A Letter from Deepak

Dear Friends,

The first question Ayurvedic doctors ask is, “Who is my patient? What is this person’s essential nature?” They look for clues that will reveal the patient’s constitutional type or dosha, which is like a blueprint of the innate tendencies built into every aspect of one’s mind-body system.

Ayurveda teaches that all health-related measures – whether an exercise program, dietary plan or herbal supplement – must be based on an understanding of an individual’s unique constitution and the specific needs that derive from it. By knowing a patient’s dosha, an Ayurvedic doctor can tell which diet, physical activities, and medical therapies are most likely to help and which might do no good or even cause harm.

In contrast with conventional medicine, which has devoted a lot of effort to isolating the difference among various diseases, Ayurveda focuses on the unique qualities of individuals, pointing out that diseases differ mainly because people are so different. Consider the diagnosis of depression. The standard treatment for depression in modern Western medicine is a course of antidepressants and – perhaps – psychotherapy.

Generalized treatment, however, is a hit-or-miss affair; it assumes that a given disorder or disease is the same in all people, isn’t the case. In someone with a Vata imbalance, depression often has a sudden onset and can manifest as frequent mood swings, hypersensitivity, and insomnia. Another person may experience depression mixed with anger following a major disappointment or perceived failure to achieve a personal goal. This is considered a Pitta depression. Finally, an individual with a Kapha depression may suffer from low energy, the inability to carry function in daily life, and obesity.

In effect, these people are suffering from three different diseases, which happen to travel under the same name. This is true for allergies, asthma, ulcers, and all other conditions. Ayurveda’s understanding of constitional types or doshas offers us a remarkably accurate way to pinpoint what is happening inside each individual.

By taking the Dosha Quiz in this Namasté, you can begin to understand your own mind-body type. This is vital information, for only by knowing your dosha can you get in touch with your body’s inner intelligence, which is the true source of everything unfolding in your life. Whether you are responding to a cup of coffee, a love note, or criticism from a supervisor, your mind-body is sending you a signal – a very personal one that only you can tune in to.

When you pay attention to all the signals you are receiving in every moment, you will start to understand yourself and will no longer be bound by society’s notions of what you should be doing, saying, eating, thinking, or feeling. As the Vedic sages discovered, your body knows what is good for it and bad for it; nature has given you the correct instincts from birth. As you listen to your inner intelligence and honor its wisdom, you will naturally experience balance and deep well-being.

Love,

Deepak