Ayurveda Glossary of Terms

abhyanga – Ayurvedic massage
acarya rasayana – lifestyle self-care
advaitan – non-duality, monism
agni dipana – kindling the body’s digestive fire
ahimsa – practice of non-violence
ama – undigested food that becomes toxic and causes disease
ama pacana – burning toxins lodged in the digestive system
apana vayu – downward moving prana
avalambaka kapha – located in the lungs, “supporter”
basti – therapeutic enema
bheda state of samprapti – differentiation
buddhi – intellect
Caraka Samhita (Charaka Samhita) – Ayurvedic text
Cikitsa (chikitsa) – treatment plan
Dharma – one’s purpose in life
dinacarya (dinacharya) – Ayurvedic daily routine
dosa (dosha) – functional principle of the body
dravyaguna – qualities of a substance
ganda marma – ganda, meaning cheek, marma, meaning specific point, this point is beside the nostrils
Jyotisa (Jyotisha) – Vedic astrology
Kledaka kapha – kapha located in the stomach
Laghutrayi – the three minor Ayurvedic texts
Majja dhatu – bone marrow and nerve tissue
Mala – waste material
Nadis – energetic channels
Ojas – subtle energy of kapha maintaining immunity, strength and vitality
Pacaka pitta – pitta located in the small intestines
Pancakarma (pancha karma) – five cleansing therapies
Panca Mahabhutas (pancha meaning five) – five elements
Prabhava- special effect not explained by rasa, virya or vipaka
Praktri (prakruti) – genetic constitution
Prana vayu – inward moving energy, energy brought in with the breath
Pranayama – control of breath, energy
Prasara – spreading, stage of samprati
Purvarupa – premonitory symptoms
Purvakarma – preparation for pancakarma
Rasa – taste; the first experience of digestion in the mouth – sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent, astringent
Ranjaka pitta – pitta located in the blood liver
Rupa – symptom
Sadhana – spiritual practice