Ayurveda

Ayurveda, translated as the "science of life," is a system of medicine that utilizes various therapies including diet, yoga, and herbal preparations, to restore harmony and balance within the body. The principles of Ayurveda are based on the concept of tridosha, or the system of three doshas. The three doshas, known as Vata, Pitta and Kapha, are dynamic forces with distinct characteristics that shape all things in the universe. Each person is born with a unique constitution, called prakriti, that is composed of varying amounts of influence from each of the three doshas. In the Ayurvedic view, an imbalance between the doshas produces a condition called vikriti, a Sanskrit word that means "deviated from nature." According to Ayurvedic principles, each individual's diet should be suited to his or her prakriti. During times of vikriti, or imbalance, the diet can be used to either decrease or increase the three doshas until balance is restored.