Ayurveda Glossary A-Z: Essential Terms Explained in Plain English

A comprehensive A-Z glossary of essential Ayurvedic terms — doshas, tissues, qualities, herbs, practices, and concepts — with plain-English definitions and links to deeper guides.

This glossary is built for everyday use. The terms below are the ones you will encounter most often in Ayurveda — in books, articles, conversations with practitioners, or Ayura's own knowledge base. Each entry gives a short plain-English definition, the practical context where the term matters, and a link to a deeper guide if relevant. Use this as a reference; you do not need to memorize it.

How to use this glossary

• Skim it first. You do not need to learn every term — find the ones that show up in articles you actually read.
• Use it as a reference. When you hit an unfamiliar word in another Ayurveda guide, search here.
• Follow the links. Many entries link to fuller guides if you want to go deeper.

The list below is alphabetical by the most common English transliteration.

A

Abhyanga — Warm oil self-massage, usually with sesame oil (warming) or coconut oil (cooling). One of the most foundational Ayurvedic daily practices. Done before showering for 5-20 minutes. Particularly beneficial for Vata aggravation. See How to Calm Vata Naturally.

Agni (digestive power) — Digestive and metabolic fire. The central concept in Ayurvedic physiology; healthy Agni (digestive power) produces good digestion, energy, immunity, and clear elimination. See What Is Agni (digestive power) in Ayurveda?.

Ahara — Food. In Ayurveda includes not just what you eat but how you eat it — timing, attention, posture, environment.

Ama — Undigested metabolic residue. What is left when Agni (digestive power) is weak. Associated with heaviness, fog, coated tongue, and many chronic symptoms. See What Is Ama in Ayurveda?.

Amalaki / Amla — Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica). High in vitamin C, gently cooling, often part of Triphala blends.

Anupana — The vehicle used to take an herb (water, milk, honey, ghee). Traditional Ayurveda specifies anupana for each herb to direct its action.

Apana Vata — The downward-flowing sub-type of Vata governing elimination, menstruation, and downward movement.

Artava — Female reproductive tissue and menstrual fluid.

Ashwagandha — Withania somnifera. A traditional grounding herb used for stress, sleep, and recovery. Has cautions for thyroid conditions, pregnancy, and certain medications. See Ashwagandha Benefits and Dosage.

Asthi — Bone tissue, one of the seven dhatus.

Ayurveda — Literally "knowledge of life." A traditional Indian system of medicine focused on prevention, personalization, and balance. See What Is Ayurveda?.

B

Bala — Strength. Also a specific herb (Sida cordifolia) traditionally used for strength building. Quality matters — some products contain ephedrine-related compounds.

Basti — Medicated enema, one of the five Panchakarma therapies. Should only be performed under qualified practitioner supervision.

Bhasma — Processed mineral or metallic preparations in classical Ayurveda. Some are traditional and used under practitioner supervision; consumer products have had heavy-metal safety concerns. See Is Ayurveda Safe With Medications?.

Bhutagni — The five elemental "fires" that transform foods into qualities recognizable to the body's tissues.

Brahmi — Bacopa monnieri. A traditional herb for mental clarity and calm. Has cautions with thyroid medications.

Brahma Muhurta — The pre-dawn window (~4:30-6 AM) traditionally considered ideal for waking and meditation.

C

Chakra — Energy center along the spine. While more central to yoga than Ayurveda, chakras come up in integrated practice.

Chyawanprash — A classical Ayurvedic herbal jam built around Amalaki, traditionally used as a daily tonic for immunity and vitality. Most versions contain sugar; diabetic versions exist.

CCF tea — Cumin-coriander-fennel tea. The everyday digestive support drink — sip between meals.

D

Darshana — Visual examination as part of Ayurvedic diagnosis. Includes tongue, face, body posture, eyes.

Dhatu — Body tissue. Ayurveda recognizes seven dhatus in sequence: Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Medas (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow/nervous tissue), Shukra/Artava (reproductive tissue).

Dinacharya (daily routine) — Daily routine. The practices that align habits with the doshic clock. See What Is Dinacharya (daily routine)?.

Dosha — A bio-energetic principle that governs body and mind functions. Ayurveda recognizes three: Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Everyone has all three in different proportions.

Dravya — Substance — any food, herb, or material with specific qualities.

Dushya — Tissues that can become affected by aggravated doshas — typically the seven dhatus, plus malas (waste products).

E

Ekadashi — A monthly fasting day in some Indian traditions. Not exclusively Ayurvedic but often referenced.

G

Gandusha — Oil pulling — holding oil in the mouth for several minutes. Different from oral oil swishing; Gandusha is held still.

Garshana — Dry brushing of the skin with a natural-bristle brush, traditionally used to stimulate lymph and circulation. Particularly used in Kapha-pacifying routines.

Ghee — Clarified butter. A foundational Ayurvedic food and cooking fat. Considered beneficial for Vata and Pitta in moderate amounts; used sparingly for Kapha.

