Ayurveda glossary
Short, plain-language definitions of the clinical terms used across Ayurgrroove and our blog.
- Agni
The digestive and metabolic fire that transforms food. Its state is often described as Sama (balanced), Vishama (variable), Tikshna (sharp) or Manda (sluggish).
How the EMR records Agni- Ahara
Diet, or food taken in. Ayurveda treats Ahara as a primary means of maintaining health and supporting treatment.
The role of food in Ayurveda- Ama
Undigested, unprocessed material that builds up when Agni is impaired. A state with Ama present is called Saama; without it, Niraama.
How the EMR records Ama- Anupana
The vehicle taken with or after a medicine, such as warm water, honey or milk, chosen to support how the medicine acts.
- Ashtavidha Pariksha
The eight-fold examination: pulse (Nadi), urine (Mutra), stool (Mala), tongue (Jihva), voice (Shabda), touch (Sparsha), eyes (Drik) and general appearance (Akriti).
Clinical examination in the EMR- Aushadha Sevana Kala
The timing of medicine intake, for example before or after meals, or at a particular time of day.
- Dosha
The three functional principles of the body: Vata (movement), Pitta (transformation) and Kapha (structure and stability). Their balance underlies health.
Understanding the three doshas- Guna
A quality or property, such as heavy or light, hot or cold, oily or dry. Foods are described by their Gunas, and diet is chosen to balance opposing qualities.
Guna-based diet planning- Nadi Pariksha
Pulse examination, used to read the state of the Doshas. It is the first part of Ashtavidha Pariksha.
- Pathya and Apathya
What is wholesome (Pathya) and unwholesome (Apathya) for a particular person and condition, especially in diet and routine.
Food as medicine in Ayurveda- Prakriti
A person’s inherent constitution: the stable proportion of Vata, Pitta and Kapha they are born with.
Prakriti–Vikriti assessment- Ritucharya
The seasonal regimen: adjusting diet and routine as the seasons change.
Seasonal diet in Ayurveda- Vikriti
The current state of imbalance: how the Doshas have moved away from a person’s Prakriti at the time of assessment.
Prakriti–Vikriti assessment
General educational definitions. They are not medical advice.
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