How does Ayurveda use the elements and what are they?

Five basic elements (panca mahabhuta) – elements.

Thanks to the elements in Ayurveda, we can determine the specific nature of each object, as everything can be assigned to one of these five categories. They are the fundamental, material components of both the entire universe and every living being.

The elements themselves are much more subtle than their visible counterparts. This is Ayurveda's equivalent of today's terms used in physics or chemistry to describe phenomena in nature and the universe. It is a very sophisticated method of classifying not only everything that surrounds us in a material sense but also cyclically: days, seasons, stages of human life, etc., because in different periods, specific elements dominate, affecting the characteristics of that period. For example:

- for days, it is Dinacharya, or the daily routine, which determines which elements are more active at a given time of the day;

- for weather, meaning seasons, it is Ritucharya, or the cycle of seasons - in Ayurveda, there are 6 seasons, but for our classification, they are: cold and rainy winter (water and earth), warm and humid spring (water and fire), warm and dry summer (fire and air), cold and dry autumn (air and space);

- for the stages of human life, these are: childhood, when the body grows – water and earth, adulthood, when a person is most efficient, active, and changeable – fire, and maturity, old age, when physical activity decreases, and the body begins to weaken – space and air.

All these elements are contained in every human, every animal, every plant, every food, etc. The difference and uniqueness of each being and thing lie in its individual, specific proportion of the various elements within it.

Space - in the human body, each of the elements can be observed through its manifestations, which are – empty spaces, i.e., the manifestation of ether, i.e., empty spaces in the mouth, nostrils, pulmonary alveoli, joints, digestive system, e.g., intestines, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels, tissues, or cells.

Air - space in motion is called air and is the second cosmic element, the element of movement. Within the human body, air manifests in larger muscle movements, heartbeats, in the contraction and relaxation of the lungs, and in the movement (peristalsis) of the stomach and intestinal walls. Responses to external stimuli through the senses, the central nervous system, and the movement apparatus are controlled by bodily air. Under a microscope, it can be seen that even the smallest cell moves spontaneously.

Fire - 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 metabolism. It operates in the digestive system, in the gray matter of the brain, and manifests as intelligence. Fire also activates the retina of the eye, which perceives light. Body temperature, digestive processes, including enzymatic systems, thought processes, vision, and all metabolism are functions of bodily fire.

Water – is the fourth element in the body. It manifests, for example, in the secretion of digestive juices, salivary glands, in mucous membranes, in plasma and cytoplasm. Water is absolutely essential for the functioning of tissues, organs, and various systems in the body. For example, dehydration caused by diarrhea and vomiting must be treated immediately to save the patient's life. This element is so essential that bodily water is referred to as the water of life.

Earth – is the fifth and final element of the cosmos, which is also present in the microcosm. Life is possible on this plane because the earth supports all living and non-living substances on its solid surface. In the body, solid structures such as bones, cartilage, nails, muscles, tendons, skin, and hair derive from the earth.

The five basic elements combine in various proportions to form three fundamental biological energies called dosha (Dosa). The concept of dosha is paramount in Ayurveda - all aspects of this science, i.e., dietetics, diagnostics, treatment methods, selection of herbs, prevention, physical exercises, etc., are explained in direct reference to the three dosha.

Want to learn more about dosha? Read the next article! :)

Stay healthy!

Namaste,

Bartosz

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