01/30/2026
On Ayurveda.
Ayurveda, the "science of life" is a holistic approach to health based in the traditional medicine of India. It is a complementing sister-science to yoga. Where yoga helps us to achieve a sense of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance in our lives, ayurveda gives a personalized framework as a foundation for achieving that balance.
As stated before, ayurveda is a holistic system that looks at every body as an individual. For this reason it differs from the objective and empirical approach of Western allopathic medicine which focuses on biochemical commonalities. Instead of prescribing pills, procedures, and surgeries to treat disease like the Western approach, ayurveda starts by assessing the individual's energy disposition (or "dosha") to prioritize a preventative lifestyle.
The three doshas include pitta (fire+water), kapha (water+earth), and vata (air+space). Most people have a dominant dosha, but some people may have a strong secondary dosha. Understanding one's dosha-type is the starting-step for ayurveda. Once we know this, we can start considering how the food we eat, the habits we cultivate, and way we feel all interact. A pitta person who eats a lot of hot peppers, cinnamon, and salt regularly might discover that an excess of these increases their pitta, thereby potentially dis-regulating the body. Ayurveda, like Traditional Chinese Medicine and other holistic approaches, strives to educate the individual about their own body to help better achieve a sense of balance. When the body and doshas are out of balance, disease begins (sometimes spelled dis-ease, as balance brings ease in being).
If considered critically, ayurveda provides us with a complementing lens to health, nutrition, and wellbeing. While Western medicine excels at acute intervention and pathology, Ayurveda excels at identifying the lifestyle and energetic imbalances that allow disease to take root in the first place. For this reason in some cases the causes of disease have proliferated for so long that traditional holistic approaches like ayurveda may no longer be effective. There are many stories of individuals who turned to holistic medicine after receiving a Western diagnosis; in many cases their treatments were unsuccessful.
If nothing else, gaining an understanding of ayurveda may lead an individual to make better decisions about their diet, habits, and intentions. As a holistic system, ayurveda considers everything from astrology to herbs as having an effect on us -- but make no mistake: herbal supplements are no substitute for improper nutrition.
Don't be a Fool, and do your research and check with a medical professional before changing your diet or starting any supplements (especially if you're on medication). Also consider participating in the Fool's upcoming Ayurvedic Nutrition class (to be announced soon). Thank you, and please be well.
