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a classical healing science that comes from India and it can be translated to “The Science of Life”. Its purpose is to heal and maintain the quality and longevity of life through prevention, balance in one’s life, right thinking, nutrition, lifestyle, body therapies and the use of herbs. Ayurveda also offers profound understanding of each person’s unique body, mind and consciousness, which is the foundation of health and happiness.

Vata

Pitta

Kapha

Dosha is our biological makeup or constitution. It is the manifestation in the human body of the basic 5 elements ether, air, fire, water & earth. There are 3 basic principles or humors called the tridosha. Ether & air makes up the air principle called vata dosha, fire and water make up the fire principle called pitta and earth and water makes up the water principle called kapha. The 3 doshas or humors govern our psycho-biological functioning. V P K are present in every cell, tissue and organ. When in balance they create health, when out of balance they are the cause of disease. All people have the 3 doshas, but one of them is usually primary, one secondary and the third is less prominent. Therefore, each person has a unique balance or proportion of V P K and a unique pattern of energy. There is an individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics that make up his/her constitution (prakrutti).

Agni

Agni is the biological fire that governs digestion, assimilation and transformation of matter into energy. This central fire is acidic in nature and governs digestion and assimilation of food. Agni can destroy foreign bacteria and toxins in the digestive system and longevity depends upon agni.

There are other agni present in the cells, tissues and organs and they help maintain the nutrition of the bodily tissues and the immune system. Intelligence, understanding, perception and comprehension are also functions of agni.

Ama

Ama is raw and unprocessed food, thoughts, feelings and emotions. When food components are undigested and unabsorbed, they accumulate in the GI tract and other subtle sites in the body and turn into Ama, a toxic, sticky, foul-smelling substance. Ama develops when agni’s function is impaired and can clog the intestines and other channels, such as capillaries and blood vessels. These toxins are absorbed into the blood and enter the general circulation. They eventually accumulate in weaker parts of the body where they create contraction, clogging, stagnation and weakness of the organs and reduce the immune mechanism of the respective tissues.

The root of all disease is Ama.

For more information on Ayurveda, including detailed explanations and answers to frequently asked questions, it is recommended to visit the FAQ page. This page will provide further insights into Ayurveda, its principles, and how it can contribute to a healthier and balanced life.