Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.” In Sanskrit Ayurveda means “Science of Life”.
The Approach
Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through close attention to balance in one’s life, right thinking, diet, lifestyle and the use of herbs. Balance and equilibrium are key words in Ayurvedic practice. “A healthy state is a balanced state”. Animals and Humans are constantly bombarded with bacteria, viruses, weather changes, new life situations, diet changes and more. Every one of these things can affect the balance in the body, mind and spirit. When these three are in balance, the being is in a state of health.
Knowledge of Ayurveda enables one to understand how to create this balance of body, mind and consciousness according to one’s own individual constitution and how to make lifestyle changes to bring about and maintain this balance.
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a particular pattern of energy—an individual combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics—which comprises their own constitution.
Ayurveda identifies three basic types of energy or functional principles that are present in everyone and everything. These are energies (Doshas) are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These principles can be related to the basic biology of the body. All beings have the qualities of vata, pitta and kapha, but one is usually primary, one secondary and the third is usually least prominent. The cause of disease in Ayurveda is viewed as a lack of proper cellular function due to an excess or deficiency of vata, pitta or kapha. Disease can also be caused by the presence of toxins.
According to Ayurvedic philosophy the entire cosmos is an interplay of the energies of the five great elements—Space, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Vata, pitta and kapha are combinations and permutations of these five elements that manifest as patterns present in all creation. In the physical body, vata is the subtle energy of movement, pitta the energy of digestion and metabolism, and kapha the energy that forms the body’s structure. To maintain balance between these energies for optimal health, it is important to pay attention to diet and lifestyle appropriate to one’s individual constitution.
In summary, Ayurveda addresses all aspects of life — the body, mind and spirit. It recognizes that each of us is unique, each responds differently to the many aspects of life, each possesses different strengths and weaknesses. Through insight, understanding and experience Ayurveda presents a vast wealth of information on the relationships between causes and their effects, both immediate and subtle, for each unique individual.
To create optimal health and balance in your pet’s life follow the three step process :
1. Identify dominant dosha
2. Understand the dosha
3. Select and diet and lifestyle approach that is best suited for the dosha.
Take the Curry n Pepper Dosha Quiz to discover your pet’s dominant dosha. Learn more about the qualities of Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas. Contact us to create a custom diet plan that is best suited for pet’s unique mind-body type.