A Cursory Look at Ayurveda
If the term Ayurveda is new to you, it’s sure to become more known to you. Popularity in the age-old wisdom of this ancient system of natural health care is on the rise.
The advent of Covid-19 forced many of us to look for alternative means of self-care and healing. Studies show that the pandemic resulted in a surge in Ayurveda research, with the highest number of annual publications occurring in 2020 and 2022. *1
Currently nearly 250 million American adults use Ayurvedic medicine to enhance their health and wellness, per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and numbers are increasing.
Considered the oldest known holistic health care system in the world, this ancient system of medicine originated in India as far back as 5,000 years ago. Originally, this traditional practice was passed down from teacher to student and later documented in written texts that form the foundation of Ayurveda. These ancient texts, the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, are believed to have been written between 1500 and 500 BCE.
The word "Ayurveda" is derived from the Sanskrit words "ayur," meaning life, and "veda," meaning science or knowledge. It is often referred to as the "science of life" and focuses on maintaining a balance between the body, mind, and spirit to promote overall health and well-being.
Ayurveda’s premise is that the universe is composed of five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether (space) and that the human body contains all 5 elements to varying degrees. These five elements are believed to form the three basic humors of the human body (doshas) in differing combinations. These doshas represent distinct combinations of the five elements and influence an individual's physical, mental, and emotional characteristics. Ayurveda respects each person as unique, with their own exclusive make-up. The principle of treatment is to address the human body's constitution (prakriti), and life forces (doshas) and encompasses a wide range of practices involving personalized lifestyle recommendations, dietary guidelines, herbal remedies, certain treatments, yoga, massage, meditation, and detoxification.
Ayurveda considers disease the result of living out of harmony with your natural constitution, creating an imbalance of energies (doshas). Everyone has a unique balance of these energies which affects our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies. There are three primary doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Collectively, they are referred to as “Tridoshas.” Usually, one dosha will be dominant and thus need to be brought into balance for optimum health. The goal of Ayurveda is to restore and maintain harmony and homeostasis within the bodies and between the individual and their environment.
For our purposes, we will focus on the contemporary use of Ayurveda in aromatherapy, massage, and spa treatments.
Aromatherapy and essential oils are often used in Ayurveda to help balance the doshas and promote overall well-being. Each dosha has its own unique qualities, and certain scents are believed to have specific effects on individual doshas. Ayurvedic practitioners often recommend using selected essential oils through methods like aromatherapy diffusers, massage oils, or in bath rituals.
While we have formulated blends for the three primary doshas and the Tridoshas, as well as the Shirodara treatment (more below), these formulations were created for general use as a complementary practice. Although we have provided a very generalized guide to the doshas, Ayurveda encompasses a multi-faceted approach to balancing the doshas for optimum health. Therefore, for personalized advice regarding your individual dosha diagnoses and exploring Ayurveda or aromatherapy dosha balancing, one should consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.*2
SHIRODHARA
Shirodhara is an ancient Ayurvedic healing practice that involves pouring a continuous stream of warm herbal-infused oil or other liquids onto the forehead for approximately 30 minutes. The treatment induces a relaxed sense of alertness similar to a deep meditative state and aims to bring the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) back into balance.
The term Shirodhara is derived from the Sanskrit words Shiro, which means "head," and Dhara, which means "flow." This therapeutic technique has its roots in classical Ayurvedic texts and has been used for thousands of years in India. The development of Shirodhara is deeply tied to Ayurvedic principles and the understanding of the mind-body connection. The purpose is to balance the three doshas by addressing specific physical and mental conditions associated with doshic imbalances and promote a harmonious flow of energy throughout the body.
Shirodhara treatment is said to have the following benefits:
- Lowers stress and calms nerves
- Reduces fatigue
- Improves sleep quality
- Boosts blood circulation.
- Helps relieve headaches
- Improves concentration
- Awakens intuition
- It is believed to alleviate mental stress and promote mental clarity.
- The forehead is considered a significant energy point, and the treatment aims to balance the flow of energy in this area.
These effects were substantiated in a 2013 study which showed that Shirodhara treatment can result in significant improvements in mood scores and lower levels of stress. Also reduced were diastolic blood pressure readings, heart rates as well as rates of breathing. *3
Our Shirodhara Oil soothes nerves and relaxes the mind, creating a meditation-like feeling of harmony and wellness, leaving you with a peaceful state of mind.
