AGNI - The digestive fire, with the function of regulating digestion, absorption, and assimilation.
ALLOPATHY - The system of medicine that usus treatments that oppose the pathology of disease (eg anti-inflammatories to treat inflammation); also refers to modern orthodox medicine in general
ALTERATIVE - A herb that alters the chemical state of the blood; blood-cleanser.
AMA - Undigested food or experiences that create disease-forming toxins.
ANALGESIC - Pain-reliever.
ANTIBIOTIC - Opposes life and kills pathogenic bacteria.
ANTISPASMODIC - Relieves muscular spasms and contraction
AROMATIC - A fragrant herb that contains essential oils, which tonify digestion and reduces flatulence.
ASHTANGA HRIDAYA SAMHITA - The Eight-Limbed Heart Sutra written by Vagbhata c600; a collected work of the essence of Ayurveda.
AYURVEDA - The traditional medical system of India, meaning the ‘science of life’
BHAGAVAD GITA - Sacred Hindhu scripture, describing the nature of reality in a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
BHAVAPRAKASHA - Written by Bhavna Mishra in 1596CE; the most important Ayurvedic materia medica treatise, listing the energetics of herbs and foods.
BUDDHI - Intellect.
CARMINATIVE - A herb that relieves gas, spasms, and helps digestion.
CATABOLIC - The destructive phase of metabolism, associated with pitta.
CHAKRA - An energy center linking the physical and subtle body. Also related to the plexuses, from where nerve fibers spread throughout the body.
CHARAKA SAMHITA - The first Ayurvedic text to be recorded in writing circa 2nd Century BCE, supposedly edited by the Ayruvedic Doctor, Charaka. It is considered to be a collection of all previous Ayurvedic thoughts.
CHRONIC - A disease with gradual onset, long- term symptoms and gradual changes.
DHANVANTRI - The Lord of Ayurveda.
DOSHA - Constitutional type, of which there are three: vata, pitta, kapha. When balanced they are responsible for good health, but when imbalanced they act as ‘faults’ and can cause illness.
GUNA - The ten pairs of opposing attributes that Ayurveda uses to describe the different qualities of matter.
KAPALABHATI - A brain- cleansing breathing practice.
KAPHA - One of the three doshas, with qualities of Earth and Water. It is heavy, wet, and cold, lives in the stomach and is responsible for nourishing the mucous membranes, bones, joints, heart,and memory.
KARMA - The universal principle of cause and effect.
LAXATIVE - A herb that causes a mild bowel motion.
MANAS - Part of the mind that conceptualises and analyses; includes memory.
MOKSA - Spiritual emancipation, self-realisation.
NERVINE - A herb that has an affinity for nourishing and calming the nervous system.
NETI - Nasal cleansing
OJAS - ‘Vital essence’, or the quality that maintains the inherent immunity and strength of the body.
PANCHA KARMA - The five traditional cleansing techniques of therapeutic emesis, purgation, enemas, nasal cleansing, and blood-letting.
PANCHAMAHABHUTA - The five great elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth that make up the material world.
PATHOLOGY - The typical behavior of a disease.
PITTA - One of three doshas, comprising Water and Fire. It is hot, wet, and light and its main site is the small intestines. It is responsible for the metabolic processes of the body. When healthy it adds zest, clarity, and energy to life but when aggravated it creates burning, inflammation and anger.
PRAKRUTI - The individual constitution and inherent nature of every person; as opposed to vikruti.
PRANAYAMA - The yogic practice of breathing with awareness. The focus is on extending the length of breath and balancing the rhythm; yoga
Qi - The ‘Vital force’ in traditional Chinese medicine, bringing warmth and energy to the body.
RAJAS - The quality of nature responsible for movement, passion and energy; one of the trigunas.
RASA - Literally, ‘taste’; it can also be translated as ‘essence’, ‘juice’, ‘sap’, ‘lymphatic fluid’, ‘flavor’ and ‘delicious’ and so carries with it all those associations.
RASAYANA - Rejuvenation ( literally ‘the path of juice’), a principle objective of Ayurveda.
SAMANYA VAISHESHIKA - The principle of ‘like increases like’ or ‘opposites balancing opposites’, the cornerstone of Ayurvedic practice.
SAMKHYA - One of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy from which Ayurveda draws its cosmological understanding of matter and evolution.
SATTVA - The quality of nature reflected in compassion, light and intelligence; one of the trigunas.
SUSHRUTA SAMHITA - A detailed surgical text written around 100 BCE by the great Ayurvedic teacher Sushruta.
STIMULANT - Increases metabolism, circulation and the function of an organ.
TAMAS - The quality of nature that reflects dullness, inertia and darkness; one of the trigunas.
TANTRA - A spiritual path utilising all of the senses for deifying the body. Successfully practised, this results in being carried across to the other side of existence, the shores of liberation.
TEJAS - The essence of the fire element. The result of the perfect digestion of all pitta- natured foods that gives consciousness and clarity to the mind.
TONIFY - The effect of the food, herb, or exercise that ‘tones’ and strengthens the quality of a tissue, organ, or system.
TRIGUNAS - The three metaphysical universal forces: sattva, rajas, and tamas; also known as the three mind qualities.
VASODILATOR - A herb that encourages the relaxation of the blood vessels.
VATA - One of the three doshas, made from the elements of Ether and Air. It is light, dry, and cold, and resides principally in the large intestine. It is responsible for all movement in the nervous system, muscles, heart, and mind.
VIKRITI - The current state of someone’s health or the present state of imbalance; opposed to Prakruti.
YOGA - The practice of unifying the mind and body, self and cosmic self. Commonly practised as postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation practices (dhyanam) to harmonise the health of the body and mind.
