According to Ayurveda, from birth to death, doshas influence the health status and physical constitution of a man, either positively or negatively.

The term Prakruti is a Sanskrit word that means, “nature,” “creativity,” or “the first creation.” The combination of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha that was present in the individual at the time of conception is maintained throughout his lifetime. Different persons can have different combination of Vata, Pitta and kapha as their basic constitution or Prakruti. That’s why two people react differently when exposed to a similar situation. Thus according to Ayurveda everyone is unique and each one of them has a distinct body constitution, which is totally different from each other.

The concept of Prakruti and Vikruti can be illustrated by reference to our body temperature. When healthy, we maintain an average body temperature of about 98 degrees. Although, different persons can have different base temperatures, it does not change much so long as the person is healthy. When we go outside on a winter day, our body temperature may go down slightly; but will pick right back up to the normal if we are healthy.

When we are sick, or catch a cold, our body temperature will go up. This indicates that we are sick or outside our normal base condition. We may take medicine to bring the body temperature back to the normal range. In analogy to Ayurveda, our present temperature may be considered as Vikruti because Vikruti means the state of disease. So it is important to understand the Prakruti and Vikruti of our body. Arm with this knowledge we can map a treatment strategy. This is the basic premise of Ayurveda.

The diagnostic system developed by Holistic Online can be utilized to determine both your Prakruti and Vikruti. Ayurveda teaches us how the Vikruti can be changed by means of diet and meditation so as to approach the Prakruti or the state where we can have perfect health.

Malas are the third in the trinity of the body; the other two are doshas and dhatus. According to Ayurveda only a balanced condition of doshas, dhatus and malas is Aarogya (good health or disease free condition) and their imbalance causes ill health or disease.

Significance of Mala:
As a result of metabolic processes being carried out in the body, essence of ingested food and waste products are constantly formed. If waste products are not being formed besides the essence i.e. beneficial products that nourish tissues, then metabolic process would be impaired ultimately leading to the formation of malformed tissues. So, there needs to be an appropriate segregation of essence of ingested food and waste product and excretion of the waste matter on appropriate time for maintaining health.

Malas are actually the waste products of the body and their proper excretion from the body is essential, so that the proper health of the individual can be maintained because if the waste products are not thrown out it can toxify. Waste products:

There are mainly three types of Malas:

• Purish: Stool.
• Mutra: Urine.
• Sweda: Sweat.

Vata doshas initiate all forms of activity and motion in the body. It acts as a network of communication from tissue to tissue and cell to cell. It is responsible for perception, assimilation and reaction. Vata doshas is the basis of all communication process in the body. All motions, transportation and electromagnetic activities are controlled by vata. ‘Pitta dosha’ is responsible for all types of transformations in the body. Pitta controls digestion of food as well as conversion of light rays that fall on the retina to electric impulses. It is mainly associated with the chemical reaction and changes taking place in the body. Pitta controls emotion like anger, fear and boldness.

Pitta controls digestion of food, it is responsible for hunger, appetite and thirst. The functions of pitta are more physical compare to vata. There are mainly five types of pitta dosha. The quality of Pitta dosha’ is most predominant during youth and adulthood. ‘Pitta’ reflects the dynamics of youth. Kapah dosha is the third important part of dosha. It is the cohesive energy in the body, it smoothes out problems, lubricates and provides support when needed.

If ‘vata’ is kinetic energy then ‘kapha’ is potential energy. Kapha is the principle of water and earth is heavy and moist. It is said that carbohydrates and fats can increase ‘kapha’ There are five types of kapha dosha, based on both anatomy and body function. ‘Kapha’ abnormalities lead to respiratory disease, feeble mindedness, weakness and lethargy.

It is seen that the dead body and the other inanimate objects have none of the three doshas. Which proves that all the three doshas are invariably connected with life. Each of them has it’s own significance and qualities, which are contrary to each other so as to maintain the equilibrium.

According to Ayurveda dhatus are the basic tissues, which maintain and nourish the body in other words it can be defined as one, which supports the body. There are mainly seven types of dhatu according to Ayurveda. The seven dhatus are composed of five mahabhutas. These dhatus remain inside the human body in a proper equilibrium so that the body can function properly but any disturbance in their equilibrium causes disease.

The seven dhatus are as follows:

• Rasa: (Plasma)
• Rakta : (Blood)
• Mansa : (Muscles)
• Meda : (Fat)
• Asthi : (Bone)
• Majja : (Bone marrow)
• Shukra : (Reproductive fluid or Semen)

In Sanskrit the word dhatu means ‘that which binds together’. Dhatu is the element, which constructs our body. Dhatu is the base of growth and survival. Dhatus take different forms in our body to maintain life. Different organs (sharir avayavas) and different body systems (strotasas) are made out of dhatus. Our nourishment and development is fully dependent on dhatus. They support the mind. To summarize, dhatus account for the Ayurvedic explanation of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. Our body processes consumed food and transforms it into life sap, which in turn creates a chain of further body tissues i.e. dhatus. Their gain gives quality to our life and their loss destroys life. The Quantity and quality of each dhatus and it’s balanced functioning is very important for perfect health.

Samanyaj

Nanatmaj : This disease is caused due to disequilibrium of one particular Dosha. Like grudhrasi(sciatica), Kamala(jaundice), Medorog(obesity) due to vitiation of Vata, Pitta, Kapha Doshas respectively.

Sadhya refers to curable diseases and Asadhya means incurable diseases.

Sadhya is further divided into following two categories:

Sukhasadhya refers to diseases, which are easily curable within a short span of time.
Kruchchhasadhya are those diseases, which are curable with difficulty.

