Ayurveda is an intricate system with a tradition of integrating useful concepts and
practices from other systems. This ancient system has adapted to modern science
and technology, including biomedical science and quantum physics. In this blend-
ing, Ayurveda and conventional medicine have been completely compatible.What Is Ayurveda?
Ayurveda asserts a fundamental connection between the microcosm and macro-
cosm. People are a creation of the cosmos and as such are minute representations of
the universe, containing within them everything that makes up the surrounding
world. One must understand the world in order to understand people and, con-
versely, understand people in order to understand the world. Ayurveda emphasizes
the interdependence of the health of the individual and the quality of societal life.
Therefore, measures to ensure the collective health of society, such as pollution con-
trol and appropriate living conditions, are encouraged.The Five Elements
Ayurveda views nature and people as made up of five elements or qualities. These
elements are earth, water, fire, air, and space; they are believed to be composed of
both matter and energy. As the elements interact, they give rise to all that exists:
■ The earth element is dense, heavy, and hard. In the human body, all solid
structures and compact tissues are derived from the earth element.
■ The water element is liquid and soft and exists in many forms in the body
such as plasma, cytoplasm, saliva, nasal secretion, eye secretion, and cere-
brospinal fluid.
■ The fire element is hot and light and is believed to regulate body temperature
as well as being responsible for digestion, absorption, and assimilation. The
solar plexus is the seat of fire in the body. Fire manifests in the brain as the
gray matter that allows one to recognize, appreciate, and comprehend
the world.
■ The air element is cold, mobile, and rough, and in the cosmos is the mag-
netic field responsible for the movement of the earth, wind, and water. In the
body, the air element governs cellular function, the movement of breath, and
movements of the intestines. Thought, desire, and will are also governed by
the air principle.
■ The space element is clear and subtle and makes up most of our bodies.
Space plays a unique role because it allows the existence of sound, which
needs space in order to travel. Sound includes not only audible sound like
music but subtler vibrations that resonate in our bodies.52 ABSOLUTE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TOALTERNATIVE MEDICINE