The 3 main doshas (medical humours) are Vata (resembles the classical element air), Pitta (fire), and Kapha (water). All bodily processes are believed to be governed by a balance of the 3 doshas. Whichever dosha appears to dominate a person's behavior and physique is called his constitution type. Each constitution type has particular strengths and susceptibilities. See also four humours Ayurveda - Vata. Vata, composed of air, governs all movement in the mind a ...

See also:

Ayurveda, Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad, Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology, Ayurveda - Qualities, Ayurveda - The Five Elements, Ayurveda - Doshas, Ayurveda - Vata, Ayurveda - Pitta, Ayurveda - Kapha, Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine, Ayurveda - Historically, Ayurveda - Today, Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine, Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia II - Ayurveda - Doshas

Dosha: three basic metabolic principles connecting the mind and body and biological humour.

(See also: Dosha, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Dosha vaishmya: pathological condition of dosha

(See also: Dosha vaishmya, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Ayurveda (आयुर्वेद Sanskrit: ayu—life; veda—knowledge of) or ayurvedic medicine is a comprehensive system of medicine, more than 5,000 years old and based on a holistic approach rooted in Vedic culture. Its conspicuous use of the word veda, or knowledge, reveals its role in early Hinduism and describes its hallowed place in India. Ayurveda also had a tradition of surgery. Two early texts of Ayurveda are the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita. Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The great ...

Including:

Ayurveda - Brhat Trayi The greater triad Ayurveda - Basic concepts and methodology Ayurveda - Qualities Ayurveda - The Five Elements Ayurveda - Doshas
Ayurveda - Vata Ayurveda - Pitta Ayurveda - Kapha
Ayurveda - Herbs and Minerals in Ayurvedic Medicine Ayurveda - Historically Ayurveda - Today
Ayurveda - Ayurvedic Herbs in Western Medicine
Ayurveda - Partial Bibliography

Read more here: » Ayurveda: Encyclopedia - Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word derived from two roots: ayur, which means life; and veda, which means knowledge. It has its roots in ancient vedic literature. Ayurveda, a system of diet, healing and health maintenance, is probably the oldest science of life, just like the science of Yoga.

Read more here: » Ayurveda � an introduction - I

Body Characteristics - double dosha body types

VATA-PITTA

Their characteristics show a combination of vata & pitta, for example they often have wavy hair, caused by a combination of vata’s curliness and pitta’s straightness. They generally have the poor circulation , though they love to eat but they will have trouble digesting large meals.

A healthy balanced vata - pitta person have a capacity for original thought, a vata’s characteristic, and also expertise at application of theory, a pitta’s characteristic. As lightness and intensity are the common qualities of vata & pitta. Proper direction of this intensity calls for harnessing the lightness for intensive self development. When a person having imbalanced vata & pitta fear alternates with anger as a response to stress.

(See also: Double dosha body types, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Body Characteristics - double dosha body types

KAPHA-VATA

Vata–Kapha people tend to be tall but are average in build and most other physical qualities are just as pitta type. Vata and kapha are united in their coldness. Though they do not suffer as intensely from physical cold as do pure vata types because of the strength and insulation of kapha. They Have a double emotional need for heat.

Their lack of heat usually manifests physically as digestive disturbances, especillay constipation, respiratory disease with much mucus production is also common. They may be wary of jumping to conclutions without proper preliminary investigation.

They should use sour, salty and pungent taste foods.

(See also: Double dosha body types, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Doshic Imbalances

Any imbalance in the doshas is likely to have a negative effect on your mind and emotions. If in excess you are more likely to display negative energy of a quality associated with it. The predominant dosha of your constitution becoming in excess more easily than the others, you will tend to experience its negative aspects more than the others.

Negative emotions aggravate the dosha associated with them. For example, high kapha may mean you are more possessive; but possessiveness in turn increases kapha even more. The way to break this vicious circle is to pacify the aggravated dosha.

Increased consciousness of Ayurveda and your personal constitution will now enable you to rate the qualities of your moods as V, P, and / or K. Checked as frequently as on a daily basis, this is a very useful way to monitor even small changes in a dosha, and take steps to restore the balance sooner than later. Relate the qualities of your moods to the qualities in other aspects of your life. Since "like increases like" if you are impatient or critical (pitta), check if you have eaten pitta-genic foods or been exposed to pitta-provoking experiences.