Scalp massage with Shirodhara Oil can stimulate blood circulation and balance the Ayurvedic doshas. The warm oil nourishes the scalp, hair, and nervous system, contributing to overall well-being. The result is a peaceful state of mind and soft, luxurious hair.
GENERAL DOSHA PROFILES
VATA - Air Element
Body Type: Slender, tall, or short
Coloring: Brown or dark eyes, hair
Skin: dry, dehydrated
Cold feet and hands
Characteristics:
- Nervous, restless
- Quick, Racing thoughts
- Creative
- Prone to insomnia, fatigue, and headaches
- Sensitive to cold
Balancing Scents: Warm, grounding, and calming aromas such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, and frankincense.
Vata Balancing Oil and Lotion helps to restore balance to those who are alert, enthusiastic, and creative. Our Vata blend is gently warming and comforting and tends to bring Vata dominant dosha down to earth, leaving them in a relaxed and peaceful state.
PITTA – Fire Element
Body Type: Medium build; holds bodyweight around midsection
Coloring: Medium complexion, gray, green, hazel eyes
Skin: slightly oily, perspires easily
Characteristics:
- Sharp and Focused
- Assertive
- Irritable
- Volatile
- Ambitious
- Passionate
- Sensitive to heat
- Prone to inflammation, premature balding, heartburn, and digestive issues
Balancing Scents: Cooling and soothing aromas such as rose, mint, chamomile, sandalwood, and ylang ylang.
Pitta Balancing Oil and Lotion helps to restore balance to those who are contented with a sharp, discriminating intellect. Our pitta blend is cooling and soothing to the body. Its sweet aroma is charming and calming and will leave a Pitta dominant dosha even tempered and refreshed.
KAPHA – Earth Element
Body type: Large, often overweight
Coloring: Fair to Medium complexion, large, dark eyes
Skin: fair, oily, moist
Characteristics:
- Easy-going
- Calm and Relaxed
- Slow and graceful
- Loving and kind
- Prone to congestion, fluid retention and respiratory issues heartburn and digestive issues
- Gains weight easily
- Tendency to oversleep
Balancing Scents: Stimulating and invigorating aromas such as eucalyptus, rosemary, black pepper, jasmine, and citrus scents.
Kapha Balancing Oil and Lotion helps to restore balance to those who are strong, reliable, sweet natured and have a strong immune system. Our kapha blend is warming and drying in its effect. It also brings a zesty burst of energy to leave Kapha dominant doshas feeling uplifted.
TRIDOSHA – All 5 elements
As the name implies, Tridosha is a combination of all 3 doshas and defines the principles which govern our mental, physical, and emotional bodies. We all have a combination of the doshas, however, to be truly Tridoshic, all 3 doshas must be in equal balance. This constitution is rare, as most people operate from a dominant dosha, with prominent energies of two or varying degrees of the three.
Characteristics:
- Even temperament
- Sound sleeper
- Strong immune system
- Intelligent, discerning, creative
- Strong digestion
Tridosha Balancing Oil and Lotion addresses the combination of the five elements and is used to stabilize the three vital energies of the body & mind (doshas). It can rebalance your constitution, increase energy, support the immune system, and moisturize skin and joints, bringing about homeostasis and creating a dynamic sense of well-being.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While these oils are used traditionally in Ayurveda, individual responses to these oils may vary. Before using any herbal oil, especially if using it for therapeutic purposes, it's advisable to consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner to ensure it is suitable for your specific constitution and health conditions.*2
Shop Body Bliss Ayurveda
*1 Nedungadi P, Salethoor SN, Puthiyedath R, Nair VK, Kessler C, Raman R. Ayurveda research: Emerging trends and mapping to sustainable development goals. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2023 Nov-Dec;14(6):100809. doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2023.100809. Epub 2023 Oct 11. PMID: 37832213; PMCID: PMC10583085.
*2 International Society for Ayurveda and Health (ISAH) website at http://www.ayurvedahealth.org OR National Ayurvedic Medicine Association’s database of practitioners https://www.namacb.org/directory-of-certified-professionals
*3 Dhuri KD, Bodhe PV, Vaidya AB. Shirodhara: A psycho-physiological profile in healthy volunteers. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2013 Jan;4(1):40-4. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.109550. PMID: 23741161; PMCID: PMC3667433.