In the last article we talked about the general nature of the doshas and why they are so important to us. In this article we're going to look more at the nature of the individual doshas so that you can begin to get to know them and, therefore, get to know more about yourself and why you have certain preferences and personality traits.

A friend of mine recently said that what she likes about Ayurveda is that, like astrology, it gives you a good idea of a person's make up, their talents and inclinations etc. But with Ayurveda you can actively work with that information, and learn to support your strengths and shore up any weaker areas.

As you get to know the doshas you will see them in yourself, your friends and family, in what you eat, and even in the weather. I mentioned previously that understanding the elements of each dosha gives vital clues to discovering their nature so here's an introduction to the doshas and their respective elements to get you started...

"The fear among auditory experts is that we are heading for a "tinnitus timebomb". If you regularly spend several hours a week clubbing or going to gigs, or if you listen to your MP3 player at full volume, you will have almost certainly experienced some temporary tinnitus already. Prolonged exposure to excessive decibels can put your hearing in danger of permanent damage."

This is the known face of tinnitus, the obvious cause and effect situation where frequent exposure to loud noise can damage our hearing permanently. Then there is the tinnitus experienced usually in the later years of life as a persistent "ringing in the ears". But there is growing concern about the increase of general noise about us that is leading to the early development of tinnitus symptoms. Many people in their 30s and 40s are developing tinnitus symptoms and some children are being affected too.

Ayurveda is the world's oldest system of natural health care. While some may find the language and terminology of Ayurveda challenging at first (I know I did!) it's truly worth dipping your toes into the simple side of this beautiful science and treating yourself to the increased peace and energy that comes from understanding your unique nature and your relationship to all nature.

The Ayurveda articles on this website are written by a westerner for westerners, my aim is to make the essence of Ayurveda easily understandable and available to anyone who wants to gain insight into the art of genuine effective self-care that Ayurveda promises.

To gain a basic understanding of Ayurveda and begin the journey of self-discovery it's helpful to know about the doshas - and that's what this little piece is all about...