Excess Vata leads to:

·  Nervousness

·  Moodiness

·  Anxiety

·  Loss of consciousness

·  Fear

·  Impairment of sensory functions

·  Confusion

·  Tremors in Limbs

·  Grief

·  Constipation

·  Sadness

·  Insomnia

·  Insecurity

·  Dry & rough skin

·  Lack of integrity

·  Low vitality

·  Loss of creativity

·  Lack of communication

With decreased Vata giving rise to:

·  Lethargy

·  Nausea

·  Depression

·  Irregularity in gastric activity

In case of excess Pitta one suffers from:

·  Ambition

·  Hate

·  Anger

·  Jealously

·  Envy

·  Judgemental or critical tendencies

·  Fear of Failure

·  Lack of discernment

·  Snappy speech and actions

·  Pride

·  Skepticism

·  Burning sensations

·  Excessive thirst

·  Craving for cold

·  Loss of sleep

·  Fever

·  Frustration

While decreased Pitta results in:

·  Indigestion

·  Loss of luster in the skin

·  Abnormal loss of body heat

·  Irregular bowel movements.

Aggravated Kapha in turn causes:

·  Boredom

·  Lack of interest

·  Carelessness

·  Secretions from the mouth

·  Lack of compassion

·  Lethargy

·  Greed

·  Excessive sleep

·  Feeling lack of support or love

·  Improper digestive function

·  Obsessive behavior

·  Obesity

·  Unkindness

·  Nausea

And decreased Kapha gives way to:

·  Thirst

·  Cramps

·  Giddiness

·  Body aches

·  Dryness of mouth

(See also: Doshic Imbalances, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Body Characteristics - double dosha body types

PITTA-KAPHA

Pitta-Kapha people probably adjust best of any constitution to the confusions,irregularityand constant change which characterizes today’s world because they combine kapha’s stability and pitta's adaptability. many of the people who achieve all – round success in life are pitta-kapha. Pitta’s active metabolism balances kapha’s powerful physique to promote good health, and pitta’s anger is well tempered, by kapha’s cautiousness to encourage good mental balance.

The ease with which they succeed in the world promotes pitta’s arrogance and overconfidence and kapha’s smug self satisfaction which can insulate the personality totally and efficiently from all realisties other than the real

Bitter and Astringent are their best tastes.

(See also: Double dosha body types  , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Body Characteristics - double dosha body types

VATA-PITTA

Their characteristics show a combination of vata & pitta, for example they often have wavy hair, caused by a combination of vata’s curliness and pitta’s straightness. They generally have the poor circulation , though they love to eat but they will have trouble digesting large meals.

A healthy balanced vata - pitta person have a capacity for original thought, a vata’s characteristic, and also expertise at application of theory, a pitta’s characteristic. As lightness and intensity are the common qualities of vata & pitta. Proper direction of this intensity calls for harnessing the lightness for intensive self development. When a person having imbalanced vata & pitta fear alternates with anger as a response to stress.

PITTA-KAPHA

Pitta-Kapha people probably adjust best of any constitution to the confusions,irregularityand constant change which characterizes today’s world because they combine kapha’s stability and pitta's adaptability. many of the people who achieve all – round success in life are pitta-kapha. Pitta’s active metabolism balances kapha’s powerful physique to promote good health, and pitta’s anger is well tempered, by kapha’s cautiousness to encourage good mental balance.

The ease with which they succeed in the world promotes pitta’s arrogance and overconfidence and kapha’s smug self satisfaction which can insulate the personality totally and efficiently from all realisties other than the real

Bitter and Astringent are their best tastes.

KAPHA-VATA

Vata–Kapha people tend to be tall but are average in build and most other physical qualities are just as pitta type. Vata and kapha are united in their coldness. Though they do not suffer as intensely from physical cold as do pure vata types because of the strength and insulation of kapha. They Have a double emotional need for heat.

Their lack of heat usually manifests physically as digestive disturbances, especillay constipation, respiratory disease with much mucus production is also common. They may be wary of jumping to conclutions without proper preliminary investigation.

