Glossary
Sanskrit and medical words used on Ayur.one, each with a one-line meaning.
A
- Abhyangaअभ्यंगub-YUNG-uh
- Self-massage with warm oil, part of the daily routine.
- Agniअग्निUG-nee
- Digestive and metabolic “fire”: the body's capacity to digest food and experience.
- AharaआहारAH-huh-ruh
- Food and the way it is eaten; the first pillar of health.
- Ayurvedaआयुर्वेदAH-yur-VAY-duh
- The traditional system of medicine from India; literally “the knowledge of life”.
B
- Brahmacharyaब्रह्मचर्यBRUM-huh-CHAR-yuh
- In this context, moderation: using your energy wisely rather than wasting it; the third pillar of health.
C
- Circadian rhythmसर्केडियन लय
- The body's roughly 24-hour internal clock, set mainly by light, that times sleep, hormones and digestion.
- Cortisolकॉर्टिसोलKOR-ti-sol
- The main stress hormone, made by the adrenal glands. It raises blood sugar and alertness, then should fall again.
D
- Dinacharyaदिनचर्याDIN-uh-CHAR-yuh
- A daily routine timed to the body's natural rhythms: waking, meals, activity and sleep.
- DoshaदोषDOH-shuh
- One of three functional patterns (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) that Ayurveda uses to describe how the body and mind behave.
G
- GunaगुणGOO-nuh
- A quality of the mind. Ayurveda describes three: Sattva (clarity), Rajas (activity) and Tamas (inertia).
H
- HPA axisएचपीए अक्ष
- The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal chain: the brain-to-gland relay that switches the stress response on and off.
K
- KaphaकफKUH-fuh
- The dosha of structure and stability: tissues, lubrication, immunity. Out of balance, it is linked with heaviness and oversleeping.
M
- Medhyaमेध्यMAYD-hyuh
- Herbs traditionally used to support the mind and memory.
N
- Nidraनिद्राNID-ruh
- Sleep; the second pillar of health.
O
- Ojasओजस्OH-jus
- The essence of vitality and resilience; roughly, the reserve that helps you withstand stress.
P
- Pittaपित्तPIT-tuh
- The dosha of transformation: digestion, metabolism, body heat. Out of balance, it is linked with irritability and waking in the night.
- Prakritiप्रकृतिPRUH-kri-tee
- Your natural constitution: your personal mix of the three doshas.
R
- Rajasरजस्RUH-jus
- The quality of drive, activity and agitation in the mind.
- Rasayanaरसायनruh-SAH-yuh-nuh
- A class of herbs and practices traditionally used to support strength and healthy ageing.
S
- Sattvaसत्त्वSUT-vuh
- The quality of clarity, calm and balance in the mind.
T
- Tamasतमस्TUH-mus
- The quality of heaviness, dullness and inertia in the mind.
- Trayopastambhaत्रयोपस्तम्भTRAY-oh-puh-STUM-bhuh
- The three pillars of health: food (Ahara), sleep (Nidra) and balanced living (Brahmacharya).
V
- VataवातVAH-tuh
- The dosha of movement: breathing, circulation, nerve signals. Out of balance, it is linked with restlessness and light, broken sleep.