The Definition of Health

What is the definition of health?

Are you in good health?  This is a question that comes up often in surveys while rating yourself on a scale from poor to excellent. If you were to ask a group of people for their definitions, you would probably get a variety of opinions on the matter. Some people base their health on number on the scale or lab results, some by how many pounds they can bench, and some by their food choices. Many of us are striving for excellent or very good health, but what does that really mean? The answer is that health is multi-faceted and if we look back thousands of years, we can find a very good definition

Sushruta is regarded as the father of anatomy and surgery and defined health back in the 2nd Century A.D. as follows:

समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रियः ||

प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते ||४२||

Sama doṣaḥ samāgniśca samadhātumalakriyaḥ

Prasannātmendriyamanāḥ svastha ityabhidhīyate

I want to break this down one piece at a time, so let's talk about the first bit.  Sama doṣaḥ, or balanced doshas sounds like a simple goal, right? Unfortunately, most of us are running around with one or all three doshas out of balance, and as much as we try to maintain bodily harmony, factors like food, hydration, weather, sleep, travel, or even our time of life can wreak havoc on our individual doshas, or bodily constitutions.

Here is a quick refresher, or maybe an introduction to the doshas, depending on where you are in your Ayurvedic journey.  The doshas are based on the elements, and each of us contain all of the elements, therefore all three doshas exist in our bodies in different percentages.  Vāta dosha is made of air and space. Pitta dosha is comprised of fire and water, and Kapha dosha is made of earth and water. Usually there is one prevalent dosha, while some people are dual-doshic, and in rare cases a person might be tridoshic and may naturally be more balanced or may more easily return to balance. (Having imbalances of each dosha does not mean that one is tridoshic). One of the most beautiful aspects of Ayurveda is that this system acknowledges that each person's combination of doshas is unique and does not use generic or one-size-fits-all methods, but seeks to treat each individual based on his or her doshic makeup and imbalances.  The goal is always to restore us to a balanced state.

Agni is the Sanskrit word for digestion, but it also means fire, which is the principle of digestion and transformation. Sama agni refers to balanced digestion and a healthy metabolism, and for some people, this may be a lifelong quest. Here are some basic signs of balanced and imbalanced digestion:

Once a person recognizes that he or she has imbalanced agni and understands which dosha or doshas are at play, they can adjust their eating habits accordingly in order to attain a more balanced digestive system.

 The next part, samadhātu means balanced tissues.  In Ayurveda, we learn about the seven dhātus, and each dhātu or tissue nourishes the next.  This means that if any of our tissue systems are undernourished, it can affect our entire body. Here is a brief description of the dhātus:

Because Ayurveda is so focused on longevity, when our tissues are nourished and balanced, we will feel healthy and strong in our entire bodies well into old age. 

Malakriyah means the movement of wastes.  Ayurveda describes the three mala (wastes) as urine, feces and sweat.  As much as the word toxins gets mixed reviews in the wellness community, Ayurveda uses the word āma to describe the toxic buildup that can occur when our body doesn't eliminate waste properly or completely and/or when agni is disturbed and undigested food is stagnant in the body. According to Ayurveda, āma is the root cause of many diseases, so it's imperative that we are mindful of our digestion and elimination of wastes.  Proper hydration is the best way to manage the elimination of urine, and the color and frequency of urination are the best measures of proper hydration.  Clear urine is the goal, and a properly hydrated person will usually feel the urge to urinate every two to three hours.  Here in the west, many people are uncomfortable talking about bowel movements and the elimination of feces, but this is actually a huge measure of health. Because we don't want stagnant waste in our bodies, Ayurveda recommends having a well-formed (banana-shaped) bowel movement every day that passes without a lot of effort or straining; anything less is generally considered constipation. A couple of ways to help with the movement of sweat are to exercise, enjoy a steam room or sauna, or get outside during summer. It's incredible how much better a person will feel once they are able to manage this aspect of health.

Now that we've broken down the physical processes that lead to good health, it's time to address the rest.  In Sanskrit, the next word that appears very long is actually a combination of three words joined together.  Prasanna means peaceful and contented; ātma means self or soul, and indriya are the senses.  The next word, mana, means mind.  This phrase describes a person who is peaceful and content in his or her mind, soul and senses.  As anyone with anxiety, insomnia or depression can tell us, disturbances in our senses, souls and minds can lead to imbalances in our bodies and disrupt our health. It's often a vicious cycle when our mental states cause health troubles, which then lead to increased anxiety and depression, among other conditions. During the ancient times that the Ayurvedic texts were written, many of the chikitsas or treatments involved yoga, meditation and herbal remedies, and in our modern times many other avenues toward calming the mind and senses are available in order to achieve balanced mind, body and soul with the goal of attaining good health.

In Sanskrit sutras, the word order is quite different from the syntax that we use in the west, and the last section includes the word svastha, which means health, and the phrase ityabhidhīyate, which means "thus, is called."  One way to translate this would be "A person with a balanced constitution, balanced digestion, properly formed tissues, proper elimination of wastes and whose mind, soul and senses are peaceful and content is called healthy."

 This may seem like a tall order, but the science of Ayurveda encourages mindful living and moment to moment awareness.  This awareness can lead us to acknowledge and correct any imbalances in our bodies toward the goal of better health and longevity. For some, it may seem overwhelming to make dietary and lifestyle changes, but sometimes even the smallest change, like drinking warm water with lemon before consuming any food or other beverages, can make a huge impact in digestion and elimination.