Ayurveda is grounded in a metaphysics of the "five great
elements" (
Devanāgarī: [महा] पञ्चभूत;Prithvi-
earth, Aap-
water, Tej-
fire, Vaayu-
air and Akash-
ether)—all of which compose the
Universe, including the human body.
Chyle or plasma (called
rasa dhatu),
blood (
rakta dhatu),
flesh (
mamsa dhatu),
fat (
medha dhatu),
bone (
asthi dhatu),
marrow (
majja dhatu), and
semen or
female reproductive tissue (
shukra dhatu) are held to be the seven primary constituent elements --
saptadhatu (Devanāgarī: सप्तधातु) of the body
.Ayurveda deals elaborately with measures of healthful living during the entire span of life and its various phases. Ayurveda stresses a balance of three elemental energies or
humors:
vata (air & space – "wind"),
pitta (fire & water – "bile") and
kapha (water & earth – "phlegm"). According to ayurveda, these three regulatory principles—
Doshas (literally that which deteriorates - Devanāgarī: त्रिदोष)—are important for health, because when they are in balanced state, the body is healthy, and when imbalanced, the body has diseases. Ayurveda holds that each human possesses a unique combination of
Doshas. In ayurveda, the human body perceives attributes of experiences as 20
Guna (Devanāgarī: गुण, meaning qualities).
Surgery and surgical instruments are employed
It is believed that building a healthy
metabolic system, attaining good
digestion, and proper
excretion leads to vitality.
Ayurveda also focuses on exercise,
yoga,
meditation, and
massage.
Thus, body, mind, and spirit/consciousness need to be addressed both individually and in unison for health to ensue.