The concept of dosha is a significant focus in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic assessment is based on evaluating the state and interaction of doshas in the body. Health and illness are reflected in the state of biological doshas. The essence of treatment is also based on efforts to correct disruptions and imbalances in the dosha system. Doshas are essentially bioenergetic in nature. This is considered both theoretically and when formulating treatment plans, especially in terms of diet, herbs, and seasonal considerations. There is a fine-tuning in the makeup of doshas: Prana, Tejas, and Ojas. These sukshma, or subtle components, express the psychophysiological dimension of the doshas. The mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the doshas are viewed from this perspective.
There are three doshas: Vata, the principle of repulsion; Pitta, the principle of transformation; and Kapha, the principle of consolidation.
The human body is composed of a biological combination of 5 elements: Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth.
VATA is a combination of Space and Air.
PITTA is a combination of Fire and Water.
KAPHA is a combination of Water and Earth.
Ayurveda divides each dosha into five sub-doshas, subtypes, depending on their functions and positions.
Doshas and Sub-Doshas
Vata
- Prana Vata
- Udana Vata
- Samana Vata
- Apana Vata
- Vyana Vata
Pitta
- Pachaka Pitta
- Ranjaka Pitta
- Sadhaka Pitta
- Alochaka Pitta
- Bhrajaka Pitta
Kapha
- Kledaka Kapha
- Avalambaka Kapha
- Bodhaka Kapha
- Tarpaka Kapha
- Shleshaka Kapha
Vata Dosha
Vata’s Sanskrit root word, vah, means vehicle, movement, or carrying. Naturally, Vata is the principle of movement in the body. It is responsible for all movements, from how much a person can think in a given time to how effectively they digest and carry their food to their intestines.
It governs all movement (intestinal churn, breathing, heartbeat, etc.).
Its main center is the large intestine.
Secondary centers are the brain and nervous system (neuronic firing), heart (heartbeat), lungs (respiration), and pelvic region (urination and defecation, menstruation, childbirth, and ejaculation).
It is responsible for life energy, prana or qi. Its characteristics: It possesses qualities such as dry, light, cold, hard, thin, dynamic, and clear.
VATA AUTUMN/WINTER FIRST HALF NUTRITION
Digestive Capacity: Irregular appetite and elimination, indigestion, gas, bloating, painful abdominal pain, constipation.
Treatments: Warm, rich, moist foods.
Sweet, sour, and salty flavors.
Examples: Cooking moist and body-building grains such as basmati rice, bulgur, oats, and quinoa thoroughly; using plenty of quality fats such as ghee, olive oil, and coconut oil; most nuts and seeds; sweet root vegetables such as beets and carrots, or oily vegetables such as avocados; small-grained legumes such as red lentils or mung beans; sweet fruits such as grapes, peaches, and figs; dairy products such as butter and ghee, hot milk, yogurt, kefir, and cheese; body-building foods such as eggs, fish, and chicken/turkey legs, lamb, and beef (dark-colored meats).
Pitta Dosha
Pitta’s Sanskrit root, tap, means to warm or tolerant.
In Sanskrit, the word Pitta comes from tapa, which means to warm. It also means austerity and concentration. Pitta refers to the energy that generates heat in the body. Pitta in the body is essentially a biological combination of fire and water. Pitta’s characteristics are: hot, sharp, mild, liquid, spreading, oily, and sour. Finally, pitta has a meaty smell and a sharp and bitter taste.
Pita is the Fire element in the body; this means everything burning, cooking, digesting, and transforming.
It governs transformation (digestion of food and thoughts, enzymes, heat, hormonal system, neurotransmitters) and its main center is the small intestine (enzymes, bile).
Secondary centers are the brain and nervous system (neurotransmitters), liver (enzymes), spleen (immunity, red blood cells), skin (melatonin), eyes (vision), and blood (red blood cells).
Characteristics: Hot, sharp, mild, fluid, mobile, oily
PITTA SUMMER DIET
Digestive Capacity: Strong appetite and desire to eat large amounts of food, hyperacidity, indigestion, gastritis,
colon inflammation (colitis), soft stools.
