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Ayurveda's
concept of the Tridoshas is unique to medical science. Ayurveda says the body
is made up of tissues (dhatus), waste products (malas), and doshas (loosely translated
to Energetic Forces). It is the Tridoshas' job to assist with the creation of
all of the various tissues of the body and to remove any unnecessary waste products
from the body. It is also the Tridoshas that influence all movements, all transformations,
all sensory functions, and many of the other activities in the human body and
mind.
The
Vata dosha is responsible for all movement in the body and is the most important
of the three doshas. This is for two reasons. First, if Vata becomes imbalanced
for long enough and sufficiently enough, it can also cause the other two doshas
(Pitta or Kapha) to become imbalanced. It can even cause both Pitta and Kapha
to become imbalanced; this is called a Tridoshic imbalance and is the most difficult
to overcome. Secondly, Vata is the main driver or mover of the body, including
the other two doshas, all the tissues (dhatus) and all of the waste products (malas).
The
Pitta dosha is associated with fire or heat and is responsible for all metabolism
in the body. Wherever there is transformation, there is Pitta (doing its job).
Whether it is in the GI tract, liver, skin, eyes or brain doesn't matter, for
these are all locations where Pitta works.
Kapha
is the heaviest of the three doshas. It provides the structures and the lubrication
that the body needs. These qualities help to counterbalance Vata's movement and
Pitta's metabolism. A big, heavyset football play or wrestler is a person with
a predominance of Kapha.
What
is really nice about Ayurveda is that learning to balance the Tridoshas is easy.
Much of Ayurveda is common sense; it is based upon the laws of nature. The tools
one uses to balance the Tridoshas are lifestyle management and the proper nutritional
protocols.
When
the Tridoshas are balanced, the individual experiences health on all levels: mental,
physical and spiritual. This is much more than the mere absence of disease.
The following areas help to define what Ayurveda considers
as health.
Each
of the three doshas have certain quantity, qualities, and functions. When all
of these are balanced, it is called normal or balanced (Dosha Shamya). This condition
is conducive to well-being, health, and wellness. However, this balanced state
is not stable; it is always changing. The Doshas will become either increased
(vriddhi) or decreased (kasaya). Both of these states lead to ill-health or disease.
However, increased Doshas have much more power to cause problems than do decreased
Doshas. The important point here is to understand that each dosha has a set of
qualities (gunas) associated with it which can increase or decrease in quantity.
Natural imbalance is due to time and age, which are mild and normally
do not cause any problems. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha increase and become predominant
during one's life, during a season and during certain times of day. For example,
Vata is predominant during the latter part of one's life, during the fall season
and during late afternoon, as well as during the last part of night and the last
part of digestion. Whew!! I know that's a lot of stuff! Hang in there! Pitta is
predominant during middle age, during the summer season, at midday, at midnight
and during the middle part of digestion. Kapha is predominant during childhood,
during the spring season, in late morning, at the first part of evening and during
the early part of digestion.
Unnatural
imbalances of the Doshas can be caused by such things as: inappropriate diet,
inappropriate lifestyle, trauma (like a car accident), viruses, parasites, etc.
While some of these items are beyond our control, the type of lifestyle we live
and the foods we eat are within our control.
To
learn how to reduce the Tridoshas, it is first necessary to understand what causes
the Tridoshas to increase. The reason, according to a simple rule in Ayurvedic
principles, is: "Like increases Like, while Dislike (opposite) decreases Like."
For example, if you are cold and you eat ice cream, you will become colder; or
if you are hot and you eat chilli peppers, you will become hotter. These examples,
which seem so obvious, are the basis for much of what is done in Ayurveda that
allows its exceptional results. Herein lies one of the true beauties of Ayurveda:
its principles are so simple, so basic, that it naturally appeals to common sense.
So
if we engage in either lifestyles or consumes foods that have Vata qualities one
will be increasing the Vata dosha in themself. Some examples of Vata increasing
activities are the following: running outside in the fall while dressed lightly
when it is cold, dry with lots of winds blowing, going to rock concert after skipping
a meal and not having slept all night, eating popcorn while driving in traffic
with the music blasting, never taking time to rest, relax and take it easy. Basically
any activity that is nerve racking and/or highly stimulating is going to increase
(aggravate) Vata. Example of Vata increasing foods would be things that have the
above mentioned qualities and/or taste bitter, astringent or pungent like: popcorn,
rice cakes, beans, cayenne pepper, coffee and alfalfa sprouts.
And
the name of the game in preventing disease is not to aggravate any of the Tridoshas;
to keep them calm and happy. So all you need is to understand what factors increase
and decrease each of the three doshas; Vata, Pitta and Kapha and follow those
recommendations when necessary to avoid disease and promote overall health.
Really it's actually quite simple. Most of us can follow those Lifestyle suggestions
for reducing each of the three doshas, and simply follow a Tridoshic nutritional
program. Tridoshic meals can be very easy to cook, checkout some of our Recipes.