Ayurveda is an alternative health care system. It embraces the cycles of nature and how our lifestyles, food, relationships and environment ultimately shape who we are and have a profound effect on our health. This ancient science is one of the oldest models of health on the planet, originating in the texts of the Vedas. Today, people are seeking balance in a world moving quickly with little time to reflect or notice our relationship with nature. Ayurveda brings us back to our true nature and helps us remember who we are in a world inundated with technology.
In Ayurveda, the physical world is built from the 5 elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth mixed with the dynamic energies of the doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Vata energy is a combination of the qualities of space and air. Pitta energy imbues the qualities of fire and water and Kapha is the energy of water and earth. Each person is made up of all 5 elements with a dominance of one, two, or three of the doshic energies. The dominance of a person’s doshas at birth is considered their constitution. However, as we progress through life, situation, life style choices, and environment can influence our doshic balance and create imbalances in our bodies and mind leading to disease. The goal of Ayurveda is to restore our natural balance with nature to increase longevity and become healthy, balanced and content.
subtle, soft, clear, smooth, expanding - **Quality: non-resistance - *Sense: sound
rough, dry, light, cold, mobile - **Quality: movement - *Sense: touch
hot, sharp, light - **Quality: conversion and illumination - *Sense: sight
flowing, wet, dull, soft, cloudy - **Quality: cohesion - *Sense: taste
gross, heavy, static, hard, dense - **Quality: stability - *Sense: smell
Vata people have petite bodies with small and delicate bones and joints. Their body proportions can be variable and their hair and skin tend to be thin, dry and rough. They are always busy, talkative and on the move. However, their thinking, memory and friendships can be unstable as they change their minds easily. They are very creative and enjoy movement of all kinds. Their sleep is poor, and digestion is variable. They dislike cold things and environments and are prone to anxiety, worry and fear.
Pitta people have a medium build with, sharp features, and deep set and intense eyes. Their skin and complexion is fair and warm speckled with some freckles or moles and their hands and face flush easily. They are brave and proud, enjoy athletics and are competitive. They tend to have less hair and are prone to early graying and hair loss. When out of balance, they are prone to frustration, anger, and impatience. They are often intelligent and highly sensitive beings.
Kapha people are strong with well lubricated joints, large bones, thick skin and short necks. The are highly intelligent, truthful, noble, and are steady and gentle in nature. They may be slow to get started, but once motivated they have good endurance. When out of balance they can be prone to jealousy and possessiveness.
Ayurveda is one of oldest health care systems on the planet. We have confidence in the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to bring health, longevity and balance to you and your family. We embrace the time tested and practical solutions of Ayurveda to improve your diet and lifestyle, bringing relief to common health concerns and helping you feel better. Check out our educational blog, upcoming events, or download an Ayurvedic booklet to learn how you can support the healer within.
Ayurveda began over 5,000 years ago as part of the Vedic system of knowledge in ancient India. Its roots lie in the Atharva Veda, one of the four sacred Vedic texts. Around 1000–700 BCE, Ayurveda developed into two main schools: the School of Physicians (Atreya) and the School of Surgeons (Dhanvantari), giving rise to eight specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ENT, rejuvenation, mental health, toxicology, and aphrodisiacs.
To make the knowledge more accessible, Ayurvedic wisdom was compiled into three classic texts still studied today:
· Caraka Samhita – A foundational text on internal medicine.
· Sushruta Samhita – Focuses on surgery and includes early descriptions of surgical techniques.
· Ashtanga Hridaya – A concise, poetic summary of Ayurvedic teachings, covering all eight branches.
Other important texts, like Madhavanidanam, Sharangadhara Samhita, and Bhavaprakasha Samhita, along with regional works, continue to enrich Ayurvedic practice today.
Ayurveda defines health as much more than just the absence of disease. True health means being balanced in body, mind, and spirit.
According to the classical texts:
· At the deepest level, health is being established in the Self—connected to your true nature and higher consciousness.
· Physiologically, health is a balance of the doshas (bodily energies), strong agni (digestive fire), well-formed tissues (dhatus), proper elimination of waste (malas), and clarity in mind, senses, and spirit.
