Articles & Classical Texts
Curated Ayurveda reading — Charaka Samhita and Ashtanga Hridayam excerpts, modern research, seasonal regimens, and lifestyle guidance.
7 articles in Classical Texts
Prakriti: Determining Your Ayurvedic Constitution
Prakriti — your constitutional type — is the foundational diagnostic concept in Ayurveda. Determined at conception by the dominant Doshas in the parents at the time of union, modified slightly by the environment of the w…
— Charaka Samhita, Vimanasthana 8/95-101 · Sushruta Samhita, Sharirasthana 4/63-78
The Three Vital Marmas: Head, Heart, and Bladder
Sushruta — the surgical authority of classical Ayurveda — identifies 107 marma points throughout the body, but elevates three above all others: Shira (head), Hridaya (heart), and Basti (urinary bladder). Injury to any of…
— Sushruta Samhita, Sharirasthana 6/15-32 · Charaka Samhita, Siddhisthana 9/3
Dinacharya — The Ayurvedic Daily Routine
Dinacharya — the daily regimen — is one of the most practical contributions of classical Ayurveda. It prescribes a sequence of activities aligned with the circadian rhythm and the natural dominance of each Dosha at diffe…
— Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana 2 ("Dinacharyādhyāya") · Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 5
Agni and Ama: Why Digestive Fire is Everything in Ayurveda
If Ayurveda has a single most important clinical concept, it is Agni — the digestive fire. The Charaka Samhita is explicit: "All diseases originate from impaired Agni." When Agni functions correctly, food becomes Ahara R…
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsasthana 15/3-5 · Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana 13/25-27
Sapta Dhatu: The Seven Tissues of the Body
The Sapta Dhatu — seven body tissues — are the structural foundation of Ayurvedic physiology. Each tissue nourishes the next in sequence, and the qualitative health of each depends on the proper nourishment of the previo…
— Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 14/3-12 · Ashtanga Hridayam, Sharirasthana 3/62
Tridosha: The Three Doshas of Ayurveda
Classical Ayurveda holds that every human body is governed by three fundamental biological energies — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — collectively called the Tridosha. The Charaka Samhita states that all health and disease, all…
— Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 1/57-58 · Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana 1/6-7
Dinacharya — The Ayurvedic Daily Routine
Dinacharya prescribes a daily routine aligned with circadian rhythm: rise before sunrise, oral hygiene, abhyanga, exercise, bathing, breakfast, work, lunch (largest meal), evening rest, light dinner, sleep by 10pm.
— Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana