Ayurveda says that balance and unbalance of the five primary elements plus consciousness are the root causes of health and disease. The five primary elements are traditionally called earth, water, air, fire, and ether. Consciousness upholds these elements in the body so as to produce animation or life, Consciousness is the agent of soul, or may even be called the soul itself.
The body contains many cells. These cells accumulate and combine to form tissues, bones, fat, etc. There may be physiological differences in these end products, but in origin all are one. The elementary chemical action of cells can be observed through the microscope. The invisible consciousness is the controller of cell movement, division, and nourishment. In a word, the invisible soul or consciousness is life.

Air

Air is described by Ayurveda as being five-fold, according to the location and function it has in the human body. The five kinds of air are : udan, pran, saman, apan, and byan.

Udan air is located in the throat and moves downward to heart and navel. Breathing, speaking, and singing are controlled by this air. Eye, ear, and nose troubles arise when the flow and amount of this air are abnormal.

The air which enters the lungs at the time of respiration is called pran. With the help of this food is taken into the stomach and moved along the alimentary canal. Breathing difficulty and belching come when its supply is disordered.

The region of pancreas and navel is the home of the third air, called saman. Saman moves from the stomach to the intestines. It mixes with the juice of the pancreas and with food to form and separate out blood, lymph, excreta, and urine. Indigestion, dysentery, and tumors occur when this air is not in proper condition, supply, and distribution.

Apan air is located in the rectum and moves on to scrotum, abdomen, spine, and thighs. With its help there is expulsion of excreta, urine, and spermatazoa. Menstruation and child -birth are also made possible for females through it. Intestinal, rectal, and seminal diseases, menstrual and labor troubles, gonorrhea, and leucorrhoea result from its disordered state.

Byan air moves all over the body, creating heat and energy. With the disordering of this air the whole body becomes inactive and sick.

Excessive air may be caused by strenuous labor, heavy brain work, excessive discharge of semen, gonorrhea, dysenteric weakness, unsatisfied appetite, uncongenial entertainment, grief, fear, insomnia, excessive reading, fasting, physical shock, drinking of too much bitter, acrid, or astringent liquids, and the eating of too much coarse, stale, cold, and dry foods. Repression of bowel movements, urination, seminal discharge, belching, vomiting, sneezing, and crying can also bring about an unfavorable air condition. Symptom of this unfavorable conditions are: deflection of limbs, decreased sensitivity of touch, physical depression, nerve contraction, constipation (hard balls are excreted), thirst, shivering, rough skin, astringent tongue, and horripilation. Treatment : sweet and salty foods kill excessive air; so do fats; rubbing mustered oil on the body, pleasant entertainment, happy mood, substantial diet ( fish, flesh, milk, etc. ) also help in removing excess air.

Bile

Bile is also of five kinds : pachak, ranjak, sadhak, alochak, and bhrajak.  Pachak bile helps to digest food in the pancreas. Ranjak is composed of secretions from liver and spleen ; it helps to form blood from digested food. Sadhak bile stays in the heart. It feeds intellect and memory. Alochak bile is located in the eyes and helps us to see. Bhrajak remains in the skin, making it smooth and lovely. Excess bile is caused by excessive hot food, sun and fire heat, pungent foods, mustard, kulatha lentils, ground sesame, linseed, curd, wine, fasting, and anger. Symptoms of irritated bile include burning sensations in the body (especially heartburn), red spots on the skin, blood spouting, depression, swooning, impassioned movements, bitter or sour mouth, and yellowish appearance. Treatment calls for soothing diet and pleasures, bitter and sweet juices, astringent juicy food, milk, ghee, and the fragrance of sweet, cool, mild things.

Phlegm

Phlegm too is five kinds: kledan, abalamban, rasan, snehan, and slesan, Kledan phlegm aids in getting the food in the intestine assimilated. Abalamban dwells in the heart whose capacity for functioning it helps to form. It also strengthens arms, joints and loins. Rasan phlegm resides in the alimentary canal and makes eaten food palatable. Snehan phlegm has its seat in the head from where it soothes and comforts all organs. Slesan phlegm is in the joints which it lubricates. The causes of excess phlegm are: excessive use of cold things, a dull and idle life, daytime sleeping, greasy food, maskalai lentils, barbati beans, sesamum, wheat, cakes, curd, water -chestnuts, palm fruits, pumpkin, and other melons. Taking food when the stomach still contains undigested food can also cause a phlegmatic condition. Symptoms of this condition are: a greasy appearance, itches, feeling cold, dullness, indigestion, paleness of stools, urine, and skin, bitter or sweet mouth. Treatment of excess phlegm is dry food, bitter and astringent juicy things, healthy pleasures.