An A–Z reference of common Ayurvedic terms — the vocabulary of doshas, digestion, tissues, diagnosis, and treatment. Tap a letter to jump.
A
Abhyanga — therapeutic warm-oil massage that pacifies Vata, nourishes the tissues, and calms the nervous system.
Agni — the digestive and metabolic fire that governs the transformation of food, perception, and experience. Balanced Agni is the cornerstone of health.
Ahara — food and diet; one of the three pillars (upastambha) of life along with sleep and balanced conduct.
Ama — undigested, toxic metabolic residue produced by weak Agni; considered a root cause of many disorders.
Anupana — the vehicle or carrier (e.g. warm water, milk, honey, ghee) taken with a medicine to aid its action.
Artava — the female reproductive tissue and menstrual function; the female counterpart of shukra.
Ashtanga Ayurveda — the eight branches of classical Ayurveda (internal medicine, surgery, ENT, paediatrics, toxicology, psychiatry, rejuvenation, and reproductive health).
B
Basti — medicated enema therapy; a primary Panchakarma procedure and the foremost treatment for aggravated Vata.
Bhasma — a finely processed mineral or metallic ash prepared by classical incineration for therapeutic use.
Brimhana — nourishing, building therapy used to strengthen and replenish depleted tissues.
C
Chikitsa — treatment or therapeutics; the management of disease.
Churna — a fine herbal powder, one of the most common Ayurvedic dosage forms.
D
Deepana — herbs or measures that kindle Agni (appetisers) without necessarily digesting ama.
Dhatu — the seven body tissues: rasa (plasma), rakta (blood), mamsa (muscle), meda (fat), asthi (bone), majja (marrow/nerve), and shukra (reproductive).
Dinacharya — the recommended daily routine that aligns activity, meals, and rest with natural rhythms.
Dosha — the three functional bio-energies — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha — that govern all physical and mental processes.
Dravya — a substance or material (such as a herb or food) considered together with its qualities and actions.
G
Ghrita — medicated ghee; a classical preparation valued for carrying fat-soluble herbal properties, especially to the nervous system.
Grahani — the function and seat of digestion and absorption (broadly the small-intestine region); also a disorder of this function.
Guna — quality or attribute; classical Ayurveda describes twenty gunas (e.g. heavy/light, hot/cold, oily/dry) that define every substance and dosha.
H
Hridaya — the heart; also regarded as a seat of consciousness and ojas.
J
Jatharagni — the central digestive fire of the stomach and duodenum that governs the first stage of digestion.
K
Kapha — the dosha of structure and cohesion (earth + water); governs stability, lubrication, immunity, and calm.
Karma — action; in pharmacology, the therapeutic action of a substance.
Kashaya — the astringent taste; also a herbal decoction (kwath).
L
Langhana — lightening or reducing therapy (including fasting) used to clear excess and ama.
Lepa — a herbal paste applied externally to the skin for local action.
M
Mala — the bodily wastes (urine, faeces, sweat); their proper formation and elimination is essential to health.
Mamsa — muscle tissue, the third dhatu.
Manas — the mind; in Ayurveda, mental and physical health are inseparable.
Marma — vital points on the body where flesh, vessels, and joints meet; important in anatomy, injury, and therapy.
Medha — intellect and the capacity for retention; medhya herbs support cognition.
N
Nadi Pariksha — pulse diagnosis; reading the doshic state through the radial pulse.
Nasya — administration of medicated oils or herbs through the nose; used for head, sinus, and neurological concerns.
Nidana — the cause of disease and the diagnostic study of causes; “nidana parivarjana” means removing the cause.
O
Ojas — the subtle essence of vitality, immunity, and resilience; the refined end-product of healthy digestion of all the tissues.
P
Pachana — herbs or measures that digest ama, in contrast to deepana which kindles Agni.
Panchakarma — the five classical bio-purification therapies (Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Nasya, Raktamokshana).
Panchamahabhuta — the five great elements (space, air, fire, water, earth) from which the doshas and all matter arise.
Pathya — wholesome, suitable diet and conduct for a given person or condition (its opposite is apathya).
Pitta — the dosha of transformation (fire + water); governs digestion, metabolism, body temperature, and intellect.
Prakriti — an individual’s natural constitution, fixed at birth, expressed as the unique proportion of the three doshas.
Prana — the vital life-force; also the first of the five subtypes of Vata, governing breath and the senses.
R
Rakta — blood, the second dhatu; closely linked with Pitta.
Rasa — taste; the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent) each act on the doshas. Also denotes plasma, the first dhatu.
Rasayana — rejuvenation therapy and tonics that promote longevity, immunity, and vitality.
Ritucharya — the seasonal regimen; adjusting diet and lifestyle to each season to maintain balance.
Roga — disease or illness.
S
Samprapti — pathogenesis; the step-by-step process by which a disease develops.
Sattva, Rajas, Tamas — the three qualities (gunas) of the mind: clarity/balance, activity/passion, and inertia/dullness.
Shamana — palliative therapy that pacifies doshas without expelling them, using diet, herbs, and lifestyle.
Shodhana — purification/cleansing therapy that removes aggravated doshas (e.g. Panchakarma).
Shukra — the reproductive tissue, the seventh and most refined dhatu.
Snehana — oleation; internal or external administration of fats/oils to prepare the body for cleansing and to pacify Vata.
Srotas — the channels of the body through which nutrients, wastes, and doshas circulate.
Swedana — sudation or steam therapy that opens channels and mobilises doshas, often following snehana.
T
Taila — medicated oil; a classical preparation for massage, nasya, and internal use.
Tejas — the subtle essence of fire and metabolism, the refined counterpart of Pitta.
Tridosha — the trio of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha working together; their balance is health, their imbalance is disease.
Trikatu — the classical blend of three pungents (ginger, long pepper, black pepper) used to kindle Agni and clear Kapha.
U
Udvartana — invigorating herbal-powder massage used to reduce Kapha and meda (fat) and tone the skin.
Upadhatu — secondary tissues nourished as by-products of the main dhatus (e.g. breast milk, menstrual blood).
V
Vajikarana — the branch of Ayurveda concerned with reproductive health and vitality.
Vamana — therapeutic emesis; a Panchakarma procedure that expels aggravated Kapha.
Vata — the dosha of movement (space + air); governs circulation, breathing, nerve impulses, and elimination.
Vikriti — the current state of imbalance, in contrast to one’s natural prakriti.
Vipaka — the post-digestive taste/effect of a substance after metabolism.
Virechana — therapeutic purgation; a Panchakarma procedure that clears aggravated Pitta.
Virya — the potency (chiefly heating or cooling) of a substance.
Y
Yukti — sound clinical reasoning and judgement; one of the means of right knowledge in Ayurveda.
This glossary is educational. For personal guidance, consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner.