Ayurveda - deep reference

Vata · वात

Akasha (ether) + Vayu (air)

Seat: Colon (pakvashaya), pelvis, thighs, ears, bones, skin

Function: Movement - circulation, breathing, nerve impulses, elimination. Governs prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana.

Imbalance: Dryness, constipation, gas, joint cracking, insomnia, anxiety, tremors, weight loss, palpitations.

Balance: Warm cooked food, ghee, sesame oil abhyanga, regular routines, early bed, no cold drinks, oil-massage feet at night.

Pitta · पित्त

Agni (fire) + Apas (water)

Seat: Small intestine (grahani), liver, spleen, blood, eyes, skin

Function: Transformation - digestion (jatharagni), metabolism, vision, intelligence, courage, skin colour. Governs the five sub-types (pachaka, ranjaka, sadhaka, alochaka, bhrajaka).

Imbalance: Acidity, ulcers, hyper-perspiration, anger, criticism, inflammation, skin rashes, premature greying, hair loss.

Balance: Cool sweet foods, coconut, ghee, milk, no chillies, no fermented food at night, midnight sleep, moonlight walks, sandalwood paste.

Kapha · कफ

Apas (water) + Prithvi (earth)

Seat: Stomach (amashaya), lungs, throat, head, joints

Function: Cohesion - lubrication, immunity, strength, patience, memory, body-mass. Governs the five sub-types (kledaka, avalambaka, bodhaka, tarpaka, shleshaka).

Imbalance: Cold + mucus, weight gain, dullness, depression, attachment, diabetes, hypothyroid, oversleep, sinus congestion.

Balance: Pungent + bitter + astringent foods, ginger, black pepper, brisk exercise, no daytime sleep, dry steam, kapha-pacifying rasayanas.

Purisha (पुरीष) · Faeces

Should be once-daily, brown, sinking, without straining - a sign of healthy agni.

Mutra (मूत्र) · Urine

Pale-yellow, clear, light scent. Dark or scanty = pitta + meda imbalance.

Sveda (स्वेद) · Sweat

Cools the body, lubricates the skin, excretes salt. Excess = pitta/kledaka imbalance.

Vasanta · वसन्त

Chaitra–Vaishakha (mid Mar–mid May)

Dosha: Kapha-aggravating (winter's accumulated kapha melts).

Agni: Moderate. Pancha-karma - vamana - best done now.

Diet: Old grains, honey, mudga, ginger, light foods. Bitter + pungent + astringent. Avoid heavy + sweet + cold.

Practice: Dry massage (udvartana), brisk exercise, anjana, gandusha.

Grishma · ग्रीष्म

Jyaishtha–Ashadha (mid May–mid Jul)

Dosha: Vata-accumulating from heat-induced dryness.

Agni: Weak. Reduce solid food.

Diet: Sweet, cool, oily, liquid - mantha, panaka, rice, milk, coconut, sugar cane, watermelon, ghee. Avoid pungent + salty + sour.

Practice: Avoid noon sun. Cool baths. Sandal paste. Moonlight nights on terrace. Mid-day rest is permitted (only ritu when divaswapna is allowed).

Varsha · वर्षा

Shravana–Bhadrapada (mid Jul–mid Sep)

Dosha: Vata-aggravating; pitta accumulating.

Agni: Lowest of the year - vishama agni (irregular).

Diet: Old grains, mudga soup, ginger, garlic, sour foods, light meals. Avoid raw + heavy + leafy greens.

Practice: Pancha-karma - basti (medicated enema) - best in this season. Stay indoors during heavy rain. Warm drinks. Boiled water only.

№ 1 · Vamana · वमन

Therapeutic emesis. Patient takes ghee + emetic + drinks salt water; vomits until bile colour shows.

For: Kapha disorders - asthma, diabetes, sinusitis, chronic skin issues.

Best season: Vasanta

№ 2 · Virechana · विरेचन

Therapeutic purgation. Trivrut + draksha + jaggery decoction. 8-15 evacuations.

For: Pitta disorders - hyperacidity, jaundice, eczema, IBS-C.

Best season: Sharad

№ 3 · Basti · बस्ति

Medicated enema - niruha (decoction) or anuvasana (oil). Most powerful pancha-karma.

For: Vata disorders - sciatica, arthritis, infertility, constipation, paralysis.

Best season: Varsha

№ 4 · Nasya · नस्य

Nasal medication - drops of medicated oil/ghee/decoction.

For: Head & neck disorders - sinusitis, migraine, premature greying, alopecia.

Best season: Anukula (favourable) ritus

№ 5 · Rakta-mokshana · रक्तमोक्षण

Bloodletting - jalauka (leech), shringa (cow-horn), or alabu (gourd) suction.

त्रिफला चूर्ण

Indication: Digestive tonic, mild laxative, eye health, rasayana. The most-used Ayurvedic churna.

Ingredients: Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Vibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)

Source: Charaka Samhita; Ashtanga Hridaya

च्यवनप्राश

Indication: Immunity, longevity, respiratory health. Pioneer rasayana - original formulation given to the sage Chyavana.

Ingredients: Amalaki (base), Ghee, Honey, Sugar, ~40 herbs including ashwagandha, gokshura, dashamoola

Source: Charaka Samhita Chikitsa 1.1

सारस्वतारिष्ट

Indication: Memory, speech clarity, anxiety. Classic medha-rasayana for students + speakers.

Ingredients: Brahmi, Vacha (Acorus calamus), Ashwagandha, Kustumburu, Pippali, Honey, sugar, jaggery, draksha

Source: Bhaishajya Ratnavali; Sharangadhara Samhita