Asadhya is divided into following two categories:
Yapya Where in treatments or remedies applied afford relief to the patient but within a short span relapse again. So also the patient is relieved when he is on medication but if the medication is stopped the disease relapses. It is controllable only at the time of medication.

Anukarma irredeemable i.e. remedies applied in no way give relief to the patient

Characteristics of Sukhasadhya diseases:

• Diseases that can be cured in a short span are called su-sadhya.
• The body of the patient is capable of withstanding all types of therapies.
• The patient has control over his sense organs.
• The disease has few causes, mild pro-dormal symptoms, mild characteristic features and no complications.
• Doshas, dushyas (tissues), desha (regions), kala (season) and prakruti (constitution of body) are dissimilar.
• Disease arising from only one dosha, manifesting in one pathway only and is of recent onset.

Characteristics of Kruchchhasadhya:

• It requires more than one difficult method of treatment.
• It has many incurable (distressing) symptoms.
• Takes long time to develop.
• It might need surgical and other methods of treatment.
• All such diseases are cured, but with difficulty, hence Krcch – sadhya.

Characteristics of yapya:

• It is that disease which though is generally opposite (in qualities) of the curable;
  still persist for remaining period of life.
• Giving slight relief by suitable pathya (diet and medicines).
• Getting aggravated again by even trivial causes.
• Does not get cured without leaving remnants.
• Arising from bad actions of the patient.
• Continuing long because the person has a certain definite span (duration) of life.

Characteristics of Anukarma:

• It falls under the category of incurable diseases.
• Has to be rejected because it possesses qualities entirely opposite to curable.
• It produces giddiness, delusion, restlessness, and appearance of fatal signs and loss of function of sense organs.

Even curable (sadhya) diseases, if they are in strong combinations, become incurable (asadhya).Other than this there are diseases, which falls under the category of Agantuj caused due to external factor like poison, accidents, heat stroke, etc. Nijroga caused due to disharmony of the Doshas and lastly Manas (psychiatric disease).

• Dosha
• Dhatu
• Mala
• Agni

These are called the Mool Siddhant or the basic fundamentals of Ayurveda.

Dosha

The three vital principles of doshas are vata, pitta and kapha, which together regulate and control the catabolic and anabolic metabolism. The main function of the three doshas is to carry the byproduct of digested foods throughout the body, which helps in building up the body tissues. Any malfunction in these doshas causes disease.

Dhatu

Dhatu can be defined, as one, which supports the body. There are seven tissue systems in the body. They are as follows:

• Rasa (Plasma)
• Rakta (Blood)
• Mamsa (Muscle)
• Meda (Fat tissues)
• Asthi (Bone)
• Majja (Marrow)
• Shukra (Semen)

Dhatus only provide the basic nutrition to the body. And it helps in the growth and structure of mind. It is a chain system where each dhatu is developed or transformed out of the previous tissue layer, starting with the first dhatu i.e. plasma (rasa). So it is important that the first tissue, plasma should be healthy if it is not it will affect the other dhatus or tissues also. The main tissue Rasa is derived from food and is composed of vata, pitta and kapha molecules. It supplies nourishment to all the tissues. It does not contain cells. Dhatus mainly provide the nourishment to all the tissues. It contains no cells.

Mala

Mala means waste products or dirty. It is third in the trinity of the body i.e. doshas and dhatu. There are three main types of malas, e.g. stool, urine and sweat. Malas are mainly the waste products of the body so their proper excretion from the body is essential to maintain the proper health of the individual. There are mainly two aspect of mala i.e. mala and kitta. Mala is about waste products of the body whereas kitta is all about the waste products of dhatus.

Agni

All kinds of metabolic and digestive activity of the body takes place with the help of the biological fire of the body called Agni. Agni can be termed as the various enzymes present in the elementary canal, liver and the tissue cells. That’s why Ayurveda is called the “science of life” or longevity.

The ayurvedic treatment not only cures a particular disease but also goes deep into the root cause. The concept of ayurveda is to promote health rather than just treat disease. All the remedies and suggestions are solely based on nature. It cures a particular disease not just from the physical aspect but it also takes the mental, emotional and spiritual well being into account. According to ayurveda the structural aspect of every individual is made up of five elements, namely: earth, water, fire, air and space.

The functional aspect of the body is governed by three biological humors. Traditional techniques and processes are used to prepare the medicines at home, while certain amount of mechanization is inevitably used for large-scale production.
The beauty of the therapeutics is that they contain the active principles in their natural forms and their administration in prescribed dozes does not cause any side effects to the patients.

India is known worldwide for its ayurveda treatment. There are various centers across the country, which gives an authentic ayurveda treatment. Kerala is the most famous destination for ayurvedic treatment in India. It attracts tourists not only from other parts of India but also from different countries. The treatment mainly comprises of powders, tablets, decoctions, medicated oils etc. prepared from natural herbs, plants and minerals. Panch Karma therapy is also used as a treatment in many diseases.

Panchkarma is a purifying therapy to enhance the metabolic process through food and herbal medicines. Panch Karma means five types of actions or techniques or treatment. As the wastes are eliminated from the body the person becomes healthy.

Ayurveda gives a complete look into the lifestyle of a person. Like starting from his personality to his daily food habits. Ayurveda helps us in understanding each individual at a very subtle personal level and giving a detailed description about diet, daily routine, life-style, actions and activities to be followed. It’s a science that teaches how to live life in a true and natural balance.

Ayurveda aims at having a healthy and happy society free from diseases. Two most important aims of Ayurveda are: to maintain the health of healthy people and to cure the diseases of sick people.