The Five Elements of Nature & the Tridosha Theory at SanAquam Ayurvedic Spa Retreat, Drakensberg, South Africa

The Five Elements of Nature & The Tridosha Theory

Ayurveda views each and every person as unique, with a unique mind-body constitution and a unique set of circumstances, all of which must be considered in determining the healing approaches and recommendations for everyday life. This is similar to the view of modern science where the structure of the DNA makes every human being unique and an entity unto him or herself.

Five elements of nature

The five element theory

The fundamental doctrine of Ayurveda is that the universe is made up of five eternal elements of air, space, fire, earth and water. The quality and nature of all matter, living and non-living is dependent relative to the variation in proportion of these elements. It is the divergence in the balances of these basic elements that lend physical and chemical characteristics to all that is found in nature.

Air is the gaseous form of matter that is both itinerant and dynamic. Within the body, air (oxygen) is the basis of all energy transfer reactions. It is the key element required for fire to burn.

Space is the place where everything happens. It is the field that is simultaneously the source of all matter and it is only distances that separate matter. Here sound represents the entire spectrum of vibration.

Fire is the power to transform solids into liquids, to gas, and back again. In other words, it possesses the power to transform the state of any substance. Within our bodies, the fire or energy binds the atoms together. It also converts food into fat (stored energy) and muscle. Fire transforms food into energy. It creates the impulses of nervous reactions, our feelings, and even our thought processes. Fire is considered a form without substance.

Earth represents the solid state of matter. It manifests stability, permanence and rigidity. In our body, the parts such as bones, teeth, cells and tissues are manifestation of the earth. Earth is considered a stable substance.

Water characterizes change and represents the liquid state. Water is necessary for the survival of all living things. A large part of the human body is made up of water. It is the movement of blood and other vital bodily fluids through our cells that generate energy, carrying away wastes, regulating temperature, sustain disease fighters, and carrying hormonal information from one area to another. Water is substance without stability.

Five Eternal Elements

Everything  in the universe is made of these five elements.  All substances can be classified according to their predominant element. For example, a mountain is predominantly made up of the earth element while it also contains water, fire, air and space. In the same way , a butterfly is predominantly made up of air and space which makes it light with easy movement. A lion on the other hand , has predominatly the fire element.

In the same way, every human being has a unique combination of the five elements of nature and the varying proportions of these elements will determine the constitution of the individual. Based on this , certain foods and lifestyle will pacify the mix of the five elements while other foods and lifestyle will aggravate it.

The senses

The five elements also manifests in the functioning of the 5 basic senses of human beings. This permits the person to perceive the external environment in which he or she lives.

The Tridosha Theory

The five eternal elements of air, space, fire, earth and water is apparent in the human body as subtle energies namely – ‘Doshas’ which maintain and control the metabolic activities in the mind and body. The effect of the different combination of the five elements of nature manifest in Doshas as three fundamental humours namely :

  • Vata (Elements of Air and Space) – the intelligence that governs movement, communication and transport in the mind body complex;
  • Pitta - (Elements of Fire and some water and air) – the intelligence that governs metabolism, digestion, enzyme and hormone function;
  • Kapha - (Elements of Earth and Water) – the intelligence that governs structure, immunity and resistance to disease as well as the healing and repairing response in the mind-body complex;

This is collectively know as the Tridosha Theory. The doshas or subtle energies make up the body and serve to maintain it in a state of optimal health. However, if these energies are aggravated, the body mind connection begins to suffer and you can experience imbalance and disease. 

Like and unlike

Anything that enters our body (microcosm) can have three possible side effects. It can act as a food that nourishes, it can act as a medicine that balances and it can act as a poison that harms the body.  The rule that governs the interaction between the environment and the organism is the Law of Like and Unlike. Like increases like and unlike decreases like.

For example, when you sunbathe the body temperature goes up. Similarly, when you bathe in cold water, the body temperature goes down. Everything you experience, food, medicine, or poison, increases like parts of your microcosm and decreases those parts that are unlike it. Similarly, thought also enters your microcosm. Thoughts can be positive or negative and will influence your being. Good thoughts cheer us up while bad thoughts poison us and decrease the feeling of well-being. Knowing what are good and bad for ourselves enable us all to make informed choices in life.

 

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