They should use sour, salty and pungent taste foods.

(See also: Body Characteristics, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Characteristics of body types

For a better understanding of your Ayurvedic constitution and to cross-check the results of the test, listed below are the principal physical and psychological characteristics of persons with predominantly single dosha constitutions.

VATA

Physically such people are either very tall or very short, non- muscular, with thin and bony limbs and have a quick gait with short fast steps. Skin is generally thin, darkish and cool. The hair is thin, dark, coarse and either kinky or curly. The face is usually long and angular, often with an underdeveloped chin. The neck is thin and scrawny. Nose is small and narrow. May be long, crooked or asymmetrical also. Eyes tend to be small, narrow or sunken, dark brown or gray in color, with dull luster. The mouth being small, with thin, narrow or tight lips. Teeth are irregular, protruding, or broken, set in receding gums. And while the voice is weak, low or cracked, speech is fast with interruptions.

Creativity * Enthusiasm * Freedom * Generosity * Joy * Vitality

Vata people have restless minds and weak memories. They avoid confrontation. Have active and sensitive natures and express themselves through sport and creative pursuits. Likely to be artistic and creative with a good imagination, they will sometimes overindulge in pleasures. And are sexually the most active. Fearful, worrisome and anxious they are into questioning, theorising and over-analysis. Often dissatisfied with and unable to sustain friendships, they spend money quickly, often on trifles. With light, interrupted sleep of 5-7 hours a day.

A moderately well developed physique with mascular limbs and a purposeful, stable gait of medium speed. With a loud, strong voice and precise, convincing speech. The skin is fair, soft, lusterous, warm, and tends to burn easily in the sun – has freckles, many moles, and a tendency to rashes. And the bodies are hot and sweaty. Characterised by fine and soft, either fair or reddish hair that tends to gray soon. Face is heart-shaped, often with a pointed chin. While the neck is proportionate and of average size. A neat, pointed, and average sized nose matches the average sized eyes that are either light blue, light gray or hazel in color, with an intense luster which get red in summer or after bathing. The mouth being medium, with average lips and medium-sized, yellowish teeth.

Ambition * Concentration * Confidence * Courage * Enthusiasm for knowledge * Happiness * Intelligence

Pittas have an intellectual and precise disposition due to a very alert, focussed mind. Sharp and knife-like in anger, they are irritable, jealous and aggressive by nature. Discriminating and judgemental, they are articulate, learned and proud. With a developed sense of responsibility, they can take decisions and organise affairs well. Argumentative, but with a sense of humour, their selectively excellent memory makes them fast learners. Moderately passionate in their sexual pursuits, they spend moderately, usually on luxuries.

KAPHA

A thick, broad, well-developed frame and large, long limbs go well with a pleasant, deep and resonant voice with low, slow, rhythmic speech. The skin is usually thick, oily, pale or white and cold. Plentiful, thick, wavy, lusterous and generally brown hair is set on a large, rounded and full face. The neck is solid, with a near tree-trunk quality. A large, rounded nose and large, attractive, blue or light brown in color eyes are found in a mouth that is large with big, full lips. Teeth too are big and white and set in strong gums.

Caring * Centeredness * Compassion * Contentment * Faith * Fulfillment * Groundedness * Patience * Sense of being nourished * Stability * Support * Tenderness

Kapha predominated people are calm, steady, considerate - stable, patient personalities they are slow to anger. Not easily provoked, once angry they do not calm down easily. They are honourable, true to their word and avoid lies. Loyal, forgiving and understanding, they can be lethargic, even lazy, if not driven by others. Learning may be slow but memory will be strong. Excellent in logical analysis, they take time before reaching conclusions. Long hours of deep sleep and a strong, enduring sex drive come naturally. While they do save money, it does get spent on food. And there can at times be an element of dullness, given that a kapha mind is usually too content to seek fresh mental stimulation.

(See also: Characteristics of body types, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

dosha: (Sanskrit) "Bodily humor; individual constitution."

Three bodily humors, which according to ayurveda regulate the body, govern its proper functioning and determine its unique constitution. These are

• vata, the air humor;
• pitta, the fire humor; and
• kapha, the water humor.

