Man And The Five Basic Elements

The five basic elements - Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth exists in all matter. According to our maharishis consciousness was energy manifested into the five basic principles or elements and this concept of the five elements lies at the heart of Ayurvedic science.

Man is a microcosm of nature and so the five basic elements present in all matter also exist within each individual.

In the human body there are many spaces which are manifestations of the Ether element. e.g. the spaces in the mouth, nose, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, abdomen, thorax, capillaries, lymphatics, tissues and cells.

Air is the second cosmic element, the element of movement. Within the human body, Air manifests in the larger movements of the muscles, the pulsations of the heart, the expansion and contraction of the lungs and the movements of the stomach wall and intestines. Response to a stimulus is the movement of afferent and efferent nerve impulses, which are sensory and motor movements. The entire movements of the central nervous system are governed by bodily Air.

The third element is Fire. The source of Fire and light in the solar system is the sun. In the human body, the source of Fire is the metabolism. Fire works in the digestive system. In the gray matter of the brain cells. Fire manifests as intelligence. Fire also activates the retina which perceives light. Thus, body temperature, digestion, the thinking processes and vision are all functions of bodily Fire. All metabolism and enzyme systems are controlled by this element.

Water is the fourth element in the body. It manifests in the secretions of the digestive juices and the salivary glands. In the mucus membranes and in plasma and cytoplasm. Water is absolutely vital for the functioning of the tissues, organs and various bodily systems. Water is called the Life.

Earth is the fifth and last element of the cosmos that is present in the microcosm . Life is possible on this plane because Earth holds all living and nonliving substances to its solid surface in the body, the solid structures - bones, cartilage, nails, muscles, tendons, skin and hair - are derived from Earth.

Thus, the five elements are directly related to man's ability to perceive the external environment in which he lives.

The Elements of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine. Its aim is to provide guidance regarding food and lifestyle so that healthy people can stay healthy and people with health problems can improve their health.

Its recommendations will often be different for each person regarding which foods and which lifestyle they should follow in order to be completely healthy. This is due to its use of a constitutional model. It understands that there are energetic forces that influence nature and human beings. These forces are called the Tridoshas. It sees a strong connection between the mind and the body.

Ayurveda is a science of life it helps maintain health by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual backs into equilibrium with their true self.

Ayurveda looks at each individual as a unique structure of the three doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha and five primary elements- ether (space), air, fire, water and earth. These elements present in the environment have great influence on us. Ether and air combine to form Vata dosha. Fire and water combine to form the Pitta dosha and water and earth combine to form Kupha dosha.

Vata Dosha- Vata governs the principle of movement and therefore can be seen as the force which directs nerve impulses, circulation, respiration, and elimination.
Pitta Dosha- The Pitta dosha is the process of transformation or metabolism. The transformation of foods into nutrients that our bodies can assimilate is a pitta function. Pitta is also responsible for metabolism in the organ and tissue systems as well as cellular metabolism.
Kapha Dosha- Kapha is responsible for growth, adding structure unit by unit. Another function of the Kapha dosha is to offer protection. Cerebral-spinal fluid protects the brain and spinal column and is a type of Kapha found in the body. Also, the mucosal lining of the stomach is another example of the Kapha dosha protecting the tissues. We are all made up of unique proportions of Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

These ratios of the doshas vary in each individual; and because of this, Ayurveda sees each person as unique composition that accounts for our diversity.

Ayurveda suggest specific lifestyle and nutritional guidelines to assist the individual in reducing the dosha that has become excessive. It also suggests certain herbal supplements to hasten the healing process. If toxins in the body are abundant, then a cleansing process known as Pancha Karma is recommended to eliminate these unwanted toxins.

Ayurveda Gift Of God

Ayurveda is a gift of God to human beings. In our Ancient Granths we can find the origin of this ancient science especially in Atharvaveda. In this Vedic literature we can find information about various products to keep ourselves healthy. Ayurveda is connected with the sage-physician Charaka and the sage-surgeon Shushruta.

This ancient science is health, not disease, specific and takes into account the patient's entire personality - body, mind and spirit. According to Ayurveda, every human being has a typical constitution that decides the state of his or her health and his or her predisposition to a particular disease. With the help of Ayurveda one can know about their body constitution which will enable you to live your life in harmony with yourself and your environment.

Ayurveda- Science of a long Life

Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is a form of alternative medicine in use primarily in the Indian subcontinent and now days many countries have started adapting ayurvedic treatment methods.

The word "Ayurveda" is a tatpurusha compound of āyus "long life" and Veda "knowledge", and would roughly translate as the "Science of a long Life". Ayurveda is claimed to deal with the measures of healthy living, along with therapeutic measures that relate to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony. Ayurveda is also one among the few traditional systems of medicine involving surgery.