Ayurveda Definition of Health: Who is a Healthy Person? Sushruta's 6 Signs

🌿 Ayurveda Gyanmala — with the Nadi Vaidyas | Issue 004

Health is more than the absence of disease — Sushruta’s six signs

Author: Nadi Vaidya Dr. Ajit Singh Yadav (BAMS) • Co-authors: Nadi Vaidya Dr. Saloni Yadav Vashishth (BAMS, MD (DN)), Nadi Vaidya Dr. Mohit Vashishth (BAMS, MD (AM))
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The Ayurveda definition of health is simple and profound: a healthy person is one whose doshas, digestive fire, tissues and elimination are in balance, and whose soul, senses and mind are clear and content. In other words, health is not merely the absence of disease — it is a body that works well and a mind at peace.

If all your reports are “normal” but you have no appetite, your sleep keeps breaking and your mood is low — are you healthy? And if someone says “I don’t have any illness,” is that enough?

In Indian homes, elders used to ask: “Is your appetite good? Do you sleep well? Is your stomach clear? Is your mind happy?” These everyday questions are, in fact, Ayurveda’s definition of health — kept alive in households for generations.

In Issue 001 we learned that Ayurveda’s first aim is to protect the health of the healthy. But you can only protect what you can recognise. Today, let us see whom Ayurveda calls “healthy”.

The Sushruta Samhita, one of Ayurveda’s great classical texts, gives this famous definition of a healthy person:

“समदोषः समाग्निश्च समधातुमलक्रियः।
प्रसन्नात्मेन्द्रियमनाः स्वस्थ इत्यभिधीयते॥”

Meaning: One whose doshas are balanced, whose digestive fire is balanced, whose tissues and excretory functions are balanced, and whose soul, senses and mind are clear and cheerful — is called healthy (swastha). (Sushruta Samhita, Sutrasthana 15)

Notice that half of this definition is about the body and half about the mind and consciousness. Around two thousand years ago, Ayurveda already saw health as a combined state of body and mind.

1. What does “swastha” mean?

The Sanskrit word swastha comes from swa + stha — “one who is established in oneself.” A person who stays rooted in their own nature, temperament and balance is healthy.

This also means health does not look the same for everyone. A lean, quick Vata-type person will not look like a sturdy, steady Kapha-type person — yet both can be perfectly healthy in their own constitution.

2. Sushruta’s six signs of health — in plain words

These are general guides for understanding — not a basis for diagnosing or treating any disease.

3. Agni — the axis of health

Ayurveda places agni, the digestive fire, at the centre of health. When food is digested well, the tissues are nourished; when it is not, the chance of ama (undigested, heavy residue) increases — which Ayurveda considers a root of many problems.

Four states of agni are described: sama (balanced), vishama (irregular — often linked with Vata), tikshna (too sharp — often Pitta) and manda (sluggish — often Kapha). The mark of a healthy person is sama agni.

That is why, in Ayurveda, the first question about health is often: “How is your appetite?”

4. A clear soul, senses and mind

The last part of the definition is the deepest. Even if every bodily function is fine, a mind that lives in constant fear, anger, worry or sadness is not considered fully healthy in Ayurveda.

Ayurveda describes three qualities of mind — sattva, rajas and tamas (a full issue on this is coming). Growth of sattva — clarity, calm and contentment — is seen as the sign of a healthy mind. Sleeping and waking on time (Issue 003: Brahma Muhurta), wholesome food, good company, prayer and meditation are described as its supports.

5. What does modern science say?

The Constitution of the World Health Organization (1948) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Modern thinking, too, sees health as far more than “no illness”.

Today’s science treats sleep, digestion, mental health and physical activity as interconnected — for example, poor sleep can affect appetite, mood and energy together.

But modern medicine adds an important reminder: feeling well does not always mean being fully healthy. High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or anaemia often begin without symptoms. Regular check-ups, as advised by your doctor, are also part of protecting health.

6. What “balance” means for the seven constitutions

“Balanced doshas” does not mean the three doshas are equal like weights on a scale. It means balance according to your inborn constitution. Health looks a little different in each prakriti:

These are general Ayurvedic guides. Please don’t self-assign your prakriti — consult a qualified Nadi Vaidya. If you have an illness or take medication, your actual health condition matters more than your constitution.

7. Signs not to dismiss as “normal”

Many people put off certain problems as age or tiredness. If you notice any of these, don’t wait — see a doctor:

• Rapid, unexplained weight loss or gain
• Persistent fatigue, breathlessness, or chest pain or heaviness
• Excessive thirst, frequent urination, or wounds that heal slowly
• Prolonged loss of appetite, blood in the stool, or a sudden change in bowel habits
• Weeks of low mood, sleeplessness or loss of interest in everything

Ayurveda’s protection of health and modern check-ups are not opposites — together they give the full picture.

