Determining the constitution and the cause of illness
Ayurveda embraces certain fundamental doctrines, known as the darshnas.
The body is thought of as being composed of the following basic concepts:
- The five basic elements of life (pancha mahabhutas).
- The humours (doshas)
- The seven tissues (dhatus)
- The three waste products (malas)
- The gastric fire (agni).
Health is believed to comprise a balanced state of the doshas(made from
five basic elements and senses), the dhatus, the malasand a gastric fire
(agni), together with the clarity and balance of the mind, senses and spirit.
The basis of ayurvedic theory is summarised in Figure 7.2.
The five basic elements of life (pancha mahabhutas)
Ayurveda considers that the universe is made up of combinations of the five
elements (pancha mahabhutas). These are akasha(ether), vayu(air), teja
(fire), aapa(water) and prithvi(earth). The five elements can be seen to exist
198 | Traditional medicine
Figure 7.2Ayurvedic principles.
Microcosm
to
MacrocosmTejaPittaVata Akasha
KaphaVayuPrithviAapa