· Functionally, a healthy person has strength, vitality, good digestion, resilience to stress, and sharp senses.
· Lifestyle-wise, health is supported by balanced habits: nutritious food, moderation, regular exercise and rest, kindness, truthfulness, and a calm, compassionate outlook.
Practices like meditation, yoga, and self-awareness are seen not just as treatments—but as essential for preventing illness and maintaining lifelong well-being.
In Ayurveda, disease is more than just physical symptoms—it’s any form of suffering or imbalance. The ancient texts offer three main definitions:
· "Suffering by any means is disease." – This includes not just physical pain, but also emotional or mental distress.
· "Disease arises from dosha imbalance." – When the body's natural energies (vata, pitta, or kapha) go out of balance, illness can follow.
· "Disease arises from dhatu imbalance." – When the body’s tissues (dhatus) are weakened or out of sync, it leads to dysfunction and disease.
In essence, Ayurveda sees disease as a sign that balance—on any level—has been disturbed.
We don’t offer a dosha quiz on our website. While quizzes can be fun, they often lead to confusion about your true constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalances (Vikriti). A doshic quiz only determines your constitution which remains the same your whole life.
Balancing your health involves more than just knowing your constitution (Prakriti)—it also depends on your digestive strength, tissue health, toxin levels, lifestyle, and current imbalances (Vikriti). Misinterpreting a quiz can sometimes make things worse instead of better.
We recommend discussing your dosha and current imbalances during a consultation, where we can give you accurate, personalized guidance. You can also check out our blog or FAQ to learn more about the doshas.
If you are interested in scheduling an Ayurvedic Consultation, please call, text, or email Ancient Roots Healing to set up an appointment. You can even use our contact us form.
Once you have set up an appointment, you need to fill out the Intake form. You will be prompted to fill out this form once your appointment has been booked. All medical information disclosed in the intake form is encrypted to HIPAA standards to protect your medical privacy.
Your intake form must be received 24 hours before your appointment time. Then you just need to show up for your appointment at the appropriate time.
For a virtual appointments, a link for your appointment will be emailed to you an hour before your session. Please click on the link a couple minutes prior to your appointment time to ensure your microphone and camera are working properly. Your practitioner will start your consultation by inviting you in from the virtual waiting room at the time of your appointment.
All virtual consultations are also encrypted to HIPAA standards to protect your privacy.
Yes. At Ancient Roots Healing, your privacy is a top priority. All virtual sessions, intake forms, and records are protected with end-to-end encryption and meet HIPAA standards.
We never share your medical information without your consent, and all records are securely stored in full compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Unlike western medicine, you do not continue to take the same ayurvedic herbs for an extended period of time. Ayurveda’s goal is to remove the root cause of disease and return you to a natural state of health, not to suppress symptoms or simply manage disease. Different herbs are suggested at different stages in the healing process to support recovery.
Your Ayurvedic practitioner will suggest a time for a follow up appointment. At that time they will reevaluate your progress and either continue a similar protocol or give you new herbs to support your condition. After 3 months of taking the same herbs, your body begins to acclimate, making the herbs less effective. There are some formulations that can be taken for an extended periods of time. Your practitioner can help you navigate these decisions.
It is important to continue working with your Ayurvedic practitioner even after your symptoms have disappeared. Part of Ayurvedic treatment is rebuilding and strengthening the body and affected tissues after remission of a disease. Continued care helps to prevent a relapse of symptoms and sets you on course to remain healthy.
Ayurveda is a natural, time-tested approach to health that focuses on prevention and self-care. With over 5,000 years of refinement, it treats each person as unique, offering personalized healing rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Everyone is born with a distinct mind-body constitution, called Prakriti, which shapes physical, mental, and emotional tendencies throughout life. When imbalances arise due to stress, environment, or illness, Ayurveda uses the principle of applying opposites qualities—through diet, herbs, and lifestyle changes—to restore balance and health.
What truly sets Ayurveda apart is its holistic view. It addresses not only the body, but also the mind, emotions, spirit, and even your relationship with the world around you.