8. Autumn into early winter — protecting health this season

In North India the season is now moving from Sharad (autumn) to Hemanta (early winter). According to Ayurveda, digestive fire tends to grow stronger as the cold sets in, so this period is considered favourable for nourishment and building strength. But the junction between two seasons (ritu-sandhi) calls for gradual adjustment.

• Eat when you are truly hungry; prefer fresh, warm, home-cooked food
• Protect yourself from the morning and evening chill — cover head, ears and feet
• Drink enough water through the day, even if you feel less thirsty in the cold
• Keep up light exercise or walks; elderly people and those with heart or blood-pressure conditions should take cold early-morning walks only on their doctor’s advice

🩺 9. Nadi Pariksha and recognising health

In more than 36 years of clinical experience, Nadi Vaidya Dr. Ajit Singh Yadav has used Nadi Pariksha not merely to look for disease but to understand a person’s balance — the state of the doshas, agni, constitution and mind. Sushruta’s six signs are assessed through the pulse together with questions about the tongue, sleep, appetite and elimination (Issue 002: What is Nadi Pariksha?).

His method considers the pulse’s speed • rhythm • strength • depth along with diet, lifestyle and season, so that a healthy person can be guided to protect health according to their own nature.

“You don’t just touch the pulse — you have to connect with it.”

The tradition is carried forward by the second generation — Nadi Vaidya Dr. Saloni Yadav Vashishth and Nadi Vaidya Dr. Mohit Vashishth. The Nadi Vaidya family has experience consulting with the film industry, royal families, leading business families and international patients, and Nadi Vaidyas trained at the Gurukul now serve in almost every state of India. If you wish to learn this science, see the Nadi Pariksha course.

Nadi Pariksha is a traditional Ayurvedic holistic assessment method; it is not a substitute for lab tests or modern investigations.

🏡 10. Today’s practical experiment — a seven-day health diary

In a small notebook or phone note, answer six questions with ✔️ or ✖️ every night before bed:

• Hunger: Did natural hunger come on time?
• Digestion: Did your stomach feel light after meals — no heaviness, gas or burning?
• Elimination: Was your bowel movement easy and complete in the morning?
• Sleep: Was last night’s sleep deep, and did you wake refreshed?
• Energy: Did you stay enthusiastic through the day?
• Mind: Was your mind mostly calm and happy?

On day seven, see which sign collected the most ✖️ — that is your first health priority. If sleep has the most ✖️, fix your bedtime first. If a problem persists, take your diary to a qualified vaidya or doctor.

Read earlier issues: Issue 003 — What time should you wake up? • Issue 002 — What is Nadi Pariksha? • Issue 001 — What is Ayurveda?

Frequently asked questions

How does Ayurveda define a healthy person?
According to the Sushruta Samhita, a person is called healthy (swastha) when the doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) are balanced, digestive fire (agni) is balanced, the tissues (dhatus) and elimination (mala) function normally, and the soul, senses and mind are clear and content. Health is a balance of both body and mind.

Is the absence of disease the same as being healthy?
No. Both Ayurveda and the World Health Organization (WHO) say that simply not having a disease is not enough. Good appetite and digestion, deep sleep, regular bowel movements, energy and a cheerful mind are all part of health.

Does 'balanced doshas' mean all three doshas are equal?
No. Every person has a different inborn constitution (prakriti) — some are Vata-dominant, others Pitta or Kapha. 'Balanced' means the doshas stay in harmony with your own prakriti, not that they are mathematically equal.

How can I tell at home whether I am healthy?
Watch the daily signs — natural hunger on time, comfortable digestion, a clear bowel movement in the morning, deep sleep, steady energy and a contented mind. These signs are not a substitute for lab tests or a doctor's check-up, because conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes often have no early symptoms.

Can Nadi Pariksha help understand one's state of health?
Nadi Pariksha is a traditional Ayurvedic holistic assessment method in which the vaidya assesses the doshas, agni and prakriti and then guides diet and lifestyle. It is not a substitute for laboratory tests or modern diagnostic investigations.

An easy formula to remember —

⚖️ Dosha — balance as per your own prakriti
🔥 Agni — hunger on time, good digestion
🧬 Dhatu — strength and nourishment suited to age
🚿 Mala — regular and complete elimination
👁️ Senses — clear and fresh
😊 Mind — calm, content, cheerful