from the makers of AstroPal
Foundations

How Ayurveda thinks

The core vocabulary AyurPal uses across every entry — the doshas, the six tastes, the qualities, tissues and channels. Short plain-language notes here; fuller, fully-sourced explanations are being authored.

Doshas

The three functional principles. Vata governs movement, Pitta transformation, Kapha structure. Health is their balance for your nature.

vatapittakapha

Rasas

The six tastes. Each is said to have specific effects on the doshas and is used to guide diet and formulation.

madhuraamlalavanakatutiktakashaya

Gunas

The qualities (e.g. heavy/light, hot/cold, oily/dry) by which substances and states are described and balanced.

gurulaghusnigdharukshashitaushnamandatikshnasarasthiramridukathinavishadapicchilasandradravasthulasukshmakharaslakshna

Viryas

The potency of a substance — broadly heating (ushna) or cooling (shita).

ushnashita

Vipakas

The post-digestive effect — the taste-effect a substance leaves after digestion.

madhuraamlakatu

Dhatus

The seven bodily tissues, from plasma to reproductive tissue, nourished in sequence.

rasaraktamamsamedaasthimajjashukra

Srotas

The channels through which substances and processes move in the body.

pranavahaannavaharasavaharaktavahamutravahapurishavahasvedavaha

Agni States

States of agni (digestive fire) — its strength shapes digestion and the formation of ama.

samavishamatikshnamanda

Ama States

Ama is the classical idea of undigested residue; these are its described states.

niramasama
An evolving primer. These are concise orientation notes to the classical framework, drawn from the standard texts cited across AyurPal. Detailed, individually-sourced articles for each concept are in development.