Treatments: Cool, heavy, dry foods. Sweet, tart, and bitter tastes.
Examples: Cooked grains such as basmati rice, amaranth, bulgur, quinoa, oats, barley, and millet;
cooling and high-quality oils such as ghee, olive oil, and coconut oil; green leafy vegetables such as nettle, spinach, chard, and purslane; most beans and lentils; sweet, refreshing fruits such as watermelon, peaches, and figs, or tart fruits such as pomegranates, apples, and pears; unsalted butter and ghee, warm milk, kefir, paneer, or fresh cheeses such as cottage cheese; small amounts of eggs and white meats such as chicken or turkey breast.
Kapha Dosha
Kapha is derived from two Sanskrit root words: Ka means water, and pha means to grow, develop, enrich, and hold together.
Another name for Kapha is shleshma. The root of shleshma is shlish, meaning “to embrace.” Kapha molecules intertwine, forming a compact mass.
Kapha molecules are primarily derived from Water and Earth. Kapha’s qualities include heavy, slow/dull, cold, oily, liquid, slimy/smooth, dense, soft, static, sticky, cloudy, hard, and coarse. They predominantly have a sweet and salty taste, thus enhancing Kapha. Vāta molecules, being catabolic (degenerative) and centrifugal, tend to disperse. Kapha molecules are anabolic (growth-promoting) and centrifugal, therefore they tend to coagulate or fall together towards the center. Kapha molecules stick together, forming progressively larger molecules. Vāta is invisible because it is thin and subtle. Kapha is coarse, the opposite of subtle, and therefore easily visible. All cells, tissues, and organs are composed of kapha, therefore kapha is represented by the important structures in the body.
In the body, it governs structure, stability, lubrication, hydration, and protection. Its main center is the stomach (protective mucous membrane).
Secondary centers are the pancreas, brain and spinal cord (white matter, cerebrospinal fluid), kidneys, joints (synovial fluid), oral cavity (saliva), throat and sinuses (mucous membrane), and breast tissue (fat, lymph).
Its characteristics include heavy, slow, cold, oily, fluid, mucous/rough, dense, soft, stagnant, sticky/cloudy, and coarse qualities.
KAPHA LATE WINTER/SPRING NUTRITION
Digestive Capacity: Loss of appetite, slow digestion, bloating, nausea, allergies, congestion (blockage).
Treatments: Warm, mild, dry foods. Bitter, astringent, pungent tastes.
Examples: Mild grains such as basmati rice, barley, millet, buckwheat, and corn; small amounts of ghee
or quality oils such as flaxseed oil; astringent, leafy green vegetables such as arugula, parsley, nettle, spinach, chard, and purslane; most beans and lentils; astringent fruits such as blackberries, pomegranates, apples, and pears; small amounts of goat’s milk products; small amounts of eggs; white meats such as chicken and turkey breast; beef, lamb.
Dual Body Types
VATTA – PİTTA:
It is a mixture of Vata and Pitta characteristics; it likes warmth but cannot tolerate too much heat, has a strong appetite, but its digestion is variable. When unbalanced, fear can be replaced by anger; both have mild and intense qualities. They need the stability of Kapha the most.
PİTTA – KAPHA:
Of all body types, people with a Pitta-Kapha body structure are the best able to adapt to today’s volatile and complex world. This is due to the stability of Kapha and the adaptability of Pitta. They need to be careful with fatty, heavy foods. When they achieve emotional success, they tend to become complacent and arrogant.
VATA – KAPHA:
Their common characteristic is coldness. They have sensitive and cold digestion and are prone to mucus production. They can be light and airy, but at times deep and reserved. They suffer from a lack of fever and warmth. The emotional nature of Kapha, combined with the ups and downs of hyperactive Vata, makes them emotionally vulnerable. They are easily traumatized.
TRIPLE DOSHA / VPK:
They are stable. Their health is excellent. They don’t easily lose their balance, either physically or emotionally. They are not easily affected by external physical and emotional conditions. This is both a blessing and a curse; it can cause them to accumulate tension over time and eventually explode insidiously.
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