Another thing I love about using essential oils is not only do they smell good, but they are also extremely functional, healing, balancing, antimicrobial, and can help relieve everything from allergies to stress.
All that to say, I have started producing and selling three of my favorite perfume and body oil blends and am formally launching WILD ACORN APOTHECARY. These blends are extra special as they are Ayurvedic Dosha based formulas for balancing the winds of Vata, fire of Pitta, and the earth and water elements of Kapha.
In this post I want to shine a light upon Ayurveda and Doshas so that you may start to learn more about your own unique constitution and how to find healing and foster more balance in your mind and body. Get ready for subsequent posts on essential oils and the specific elements and properties of Wild Acorn Apothecary Dosha Balancing Blends: Dhara, Vayu, and Surya.
What is Ayurveda?
Just as everyone has a unique fingerprint, each person has a particular combination of physical, mental and emotional characteristics, which comprises their constitution. In Ayurveda these characteristics are broken down into three categories: vata, pitta, and kapha - collectively referred to as the doshas. These doshas are life forces, that are combinations of the five elements: air, ether, fire, water, and earth. All people have the qualities of vata, pitta and kapha, but one is usually primary, one secondary, and the third is usually least prominent. Some may even be balanced or "triodoshic" with equal blend of all three.
I suggest you read through the descriptions here and follow your intuition to which might be your primary dosha. I've also provided a link to a dosha quiz below if you would like a more guided approach.
Vata | Ether & Air | Movement
Vata is the elements of ether and air and presides over the energy of movement. Vata provides the essential motion for all bodily processes and is extremely vital for health. Vata is most prominent in the fall and at the change of seasons, and these are the most important times to be careful of diet and lifestyle. One purpose of lifestyle considerations is stabilize this motion. Routine is very useful in assisting the vata individual to effectively ground all this moving energy. |
Attributes of Vata
| General guidelines for balancing vata:
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Pitta | Fire & Water | Digestion & Metabolism
Pitta is comprised by the elements of fire and water and presides over the energy of digestion and metabolism. Fire is hot, penetrating, sharp and agitating. Similarly, pitta people have warm bodies, penetrating ideas and sharp intelligence. When out of balance, they can become very agitated and short-tempered. The pitta body type is one of medium height and build, with ruddy or tan skin. They may have many moles and freckles. Their skin is warm and less wrinkled than vata skin. Their hair tends to be silky and they often experience premature graying or hair loss. Their eyes are moist and of medium size. The nose is sharp and the tip tends to be reddish. |
Attributes of Pitta
| General guidelines for balancing pitta
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Kapha | Earth & Water | Lubrication
Kapha is comprised by the elements of earth and water and presides over the energy of lubrication. Kapha types are blessed with strength, endurance and stamina - but tend to shun exercise. In balance, they tend to have sweet, loving dispositions and be stable and grounded. Their skin is oily and smooth. They may gain weight easily, have a slow metabolism, thick skin, and their bodies and muscles are well developed. Their eyes are large and attractive with thick, long lashes and brows. Sleep is deep and prolonged. Kapha types are attracted to sweet, salty, and oily foods, but their constitutions are most balanced by bitter, astringent and pungent tastes. |
Attributes of Kapha
| General guidelines for balancing kapha:
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