ALLOPATHY - The system of medicine that usus treatments that oppose the pathology of disease (eg anti-inflammatories to treat inflammation); also refers to modern orthodox medicine in general
ALTERATIVE - A herb that alters the chemical state of the blood; blood-cleanser.
AMA - Undigested food or experiences that create disease-forming toxins.
ANALGESIC - Pain-reliever.
ANTIBIOTIC - Opposes life and kills pathogenic bacteria.
ANTISPASMODIC - Relieves muscular spasms and contraction
AROMATIC - A fragrant herb that contains essential oils, which tonify digestion and reduces flatulence.
ASHTANGA HRIDAYA SAMHITA - The Eight-Limbed Heart Sutra written by Vagbhata c600; a collected work of the essence of Ayurveda.
AYURVEDA - The traditional medical system of India, meaning the ‘science of life’
BHAGAVAD GITA - Sacred Hindhu scripture, describing the nature of reality in a conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.
BHAVAPRAKASHA - Written by Bhavna Mishra in 1596CE; the most important Ayurvedic materia medica treatise, listing the energetics of herbs and foods.
BUDDHI - Intellect.
CARMINATIVE - A herb that relieves gas, spasms, and helps digestion.
CATABOLIC - The destructive phase of metabolism, associated with pitta.
CHAKRA - An energy center linking the physical and subtle body. Also related to the plexuses, from where nerve fibers spread throughout the body.
CHARAKA SAMHITA - The first Ayurvedic text to be recorded in writing circa 2nd Century BCE, supposedly edited by the Ayruvedic Doctor, Charaka. It is considered to be a collection of all previous Ayurvedic thoughts.
CHRONIC - A disease with gradual onset, long- term symptoms and gradual changes.
DHANVANTRI - The Lord of Ayurveda.
DOSHA - Constitutional type, of which there are three: vata, pitta, kapha. When balanced they are responsible for good health, but when imbalanced they act as ‘faults’ and can cause illness.
GUNA - The ten pairs of opposing attributes that Ayurveda uses to describe the different qualities of matter.
KAPALABHATI - A brain- cleansing breathing practice.
KAPHA - One of the three doshas, with qualities of Earth and Water. It is heavy, wet, and cold, lives in the stomach and is responsible for nourishing the mucous membranes, bones, joints, heart,and memory.
KARMA - The universal principle of cause and effect.
LAXATIVE - A herb that causes a mild bowel motion.
MANAS - Part of the mind that conceptualises and analyses; includes memory.
MOKSA - Spiritual emancipation, self-realisation.
NERVINE - A herb that has an affinity for nourishing and calming the nervous system.
NETI - Nasal cleansing
OJAS - ‘Vital essence’, or the quality that maintains the inherent immunity and strength of the body.
PANCHA KARMA - The five traditional cleansing techniques of therapeutic emesis, purgation, enemas, nasal cleansing, and blood-letting.
PANCHAMAHABHUTA - The five great elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth that make up the material world.
PATHOLOGY - The typical behavior of a disease.
PITTA - One of three doshas, comprising Water and Fire. It is hot, wet, and light and its main site is the small intestines. It is responsible for the metabolic processes of the body. When healthy it adds zest, clarity, and energy to life but when aggravated it creates burning, inflammation and anger.
PRAKRUTI - The individual constitution and inherent nature of every person; as opposed to vikruti.
PRANAYAMA - The yogic practice of breathing with awareness. The focus is on extending the length of breath and balancing the rhythm; yoga
Qi - The ‘Vital force’ in traditional Chinese medicine, bringing warmth and energy to the body.
RAJAS - The quality of nature responsible for movement, passion and energy; one of the trigunas.
RASA - Literally, ‘taste’; it can also be translated as ‘essence’, ‘juice’, ‘sap’, ‘lymphatic fluid’, ‘flavor’ and ‘delicious’ and so carries with it all those associations.
RASAYANA - Rejuvenation ( literally ‘the path of juice’), a principle objective of Ayurveda.
SAMANYA VAISHESHIKA - The principle of ‘like increases like’ or ‘opposites balancing opposites’, the cornerstone of Ayurvedic practice.
SAMKHYA - One of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy from which Ayurveda draws its cosmological understanding of matter and evolution.
SATTVA - The quality of nature reflected in compassion, light and intelligence; one of the trigunas.
SUSHRUTA SAMHITA - A detailed surgical text written around 100 BCE by the great Ayurvedic teacher Sushruta.
STIMULANT - Increases metabolism, circulation and the function of an organ.
TAMAS - The quality of nature that reflects dullness, inertia and darkness; one of the trigunas.
TANTRA - A spiritual path utilising all of the senses for deifying the body. Successfully practised, this results in being carried across to the other side of existence, the shores of liberation.
TEJAS - The essence of the fire element. The result of the perfect digestion of all pitta- natured foods that gives consciousness and clarity to the mind.
TONIFY - The effect of the food, herb, or exercise that ‘tones’ and strengthens the quality of a tissue, organ, or system.
TRIGUNAS - The three metaphysical universal forces: sattva, rajas, and tamas; also known as the three mind qualities.
VASODILATOR - A herb that encourages the relaxation of the blood vessels.
VATA - One of the three doshas, made from the elements of Ether and Air. It is light, dry, and cold, and resides principally in the large intestine. It is responsible for all movement in the nervous system, muscles, heart, and mind.
VIKRITI - The current state of someone’s health or the present state of imbalance; opposed to Prakruti.
YOGA - The practice of unifying the mind and body, self and cosmic self. Commonly practised as postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation practices (dhyanam) to harmonise the health of the body and mind.