Dosha
"Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food". This is a quote to live by and
one that many who practice Ayurvedic medicine believe in. Ayurvedic medicine is the
primary healthcare practiced in India and one of the oldest and most holistic forms of
medicine practiced around the world. Ayurveda is a sanskrit term made from "ayus"
meaning life and "veda" meaning knowledge or science, therefore, Ayurveda means the
"science of life" and focuses around balance between bodily systems, the mind, the
senses, and the spirit. Ayurveda focuses on promoting health, preventing disease, and
achieving long life. The basic philosophy of Ayurveda is centered around
panchamahabhoota, or the five elements theory. This theory states that the universe as
well as the human body is made up of five elements, air (vayu), space (akash), earth
(prithvi), fire (agni), and water (jal). These five elements combine to form "controlling
forces" or Dosha, also known as our constitution, to western medicine it would be
equivilant to our physiology. The dosha are responsible for sustaining the living body in
a balanced state. There are three types of dosha: Vaata, Pitta, and Kapha.
Vaata
Responsible for active movements. There are five types of Vaata:
- Praana: functions of the brain and nervous system. (ie smell, taste, touch,
hearing, vision, movement of upper and lower limbs, digestion, reproduction,
breathing)
- Udaana: movements of the chest, diaphragm, and voice box. Controls
movements of breathing out, sneezing, and speech.
- Samaana: movements of the intestine along with digestion and absorption of
food
- Apaana: movements of the bladder, rectum, and uterus
- Vyaana: movements of all kinds of voluntary and involuntary muscles.
Responsible for movement of the heart, circulation, and endocrine system
→ Diseases caused by disorders of Vaata are: asthma, epilepsy, mental disorders,
urticaria, viral fever, anaemia, obesity, diabetes, constipation, diarrhea, and reduced
function of the thyroid and adrenal glands.
Pitta
Rresponsible for the chemical reactions in our body. There are also five types of
Pitta.
- Paachaka: digestive enzymes and other chemicals that control digestion and
absorption of food substances.
- Ranjaka: responsible for hemoglobin production
- Alochaka: responsible for the biochemical activity of the eye and perception of
vision
- Saadka: responsible for normal functioning of the brain and mind
- Braajaka: responsible for removing waste products in the form of sweat and
enhancing the natural glow of the skin
→ Diseases caused by disorders of Pitta are: toxic fevers, gastritis, vomitting, diarrhea,
jaundice, skin diseases, and all infections.
Kapha
Responsible for growth brought about by secretions of different types of
organs. The five types are as follows:
- Kledaka: secretions by the mouth, stomach, and intestines, which dissolve food
and destroy bacteria
- Avalambika: secretions of the respiratory tract from the nose and lungs and
facilitates passage of air and flushes out foreign substances
- Bodhaka: watery secretions of the glands around the taste buds
- Tarpaka: cerebrospinal fluid
- Shleshaka: fluid lying in the bones and joint spaces and fluid surrounding and
protecting the heart and lungs
→ Diseases caused by disorders of Kapha are: common cold, infection of the lungs and
other parts of the respiratory system, jaundice, eczema, pimples and skin infections,
arthritis, rheumatic heart disease, swelling and infection of the kidneys, peritonitis,
encephalitis, meningitis and other infections of the brain, and benign tumors.
In Ayurveda the tissues of the body are known as Dhaatu and form the basic structure
of the body. The seven types of dhaatus are: lymph, blood, muscle, fat, bone marrow,
sperm, and ovum. The waste products produced from the various bodily functions are
known as Malas and include products like sweat, urine, bile, gas, and mucous
secretions.
Thus in Ayurveda diseases are due to imbalances of doshas, dhaatus, and malas.