Vata has its seat in the intestinal area, pitta in the stomach, and kapha in the lung area. They govern the creation, preservation and dissolution of bodily tissue. Vata humor is metabolic, nerve energy. Pitta is the catabolic, fire energy. Kapha is the anabolic, nutritive energy.

The three doshas (tridosha) also give rise to the various emotions and correspond to the three gunas, "qualities:" sattva (quiescence- vata), rajas (activity- pitta) and tamas (inertia- kapha).

See: ayurveda, kapha, pitta, vata.

(See also: Dosha, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

The Tridoshas

The Tridoshas (tri meaning three and doshas being the basic physical energies) are the primary and essential factors of the human body that govern our entire physical structure and function. Derived from the Panchmahabhutas, each dosha – which like the elements cannot be detected with our senses but their qualities can be – is a combination of any two of the five bhutas with the predominance of one. Called Vata, Pitta and Kapha in Sanskrit, these three are responsible for all the physiological and psychological processes within the body and mind – dynamic forces that determine growth and decay. Every physical characteristic, mental capacity and the emotional tendency of a human being can therefore be explained in terms of the tridoshas.

Most of the physical phenomena ascribed to the nervous system by modern physiology for example, can be identified with Vata. Just as the entire chemical process operating in the human body can be attributed to Pitta, including enzymes, hormones and the complete nutritional system. And the activities of the skeletal and the anabolic system, actually the entire physical volume of an organism, can be considered as Kapha.

Each dosha thus shares a quality with another (although there remain slight differences in the nature of shared quality), the third having just the opposite quality. Also, each has an inherent ability to regulate and balance itself, coming from the antagonistic qualities that arise from the doshas constituent elements.

When the doshas are in balance i.e. in a state of equilibrium, we remain healthy. As Charaka, the great ayurvedic sage, explained: "Vata, pitta and kapha maintain the integrity of the living human organism in their normal state and combine so as to make the man a complete being with his indriyas (sense organs) possessed of strength, good complexion and assured of longevity." It is only when that there is imbalance within the three that disease is caused. And since it is the strongest dosha in the constitution that usually has the greatest tendency to increase, one is most susceptible to illnesses associated with an increase of the same.

It is important to realise that these three are forces and not substances. Kapha is not mucus; it is the force that causes mucus to arise. Similarly pitta is not bile; but that which causes bile to be produced. And they are called doshas – literally meaning `faults’ or `out of whack’- as they indicate the fault lines along which the system can become imbalanced.

It is equally important to understand that the three doshas within any person keep changing constantly, due to the doshic qualities of specific lifestyle and environment, such as time and season. And that these three are not separate energies but different aspects of the same energy, present together in an infinite variety of combinations, wherein their qualities overlap and interrelate.

Ayurveda however considers only three types of constitution – in monotypes just one dosha predominates, in duo types two have near similar strength, and in the very rarely found third type all three are equally powerful. Within this broad classification, there are in the first category various sub-types that are listed below for easier reference.

(See also: Tridoshas, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Samsarga:  duel vitiation of dosha.

(See also: Samsarga, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Kapha:the dosha responsible for bodily structure

(See also: Kapha, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Prashama:  alliviation of dosha

(See also: Prashama, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

humors (or bodily humors):

See: ayurveda, bodily humor, dosha.

(See also: Humors, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

bodily humor: Commonly, the fluids of the body, an English equivalent of the ayurvedic term dosha, which names three fundamental interbalancing principles or constituents of the human constitution. See: ayurveda, dosha.

(See also: Bodily humor, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

vata: (Sanskrit) "Movement." Vayu, "air-ether." One of the three bodily humors, called dosha, vata is known as the air humor. Principle of movement in the body. Vata dosha governs such functions as breathing and movement of the muscles and tissues.

See: ayurveda, dosha.

(See also: Vata, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

vata: (Sanskrit) "Movement." Vayu, "air-ether." One of

the three bodily humors, called dosha, vata is known as

the air humor. Principle of movement in the body. Vata

dosha governs such functions as breathing and movement

of the muscles and tissues.

See: ayurveda, dosha.

(See also: Vata, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)