Guna — Quality. Ayurveda lists 20 fundamental qualities in pairs of opposites — heavy/light, hot/cold, oily/dry, smooth/rough, etc. Every food, herb, and condition has a Guna profile.

Guggul — Commiphora mukul. A traditional resin used for various conditions; has interactions with thyroid medication and blood thinners.

Guduchi — Tinospora cordifolia. A traditional immunomodulating herb. Cautions in autoimmune conditions.

H

Haritaki — Terminalia chebula. One of the three fruits in Triphala. Traditionally used for digestion and elimination.

Hetu — Cause. In Ayurvedic diagnosis, the root cause of an imbalance.

Hing / Asafoetida — A pungent resin used in tiny amounts to reduce gas from beans and improve digestion. A pinch in dal makes a meaningful difference.

J

Jatamansi — Nardostachys jatamansi. A traditional grounding herb for sleep and the nervous system.

Jatharagni — The central digestive fire in the stomach. The most important Agni (digestive power) in everyday Ayurveda.

K

Kapha — The dosha of structure, stability, lubrication, and substance. Qualities: heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, soft, stable. See Kapha Dosha: Traits & Energizing Practices.

Kavala — Holding oil in the mouth and gently swishing. Different from Gandusha.

Kitchari — A simple Ayurvedic one-pot meal of rice and mung dal with spices. The foundational reset food.

Koshtha — Belly / digestive tract. Used in Ayurvedic terms like "soft koshtha" (loose, easily-moved digestion) or "hard koshtha" (constipated).

L

Lassi — A yogurt drink — yogurt blended with water, spices, and a light sweetener. Traditional digestive support, particularly with lunch.

Licorice / Yashtimadhu — Glycyrrhiza glabra. Traditionally used for acidity and respiratory complaints. Has cautions for blood pressure, heart disease, and pregnancy — DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is the safer form.

M

Mala — Waste products of metabolism — stool, urine, sweat. Their healthy elimination is a sign of balance.

Mamsa — Muscle tissue, one of the seven dhatus.

Manas — Mind. In Ayurveda includes attention, intention, and the doorway between sense and self.

Marma — Vital points on the body. Marma therapy is a specialized branch of Ayurveda.

Medas — Fat tissue, one of the seven dhatus. When excess, it relates to Kapha disorders.

Mung dal — Split yellow mung beans. The most easily digested legume in Ayurveda and used in many traditional preparations including kitchari.

N

Nadi — Pulse, also energy channels. Pulse diagnosis (Nadi Pariksha) is a specialized Ayurvedic skill.

Nadi Shodhana — Alternate-nostril breathing. A foundational pranayama for calming the nervous system.

Nasya — Nasal oil application. A drop or two of warm sesame or specialized oil in each nostril.

O

Ojas — Refined essence of digestion that underlies immunity, vitality, and resilience. The opposite end of the spectrum from Ama. See What Is Ojas in Ayurveda?.

Oil pulling — See Gandusha and Kavala.

P

Panchakarma — Five-fold purification therapy. A specialized seasonal cleansing practice done under practitioner supervision over 1-3 weeks. Not a DIY at-home protocol.

Pancha Mahabhutas — The five great elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) that compose all matter in Ayurvedic theory. See Principles of Panchamahabhutas.

Pippali / Long pepper — Piper longum. A pungent herb used in Trikatu and elsewhere.

Pitta — The dosha of heat, transformation, and intensity. Qualities: hot, sharp, light, oily, spreading. See Pitta Dosha: Traits & Cooling Strategies.

Prakriti (natural body type) — Your lifelong constitution. The dosha pattern decided at conception that stays stable through life. See Understanding Prakriti (natural body type) & Vikriti (current imbalance).

Pranayama — Breath practices. Foundational tools for nervous-system regulation in both Yoga and Ayurveda.

Prasannata — A subtle quality of inner brightness or contentment; classically associated with strong Ojas.

R

Rakta — Blood tissue, one of the seven dhatus.

Rasa — Two meanings depending on context: (1) the primary taste of a food or herb, of which Ayurveda recognizes six (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent); (2) plasma — the first of the seven dhatus.

Rasayana — Rejuvenative therapy or substance. A category of herbs and practices that traditionally builds Ojas and resilience.

Ritu — Season. Six seasons traditionally; see Ritucharya (seasonal routine).

Ritucharya (seasonal routine) — Seasonal routine. The adjustment of diet and lifestyle to the dosha that aggravates in each season. See What Is Ritucharya (seasonal routine)?.

S

Sadhaka Pitta — A sub-type of Pitta governing the heart's emotional and aspirational function.

Sama Agni (digestive power) — Balanced digestive fire — the healthy state.

Sannipata — All three doshas aggravated simultaneously. A serious state classically.

Satva / Sattva — One of the three gunas of the mind in classical philosophy — clarity, balance, harmony.

Shatavari — Asparagus racemosus. A traditional cooling herb particularly used for women's vitality. Cautions for estrogen-sensitive conditions and pregnancy without clearance.

Shleshma — Another name for Kapha.

Shukra — Reproductive tissue (typically male). One of the seven dhatus.

