The Doshas
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Understanding The Doshas
Further understanding of these primary elements is the three basic types of energy or functions that are present in every body and all of nature. These principals of vata, pitta and kapha can be related to the basic biology of life. The meaning of dosha is “fault” and in Ayurveda it is understood that the vata, pitta, and kapha energies, when out of balance, can create ill health. It is through considering the doshas, and the disequilibrium that needs correcting, that we gain the information to eat foods that help pacify arising health problems.
Understanding Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
- Vata is the combination of ether and air and is the principle of motion. It governs breathing, blood circulation digestion and nerve impulses. Vata has dry, cold, light, irregular and moveable qualities. It is the instigator of creativity, flexibility, cheerfulness, high energy, elimination and alertness. Vata is seated in the colon and when it becomes out of balance its symptoms are often excess lower bowel gas. Excess vata can also cause loss of weight, dry skin and hair, sleeplessness, forgetfulness, fear and anxiety.
- Pitta is the principal of metabolic heat and conversion. It is the combination of fire and water elements. When regarding pitta think of stomach acid, very important but damaging when out of balance. It is the dosha of transformation and assimilation. Pitta energy brings courage, understanding, knowledge, organization and focus. It has the qualities of moisture, light, penetrating, fluid, and chemicals. When out of balance, pitta tends to cause hot temper, skin disorders, impatience, fever, heart disease, and heart burn. In the small intestine, it is the cause of poor or proper digestion depending on its state of balance.
- Kapha is our stability and is comprised of earth and water elements. Think mud! Its qualities are straight, dense, oily, slow, and static. It is the dosha that keeps our joints lubricated, our membranes moist and supports and comforts our bodies. With kapha energy we feel strong, stable, affectionate and forgiving. Seated in the lungs, kapha energy out of balance can create congestion and excess mucus. Kapha dominant people are prone to depression, laziness, being overweight, diabetes, constipation and cold pale complexion.