Ayurvedic Terminology

Pronounced DOH-shuhs. The three main mind-body types or energies that shape how we look, feel, and function: Vata (movement), Pitta (metabolism), and Kapha (structure). Each person has all three, but usually one or two dominate.

Pronounced GOO-nuh. In Ayurveda, every food or herb is described by its qualities, like heavy or light, cooling or warming. These qualities explain how something feels in the body and affects digestion and vitality.

Pronounced KAH-fah. Kapha provides strength, lubrication, immunity, and calm. Excess Kapha creates heaviness, leading to weight gain, congestion, sluggish digestion, brain fog, and lethargy.

Pronounced DHAH-toos. True healing means nourishing all seven dhatus, from plasma to blood, muscle, fat, bone, nerve tissue, and reproductive essence. Weak digestion prevents these tissues from being properly fed, resulting in brittle nails, dry skin, hair loss, or hormonal imbalances.

Pronounced KITCH-ah-ree. Ayurveda’s ultimate healing food: a simple dish of rice, moong dal, ghee, and spices that’s gentle, grounding, and easy to digest. It’s tridoshic, meaning it balances all three doshas.

Pronounced AH-muh. Ama forms when digestion is sluggish and food isn’t fully broken down, creating sticky waste that clogs your gut, brain, and immune system. Signs include brain fog, white-coated tongue, bad breath, fatigue, skin issues, and stubborn bloating.

Micro-minerals like zinc and magnesium that power enzymes, hormones, and brain health. Vital to Agni, Ojas, and every Dhatu, where deficiency leads to fatigue, cravings, and burnout.

Pronounced UG-nee. Agni is the fire that breaks down food, fuels metabolism, and burns toxins. When Agni is weak, you may experience bloating, fatigue, gas, heaviness, and poor nutrient absorption.

Pronounced PIT-tah. Pitta governs digestion, metabolism, drive, and focus. Excess Pitta leads to inflammation, loose stools, skin issues, acid reflux, irritability, and burnout.

Pronounced TEEK-shnuh. A quality often associated with strong Pitta that drives digestion and mental clarity but can cause inflammation if unchecked. Signs include burning digestion, acid reflux, angry outbursts, or inflamed skin.

A driver of many chronic conditions, often stemming from poor digestion, toxin buildup, and stress. In Ayurveda, inflammation equals excess Pitta plus built-up Ama.

Supporting your liver’s ability to clear hormones, toxins, and waste. Governed by Ranjaka Pitta, the liver must stay cool and flowing to prevent skin issues, hormonal chaos, and fatigue.

Your gut metabolizes and clears hormones like estrogen, insulin, and cortisol. Agni governs hormone balance while Ama and slow elimination trap hormones in the body.

Pronounced OH-jus. Ojas is your body’s deepest reserve of strength, governing glow, stamina, hormone balance, and emotional resilience. It can only be built when digestion is strong and stress is low.

Water that your body can actually absorb thanks to trace minerals and electrolytes. Minerals carry water into the cells for true lymphatic health.

Minerals that fuel hydration, nerve signaling, and muscle recovery. Linked to Prana Vata and Rasa Dhatu, because without electrolytes, hydration and flow stall.

Stimulating your lymph to drain waste, reduce puffiness, and regulate immunity. Lymph equals Rasa Dhatu, and when Srotas are blocked, stagnation, swelling, and brain fog follow.

Your gut, liver, kidneys, lymph, and skin all work to eliminate waste. In Ayurveda, detox means clear Srotas, strong Agni, and regular Mala (waste) elimination.

Pronounced VAH-tah. Vata governs motility, elimination, circulation, and creativity. When out of balance, it causes constipation, anxiety, insomnia, bloating, dry skin, and racing thoughts.

Incomplete or infrequent bowel movements that stall detox and hormone clearance. A classic Apana Vata disorder causing buildup of Ama, recirculated estrogen, and systemic stagnation.

When your cells are water-starved even if you drink plenty. This represents aggravated Vata and weakened Rasa, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and constipation.

Gut health drives estrogen detox, mood, weight, and thermoregulation during perimenopause and menopause. Menopause represents a Vata + Pitta shift plus Ojas depletion, requiring digestion to be reset.

Pronounced SROH-tahs. Srotas are the physical and energetic channels that carry nutrients, waste, emotions, and information. Blockages lead to lymph congestion, sluggish bowels, clogged sinuses, or menstrual irregularity.

Pronounced PRAH-nuh. Prana is the energy that fuels your breath, thoughts, circulation, and vitality. When blocked, you experience shallow breathing, low energy, brain fog, or feeling emotionally flat.

The constant communication between your gut and brain that shapes mood, anxiety, focus, and sleep. The mind (Manas) is seated in the gut, so weak Agni disrupts this connection.

A filter that protects your brain from toxins but breaks down with inflammation and leaky gut. In Functional Ayurveda, when Ama overwhelms digestion or Majja Dhatu weakens, the barrier becomes vulnerable.