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As we discussed in previous articles, Classical medical traditions like Ayurveda and Chinese medicine define health and healing by describing the principles involved in the way our body and minds function. These principles are what we could call the laws of nature and help us to understand how all things are created, how they act, unfold, and function.

Conventional medicine uses the body’s biochemistry, for example, to measure a person’s “health.” Thus, diagnostic tests, like blood tests, are used as a point of reference for understanding the functions of the body. It’s important, however, to understand that the presence of and the nature of all of the chemicals in our body follow the natural laws that control and determine their function. We might say that Ayurveda looks at the big picture of how and why things function rather than looking at the products or physical manifestations of those functions (i.e. blood test results).

Earlier we discussed the Five Elements as being the universal principles that make up all of nature’s functions.  In the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, the Five Elements are put into three categories or points of reference that makes it possible to use them for diagnostic and treatment purposes. These three categories are referred to as Doshas. The first is Vata that containing The Elements of Space and Air; the second, Pitta containing the Elements of Fire and Water; and the third, Kapha containing the Elements of Earth and Water. Together the Doshas reflect all of our bodily, emotional, and mental functions.

Vata is best understood as the principle of movement. It is the dynamic energy that allows our body to function. We can see it working in our circulation, breathing, excretions, and that which energizes all activities of the body and mind including our ability to think. The Vata energies are mobile, rough, light, dispersing, fragmenting, ungrounding, and cooling. They are traditionally associated with the large intestine and the nerve system brain functions. Vata is said to be the main constituent in all diseases because being pure energy it increases everything including all imbalances and its qualities tend to break down solid physical systems and functions. In this sense it is also the energetic manifestation of stress.

Kapha is the polar opposite of Vata. Kapha represents everything that is ‘solid’ about us. It manifests in tissues, organs, and all of our physicality allowing us to be form and to create forms such as new cells and even thoughts which are also ‘forms’. Kapha energies are heavy, smooth, soft, cold, stable, and wet. When in balance Kapha grounds us and gives us feelings of stability, security, being nourished, and being satisfied. Kapha provides the basis for strength and controls energy so that it can be used appropriately in a stabilizing and up building way.

Pitta governs the transformation processes which make it possible for us to evolve, develop, and mature. In conventional medical language this is called metabolism. We see Pitta at work through our hormone systems and in digesting our food that makes it possible for cells and tissues to grow and develop. We also ‘digest’ and process information with our Pitta creating our intelligence and wisdom. All creativity, our visions and insights, are a reflection of Pitta. The properties of Pitta are warm, penetrating, light, and oily.

You may respond to Dr. Russell below or email him at drussell@boomer-living.com

Tags: blood test results, conventional medicine, diagnostic tests, health and healing, medical traditions

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