Wild Earth's Ayurvedic Formula product range contains herbal blends based upon ancient ayurvedic recipes and principles. This holistic healing system evolved in India about 2500 years ago but its relevance for modern times rests on its highly sophisticated herbal pharmacopoeia and its commonsense approach to individual self-care. Ayurveda offers practical advice on almost all aspects of life, including daily health care, cleaning teeth, diet, exercise, herbal medication, rejuvenation, yoga, meditation, prayer, aromatics - and even cosmetics. By learning more about ayurveda's elements -- earth/water, wind and fire -- and their related energies, kapha, vata and pitta, we learn more about ourselves.

Ayurveda teaches that three basic energies, the tridoshas (kapha, vata and pitta) exist in everything in the universe and influence all mental and physical processes. We are all born with a particular balance of these doshas. The purpose of ayurveda is to strike a harmonious balance between the three. Our body type, temperament, and susceptibility to illnesses are largely governed by our predominant dosha. Often this predominant dosha overpowers us and we feel increased stress. To counter this, Wild Earth's range of Ayurvedic Formula herbal products, including handcrafted soaps, aromatic pillows and amulets, help restore balance to the body and mind. To determine your predominant dosha, take our ayurveda quiz.

Here are some basic characteristics of the three dosha types:

Kapha (earth/water):
Kapha people tend to have the most stable and grounded natures of the three dosha types. When balanced, they are as solid and centered as a mountain -- consistent, calm, patient, and thorough. Good listeners and caregivers, balanced Kaphas are loving, peaceful, compassionate, and supportive. If out of balance, Kapha people may become controlling, greedy, and materialistic. When completely out of balance they become lethargic and lazy. Although Kapha people are slow to anger, their explosive rage is uncontainable when finally provoked.

Kapha types gain weight easily and are usually well-nourished and healthy. Once they learn something, they seldom forget it. Their friendly, open dispositions makes them excellent managers, but their stable natures can lead to mental and emotional dullness. Kapha types benefit from pungent and reviving scents that break up their natural inclination towards lethargy. Wild Earth Kapha products are formulated to uplift, invigorate, and stimulate the Kapha dosha.

Vata (wind):
Vata people are like the wind. Their moods change quickly, and they often move on to new pursuits before finishing old projects. Generally imaginative, eccentric, exciting, and excitable, Vatas move at a hectic pace. When balanced, Vata types are often artistic visionaries. Idealistic and spiritual, they have a strong sense of unity and are often healers and teachers. A Vata out of balance may be indecisive, unreliable, restless, overly talkative, superficial, and anxious. If completely out of balance, Vata people can be fearful, secretive, depressed, mentally disturbed, and even suicidal.

The Vata body may be thin due to inefficient methods of expending energy. Vatas prefer warm climates, food, and drink, and may become especially moody and anxious if they miss a meal. Lacking endurance, Vatas often need time to recuperate; they thrive on healing massage and total relaxation. A regular schedule can help dispel their anxieties and promote inner harmony. Wild Earth Vata products are formulated to ground, balance, and warm the Vata dosha.

Pitta (fire):
Like fire, Pitta people are energetic, dynamic, and passionate-but destructive when out of control. They are known for their keen intellect, perfectionist tendencies, and sharp anger. When balanced, they are the most intelligent, perceptive, and courageous of the doshas. Warm, friendly, competitive, determined, and independent, they make good leaders, but may pursue their strengths single-mindedly at the cost of holistic balance and compromise. Out of balance Pittas can be impulsive, ambitious, aggressive, dominating, manipulative, angry, and frustrated. When completely out of balance they can be hateful and vindictive -- even psychopathic or criminal.

The Pitta body is usually of average build and good proportion. Pittas usually prefer cool climates, food, and drink, and often have hearty appetites. When well fed and content, their natural heat creates courage and clarity. Pitta people need cool, sweet-smelling scents to keep the mind calm, cool, and balanced. Wild Earth Pitta products are formulated to cool, calm, and relax the Pitta dosha.

Our current Ayurvedic Formula products include: handcrafted herbal soap, aromatic pillows, scented eye pillows and amulets.

Wild Earth's founder, Carroll Dunham, went to Kathmandu, Nepal in 1984 and became fascinated by ayurvedic medicine. For much of the past 18 years, she has lived in the Himalayas and studied the strong links between a person's emotions and their overall health. She believes that ayurveda teaches us to look at ourselves for answers, so we can find an inner harmony, and then apply it to the world around us. Carroll has traveled the globe sharing her enthusiasm for ayurvedic and Tibetan herbs and healing traditions as The Body Shop's official spokesperson on ayurveda. If you would like Carroll to come and talk, teach or train about ayurvedic therapies at your conference, spa or healing center, please contact us.