In Ayurveda, doshas are the three vital energies that govern how our bodies and minds function. They arise from the five elements—space, air, fire, water, and earth—and influence everything from digestion to emotions.
There are three doshas:
· Vata (space + air): Light, dry, cold, rough and mobile. It controls movement, breathing, circulation, elimination of stools, and the nervous system.
· Pitta (fire + water): Hot, sharp, light, oily, and transformative. It governs digestion, metabolism, thirst, vision, and body temperature.
· Kapha (water + earth): Heavy, slow, smooth, sticky and stable. It provides structure, lubrication, stability, and stamina.
Everyone is born with a unique mix of these doshas—called your constitution or Prakriti. You may have a dominant dosha, a combination of two (like vata-pitta), or an equal mix of all three (tridoshic). Your constitution shapes your physical traits, personality, and health tendencies throughout life.
It depends. Not everyone needs to take herbs to return to vibrant health. Depending on the nature of your imbalance, length of the disease, genetic disposition, and your ability to maintain a proper diet and lifestyle for your unique needs, you may not need to take any herbs at all.
Ayurveda aims to remove the root cause of disease and return you to your natural state of health. This is accomplished by supporting your imbalances and unique constitution with proper foods and lifestyle habits. Herbs are a stronger than food and can be helpful to expedite your recovery when you have been out of balance for some time, coping with a long standing disease or a more acute health situation.
Yes—when used properly, Ayurvedic herbal formulations are safe. At Ancient Roots Healing, we recommend herbs only after a thorough assessment of your specific health needs to ensure they’re appropriate for your condition.
At Ancient Roots Healing we only use herbal formulations from reputable Ayurvedic companies with good quality control and testing. We primarily use products from Kerala Ayurveda, Ayurveda Healing, Kottokkal, and Gary N Sun. All products are tested for heavy metals.
Panchakarma is a powerful Ayurvedic detoxification process designed to cleanse the body and restore balance. It removes excess doshic imbalances and promotes long-lasting health.
A traditional Panchakarma lasts at least three weeks and includes specific steps like a cleansing diet, internal and external oiling, sweating, and purging through methods like enemas, purgation or vomiting. The process ends with rejuvenating herbs and simple foods to rebuild digestion and tissues.
Because Panchakarma is intricate and requires careful planning, it should only be performed under the guidance of an experienced Ayurvedic doctor (vaidya) or a trained professional. At Ancient Roots Healing, we do not perform full Panchakarmas unless they are supervised by a vaidya.
However, we offer select Panchakarma-inspired treatments on a case-by-case basis, such as:
· Abhyanga (medicated oil massage)
· Shirodhara (warm oil poured over the forehead)
· External Vasti (warm oil pooled over specific areas)
· Nasya (medicated oil for the nose)
· Marma therapy (pressure point stimulation)
· Swedana (steam therapy)
· Udvartana (herbal body scrub)
Before any treatment, a thorough Ayurvedic consultation is required to ensure the right approach for your needs. If Panchakarma therapies are not suitable for you, your practitioner may suggest self-care techniques or refer you to a Panchakarma Clinic to receive the full Panchakarma experience under the guidance of an Ayurvedic Vaidya.
Yes, our Ayurvedic Practitioner is a licensed massage therapist trained in Ayurvedic massage and certain Panchakarma techniques.
These therapies are provided on a case-by-case basis after completing an initial Ayurvedic Consultation at Ancient Roots Healing. Not all conditions are suitable for oil massage or panchakarma techniques. A thorough assessment is needed to evaluate factors like ama (toxins), agni (digestive fire), and your body’s overall strength. If your digestive fire isn’t strong or there’s an excess of ama, Ayurvedic massage or Panchakarma techniques could potentially worsen your condition.
Ayurvedic oil massage and Panchakarma techniques are strong healing tools and can expedite your healing under the right circumstances. If your Ayurvedic Practitioner believes these therapies would be beneficial to you, they will discuss the best options for you during your consultation.
We are an Ayurvedic Clinic located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Ayurveda is an alternative healing modality originating over 5,000 years ago. We aim to help people improve their health and feel better.