Shvasa — Breath. Both physical respiration and the prana (life force) traditionally associated with it.

Snehana — Oleation — the application of oil internally (drinking) or externally (oil massage). A preparation step before Panchakarma but also a standalone practice.

Srotas — Channels through which substance, fluid, and information flow in the body. When channels are clear, function is good; when coated by Ama, function suffers.

Svastha — Health. Literally "established in the self." Classical Ayurveda defines health as balanced doshas, balanced agni, balanced dhatus, regular elimination, and a clear, content mind.

Sweat — In Ayurveda, sweat (sweda) is one of the malas (waste products) and its quality reflects internal balance.

T

Takra — Spiced buttermilk. A traditional digestive support, particularly used after a heavy meal.

Tarpaka Kapha — The Kapha sub-type in the head, lubricating the senses and nervous tissue.

Tikshna Agni (digestive power) — Sharp/hyper digestion. The Pitta pattern of Agni (digestive power) imbalance.

Tridoshic / Sama Prakriti (natural body type) — A constitution with all three doshas roughly balanced. Less common; sometimes called "balanced" Prakriti (natural body type).

Trikatu — Three pungents — black pepper, long pepper, dried ginger. A traditional Kapha-clearing formula. Cautions for ulcers, GERD, pregnancy, and blood thinners.

Triphala — Three fruits — Amalaki, Bibhitaki, Haritaki. A foundational digestive support formula. Cautions for blood thinners and pregnancy.

Tulsi / Holy basil — Ocimum sanctum. A traditional adaptogen used as tea or capsule. Some interactions with thyroid medications.

Turmeric / Haldi — Curcuma longa. A foundational Ayurvedic spice. Cooking amounts are safe for most; concentrated curcumin supplements have interactions with blood thinners. See Turmeric and Curcumin Benefits.

U

Uttara basti — A specialized form of medicated enema. Practitioner-supervised.

V

Vamana — Therapeutic vomiting as part of classical Panchakarma. Practitioner-supervised; not a DIY practice.

Vata — The dosha of movement, change, and lightness. Qualities: dry, light, cold, rough, mobile, subtle, clear. See Vata Dosha: Traits, Imbalances & Balancing Tips.

Vikriti (current imbalance) — Your current dosha state — the snapshot of what is aggravated right now. Distinct from Prakriti (natural body type). See Vikriti (current imbalance) Explained.

Virya — The heating or cooling potency of a food or herb. Sometimes translated as "energy."

Vishama Agni (digestive power) — Irregular digestive fire. The Vata pattern of Agni (digestive power) imbalance.

Vipaka — The post-digestive effect of a food or herb — what its qualities feel like after digestion is complete.

Vyana Vata — A sub-type of Vata responsible for circulation throughout the body.

Vyayama — Exercise. Traditional Ayurvedic guidance is to exercise to about half capacity — until a light sweat appears, then stop.

Y

Yashtimadhu — See Licorice.

Yoga — A separate but related Indian system of practice. In Ayurveda, yoga is often prescribed as a complementary practice for specific imbalances.

Quick-reference: the 15 terms that matter most

If you only learn 15 terms, these are them:

1. Vata — dosha of movement
2. Pitta — dosha of heat
3. Kapha — dosha of structure
4. Prakriti (natural body type) — your lifelong constitution
5. Vikriti (current imbalance) — your current state
6. Agni (digestive power) — digestive fire
7. Ama — undigested residue
8. Ojas — vital essence
9. Dinacharya (daily routine) — daily routine
10. Ritucharya (seasonal routine) — seasonal routine
11. Abhyanga — warm oil self-massage
12. Rasa — taste (six tastes)
13. Guna — quality
14. Dhatu — body tissue
15. Srotas — channels

With these 15, you can read most Ayurvedic content and have meaningful conversations with practitioners.

Pronunciation notes

Some commonly mispronounced terms:

• Ghee rhymes with "tree," not "gay"
• Agni (digestive power) — "ug-nee"
• Ojas — "oh-jus"
• Vata — "vah-tah" (long "a")
• Pitta — "pit-tah"
• Kapha — "kuh-fah"
• Abhyanga — "ab-yahn-gah"
• Dinacharya (daily routine) — "din-ah-char-yah"
• Triphala — "tri-fah-lah"
• Ashwagandha — "ush-wah-gun-dah"

You will hear regional variations. Both English-accented and Sanskrit-accented pronunciations are accepted in modern usage.

A few terms you do not need

Some terms commonly appear in online Ayurveda content that you can safely ignore for everyday use:

• Rasayana protocols beyond basics — practitioner territory
• Specific sub-types of doshas (like Sadhaka Pitta) beyond general awareness
• Bhasma names — these need practitioner oversight regardless
• Classical chronic-disease terminology — modern medical evaluation is more useful

You can come back to these if curiosity leads you there. For practical Ayurveda, the 15 core terms above carry the load.

References

• NCCIH: Ayurvedic Medicine In-Depth
• PubMed: Ayurveda research
• WHO Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine