What is Ayurveda?

2026 August 17

The term "Ayurveda" comes from Sanskrit and combines the words "Ayus" for life or long lifespan and "Veda" for knowledge or science.

Accordingly, Ayurveda means "science of life" or "science of long life."

Ayurveda is an ancient healing art, the health system of the ancient Indian Vedic high culture, and is considered the oldest health system in the world. The WHO recognizes Ayurveda as traditional medicine. The traditions in ancient Ayurvedic scriptures describe that the basic principles of Ayurveda were perceived long ago by highly developed humans in their own consciousness through introspection. Therefore, it was initially passed only from teacher to student and much later, when reliable transmission in this manner no longer seemed dependable, it was laid down in the first Ayurvedic writings and works.

Ayurveda is part of the "Veda," a comprehensive teaching that views humans, nature, and the cosmos as a whole.

The holistic health system of Ayurveda deals with life as a whole and combines physical, psychological, mental, and spiritual aspects with the aim of balancing body, mind, and soul, thus primarily preventing illnesses and – if necessary – healing them. Ayurveda experts and doctors consider a wide variety of factors, such as consciousness, nutrition, professional or relationship stress, too little rest, medication, too much, too little, or incorrect movement, the environment, individual constitution, likes and dislikes, and much more. The teaching of the three Doshas plays a central role.

Doshas

According to Ayurvedic teachings, the countless factors that influence us and our health can be described with the help of three principles or biological programs, which are called Doshas (pronounced: "Do-shas") in Sanskrit, best translated as "fundamental functional principles." These three Doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—determine both the nature surrounding us and our body and mind. Conversely, everything that acts on our organism directly influences the balance of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, can disturb it, or contribute to a better Dosha balance. If these three fundamental energies are in an individual balance, this is the best prerequisite for health and contentment: We feel good, are healthy, and radiate natural beauty.

Balancing imbalanced Doshas is a core principle of Ayurveda.

1. Vata

The Vata Dosha is referred to as the principle of movement, characterized by the elements Ether (Space) and Air. It enables alertness, movement, and communication. Ayurvedic doctors relate it to the nervous system, respiration, circulation, and musculoskeletal system.

2. Pitta

The Pitta Dosha is referred to as the metabolic principle, characterized by the element fire. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is closely associated with digestion, energy, metabolism, body temperature, dynamism, intellect, and emotions.

3. Kapha

The Kapha Dosha is referred to as the structural principle, consisting of the elements earth and water. Kapha provides form, shape, and endurance. In Ayurvedic medicine, balanced Kapha stands for firmness, stability, and a balanced fluid metabolism.

Ayurveda Types

According to Ayurvedic understanding, every person is unique. They possess distinctive characteristics, physical features, and talents that indicate a specific Dosha distribution. Depending on the individual manifestation of the three Doshas, different Ayurveda types, called constitution types or Dosha types, are distinguished. These are an expression of the natural Dosha weighting that accompanies us from birth and does not fundamentally change during our lifetime. This constitution, called "Prakriti" in Ayurveda, shapes both our physique and our abilities and preferences. These Ayurveda types are named after the predominant Doshas as Vata type, Pitta type, etc. The more we manage to live according to our constitution and maintain our personal Dosha balance, the better we feel. If, on the other hand, unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as a diet unsuitable for our constitution type, stress, etc., disturb the Dosha balance, we move away from our natural equilibrium. Ayurvedic doctors refer to this current state, which deviates from our innate basic constitution, as "Vikriti." To restore our personal balance, Ayurvedic doctors recommend, in addition to therapeutic applications, simple measures such as a good daily routine and diet that everyone can observe and implement.

1. Vata Type

For Vata types, Vata is the predominant Dosha. The "principle of movement" gives them mobility on a physical and mental level. Among Vata types, there are many creative and articulate individuals characterized by quick comprehension and great resourcefulness. With their alert and flexible minds, Vata types can be wonderfully enthusiastic about new things, which they, however, rarely pursue sustainably.

2. Pitta Type

Pitta types are often endowed with an athletic physique, a rosy complexion, and radiant eyes by the fiery Pitta Dosha. Their strong charisma, ambition, and independence pave their way into leadership positions. Their usually strong digestive fire (Agni, see notes) provides them with the necessary energy for their projects, and also gives them a keen appetite and ensures that they tolerate most foods well.

3. Kapha Type

In the Kapha type, the dominant Dosha is also reflected on both physical and mental levels. While the Kapha Dosha, which stands for structure and stability, provides a rather robust physique and comparatively slow movements on a physical level, it imparts calmness, endurance, and composure on a psychological level. Even in hectic situations, the Kapha type keeps a cool head and, as a rock in the surf, ensures the necessary calm and stability.

4. Mixed Types

Few people are pure Vata, Pitta, or Kapha types; most are mixed types. Relatively often, two Doshas are more pronounced, while the third Dosha is weaker. The predominant Doshas also determine the name of the constitutional type in mixed types, with the dominant Dosha placed first, e.g., Vata/Pitta type (dominance of Vata with strong Pitta and weak Kapha). It is rather rare to find all three Doshas in a balanced ratio (Tri-Dosha).

Every person has their individual proportions of the three Doshas. Knowing these, even a layperson can better understand the peculiarities of their body, behavior, moods, and characteristics.

Central Elements

Ayurveda offers various procedures and applications to improve our Dosha balance and thus prevent or treat illnesses.

1. Pulse Diagnosis

In traditional Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis, the pulse is felt with three fingers. The systematic pulse detected provides the Ayurvedic doctor with valuable information about possible disturbances and imbalances in the interplay of the Doshas. An experienced pulse diagnostician immediately understands the whole person. To a certain extent, self-pulse diagnosis can also provide information about one's own current Dosha balance. If a Dosha imbalance is revealed during pulse diagnosis, Ayurveda offers numerous balancing measures to restore natural balance.

2. Massages

In Ayurveda, there are many different forms of massage, which differ in their application and effect.

(i) Abhyanga

Particularly well-known and popular is Abhyanga, a gentle Ayurvedic full-body oil massage, usually performed synchronously by two practitioners. As a self-Abhyanga, this gentle, Dosha-balancing oil massage can also be performed at home by anyone. A true pampering program that simultaneously cleanses and relaxes. The Dosha-balancing effect can be enhanced by special massage oils that contain essential oils and essences of selected herbs specifically tailored to the Ayurvedic type.

(ii) Vishesh

A particularly intensive form of oil massage is Vishesh, a synchronous deep full-body oil massage. The massage itself is significantly more vigorous in Vishesh than in Abhyanga. Both synchronous massages can, for example, be used as part of a Panchakarma cure.

(iii) Garshan

Also very well-known is Garshan (pronounced: Garschan), a stimulating dry massage that does not use oil and in which the entire body is massaged with a massage glove.

(iv) Udvartana

Udvartana is a full-body exfoliating massage, to which a Kapha-reducing effect is attributed, similar to Garshan.

3. Cleansing Cures

To free the body from burdensome metabolic residues and toxins and to counteract an excessive accumulation of Ama (see notes), Ayurveda uses various techniques for internal cleansing. The most well-known Ayurvedic cleansing cure is Panchakarma (pronounced: Pan-cha-karma). Panchakarma, which means "five actions," is an extremely intensive and at the same time particularly gentle internal cleansing cure practiced by Ayurvedic doctors. The procedures used in Maharishi Ayurveda include full-body synchronous massages, forehead oil flows, herbal steam baths, enemas, and treatment of the eyes and nasal mucous membranes. These applications help to gently cleanse the organism of toxins and metabolic waste and restore it to its harmonious balance. Panchakarma is used both as a cure for treating illnesses and for prevention and increasing well-being.

4. Nutrition

Ayurvedic dietary teachings can be used for both health maintenance and healing purposes. In addition to general dietary rules, it is primarily about optimally adapting nutrition to an individual's needs. Factors such as a person's age, digestive strength, the current time of day and year, and their health status are all considered in dietary recommendations. Crucial for a good supply to body and mind is not only what we eat, but also how well we assimilate our food. A prerequisite for optimal assimilation is a sufficiently strong digestive fire (Agni, see notes), which influences our digestion and overall metabolism. At the same time, good digestion ensures the creation of Ojas, which is closely linked to our life energy. Besides digestive strength, Dosha balance plays an important role in Ayurvedic dietary teachings. In Ayurveda, specific properties are attributed to every food, drink, herb, etc. Depending on the ingredients, spices, preparation, and flavors, our meals have a different effect on the three Doshas and can thus be specifically used to improve Dosha balance. In this way, our diet can noticeably help prevent diseases and delay the aging process. The decisive factors are:

what we eat
how much we eat
how we eat
when we eat and

In addition to general dietary recommendations, our website offers many tips for a Dosha-appropriate diet as well as suitable recipes for many occasions.

5. Meditation

Transcendental Meditation naturally creates a unique state of deep physical relaxation and rest. At the same time, the mind remains wide awake. Consciousness rests within itself. Stress and tension are dissolved. Mind and body come to rest and draw valuable energy. The technique is so simple that it can be practiced independently anywhere and anytime after appropriate training.

6. Breathing Exercises

Pranayama is a simple breathing technique that calms the mind and puts the body into a relaxed state. Therefore, it is also practiced especially before meditation. Pranayama promotes coherence between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. At the same time, energy reserves are activated, and we feel physically light and clear in mind.

7. Yoga

Yoga asanas are specific body postures that are taken one after another in a defined sequence. A relaxed posture is very important – asana roughly means comfortable posture – and no exertion during execution. The goal is to balance the different forces in the body, which often act in opposition, and bring them into harmony.

Each individual posture invigorates certain forces in the mind-body system. If one effortlessly directs one's attention there, energy flows into that area. We feel the free flow of energy and the dissolution of blockages and perceive our body more consciously. The asanas have a positive effect on the musculoskeletal, respiratory, digestive, hormonal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. The internal organs are also massaged. Particularly pleasant effects are greater flexibility and endurance, without being exhausted after the exercises. On an emotional level, the exercises balance mood swings and calm the mind.

8. Herbal Medicine

Ayurveda has always used plants for therapy. Over thousands of years, valuable knowledge about unleashing the healing powers of plants has been preserved. This concerns not only the selection and composition of the plants, but also the right time of their harvest, their purification, the synergistic combination with minerals, and the elaborate processing processes, some of which even last for years. An art that requires a lot of experience.

In addition to specific formulations that, for example, affect certain organ functions, Doshas, or Dhatus, Ayurvedic herbal medicine also knows formulations to which Ayurveda attributes a general health-promoting, strengthening, or rejuvenating effect. These include the Rasayanas, manufactured according to traditional recipes, which, according to Ayurvedic teachings, are supposed to maintain the original order of the organism and make it more resistant to harmful influences, and some of which are now offered as dietary supplements.

9. Aroma, Sounds, Colors & More

But Vedic sound and music therapy, color and light therapy, aromatherapy, Vedic astrology (Jyotish), and Vedic architecture (Sthapatya Veda) also belong to the repertoire of approaches used in Maharishi Ayurveda.