A healing system that originated thousands of years ago in India, Ayurveda is based on the notion that good health depends on the balance between mind, body, and spirit. Considered a complementary health approach in the United States, Ayurveda focuses on restoring balance in the body through a personalized plan that can include massage, specialized diets, herbs, aromatherapy, and exercise.
In Ayurveda, the balance of a person’s doshas is thought to explain some of his or her individual differences and the likelihood of illness. An imbalanced dosha is believed to interrupt the natural flow of vital energy, or prana. The disrupted energy flow is thought to impair digestion and allow the buildup of body waste, or ama, which further impairs energy and digestion. The vata dosha is a combination of space and air. It controls movement and is responsible for basic body processes such as breathing, cell division, and circulation. Vata body areas are the large intestine, pelvis, bones, skin, ears, and thighs. People with vata as their main dosha are believed to be quick-thinking, thin, and fast, and be susceptible to anxiety, dry skin, and constipation.