In Ayurveda every person is born with their "constitution" or dosha. Even though all
people have each of the three doshas present there is typically one and sometimes two
that dominate your constitution. Once you learn what your dominant dosha is you can
find better balance through food, exercise, meditation, and climate. Below you will find
another breakdown of Vaata, Pitta, and Kapha which will help you determine which
dosha is dominant to you. Look through the chart and see which characteristics most
match who you are. You can place a mark next to each characteristic and once you
have looked through all you can tally up which dosha has the most marks, this will be
your dominant dosha.
| Vaata |
Pitta |
Kapha |
| Thin, light, delicate
structure; either very tall or
very short |
Medium body size, steady
weight |
Large, well-built frame,
tend to be overweight |
| Dry hair, skin, lips,
constipation |
Hot body temperature,
dislikes heat |
Sensitive to cold and
damp; likes the sun and
wind |
| Rough skin, hair, nails,
hands, and feet |
Light-colored eyes |
Large eyes |
| Cracking or unstable joints |
Light colored hair |
Smooth, soft skin |
| Stiff muscles |
Fair, freckled, or red skin
that burns easily |
Sensitive to touch |
| Sensitive to cold; dislikes
cold climates |
Oily skin and hair |
Soft, wavy hair |
| Cold extremities, poor
circulation |
Prone to acne, rashes, or
inflammation |
Strong immunity when in
balance |
| Prone to palpitations,
irregular heartbeat, muscle
spasms, nervous stomach |
Good digestion, loose
stools |
Reliable energy; strong
physical stamina |
| Tremors and tics |
Strong, urgent appetite |
Slow metabolism and
digetion |
| Changeable moods,
irregular daily habits |
Dislikes oily food |
Slow and steady in most
activities; stable, easygoing,
reliable |
| Irregular appetite; irregular
digestion; prone to gas |
Sensitive to light |
Slow learner, but retains
information once learned |
| Sensitive to wind and
sound |
Eyes are sensitive and
easily irritated |
Slow to anger |
| Prone to sore throats,
earaches, dry coughs,
headaches, anxiety |
Abundant energy |
Loving, affectionate, kind,
gentle |
| Low endurance, tends to
overexert |
Sharp memory |
Difficulty expressing
emotions |
| Energy comes in brief
sudden spurts |
Prone to heartburn,
stomach acidity |
Loves food, especially
sweets |
| Likes travel |
Profuse sweat, urine,
feces |
Loves sleep |
| Light sleeper, sometimes
insomniac, many dreams
that are active and quick
moving |
Strong body odor, smelly
feet and armpits |
Prone to problems
involving mucus
production; colds and flu |
| Highly imaginative and
creative |
Prone to anger and
impatience, judgmental
and critical |
Prone to asthma and
allergies |
| Enthusiastic, excitable,
positive when in balance |
Hardworking and
successful |
Prone to diabetes and
heart problems |
| Mentally quick but forgets
easily |
Earns good money, but
spends it too |
Prone to depression |
| Can't save money easily |
Sharp logical minds |
Hold onto money |
In order to find balance with your dosha you will need to choose foods and activities that
are opposite the qualities of the dosha. If the dosha prefers hot spicy food, you will need
to eat cool foods such as fruits to find balance.
| Balancing Vaata |
Balancing Pitta |
Balancing Kapha |
| Avoid cold temperatures
and make sure to keep
warm |
Avoid hot temperatures, as
well as hot, spicy food |
Stay warm and dry |
| Eat warm, spicy foods |
Stay away from grease,
oil, and salt |
Avoid heavy, sweet, fatty,
oily foods |
| Don't overexert yourself |
Adequate exercise |
Avoid dairy and cold drinks |
| Regular and adequate rest |
Drink cool beverages and
eat cool foods |
Don't oversleep |
| Create routines and stick
to them |
Find something positive to
focus your energy on |
Get plenty of vigorous
exercise |
Can you determine what my dominant dosha is?
I am 5ʼ2 and weigh between 115-120 with little variation in my weight gain. I am blonde
with blue eyes and a very fair complexion. I tend to burn easily and I ALWAYS wear
sunglasses. When it comes to eating I must eat as soon as I am hungry or I become
grumpy. I can eat a lot of food for my size, but I also burn a lot of calories through
running. I love fruits and vegetables, but I also have a HUGE sweet tooth! I enjoy the
heat, but canʼt take too much without feeling ill. When it comes to work and school I
learn quickly and tend to remember most of what I have been taught. I love to do
activities that challenge me and I love to travel.
ANSWER - Even though I have qualities of all three doshas, my dominant dosha is
PITTA!!