Ayurveda & 3 Dosha Types for Your Body

Pitta, Kapha, Vata Doshas and Your Health.

What is Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a branch of traditional medicine originated from India and nearby countries, that focuses on oral ingestion of herbs and other supplements for finest health; akin to Traditional Chinese Medicine, these herbs are being validated scientifically for their historical claims.Though Ayurveda is a system used for healing, it is commonly referred as science or knowledge of life (because in the Sanskrit, Ayu means life, and Veda means science or knowledge). So, the term Ayurveda refers to accumulated knowledge and practice of sustaining and improving human life and the body.[1]People depend on Ayurveda for several home remedies for common ailments. Ayurvedic medicines contain sophisticated therapeutic formulations. Ayurveda is also a person-centered medicine (PCM), which deals with healthy lifestyle, health promotion and sustenance, disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment [2].

3 important characteristics that make Ayurveda different from modern medicine

  1. Ayurveda practices holistic principles primarily focused on personalized health. Here, every individual is unique and there is no diet or lifestyle routine that works for everyone.
  2. In Ayurveda, prevention is fundamental, and hence, this system focuses on providing specific advice and guidance on how to maintain physical and emotional health.
  3. Here, diet and lifestyle routines are considered the most important medicine. It is because when you come to an Ayurvedic doctor with a complaint, you are more likely to leave with a recipe than with a prescription for pills.
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How does Ayurveda work?

]People practicing Ayurveda believe that every person is made up of 5 basic elements found in the universe such as space, air, fire, water, and earth which combine in the human body to form 3 life forces or energies, known as Doshas. The Doshas control how your body works. They are Vata Dosha (space and air); Pitta Dosha (fire and water); and Kapha Dosha (water and earth).These 3 Doshas of the body are believed to determine the unique combination of physical, physiological, and psychological features of an individual.The Prakriti (nature) of a person is a consequence of the relative proportions of the three Doshas. Every person inherits a unique mix of the 3 Doshas. But one is usually stronger than the others. Each one controls a different body function. It’s believed that your chances of getting ill — and the health issues you develop — are linked to the balance of your Doshas.

Characteristics Of Each Mind/Body Type

According to Ayurveda, each person is born with a combination of those three Doshas, which determines your character, likes, dislikes and personality. A brief description of each of the three Doshas is mentioned below:

Vata Predominant Types
It is the energy that manages the physiological functions such as physical motion, blood circulation and breathing. This type is mainly predominant in the nervous system. People belonging to this category are generally creative, quick learners, fun-loving with mood swings. They usually have certain discomfort in cold climates and have dry skin and hair. When there is imbalance, people mostly have anxiety, stress and fear.
A nutritive diet that consists of fruits, rice, nuts and dairy products should be followed together with low intensity exercise, yoga, swimming and walking. It is considered the most difficult Dosha to control and hence is mostly found in imbalance.

Pitta Predominant Types
This type of dosha is the energy which governs the metabolic functions such as digestion, nutrition and assimilation in the body. Pitta Dosha predominant people are characterized as self-confident and ambitious, sharp, perfectionist, passionate and competitive people with a healthy physical structure.
While Vata predominant people have certain discomfort in cold climates, Pitta predominant people have problems in hot sunny weather. They are also prone to sunburn, skin inflammation, rashes, acidity, ulcers, and heartburn. Imbalance in Pitta may lead to emotional implications, for example getting irritated and angry while ulcers and acidity are the physical implications. A balanced diet of fresh fruits and vegetables having a lot of water content in them will help in keeping the Pitta Dosha in check. Avoiding alcohol and smoking is better for them as these aggravate the heat in the body. Pitta Dosha predominant people are usually advised to choose foods that have a cooling and soothing effect.

Kapha Predominant Types
It is the energy which manages growth in the body. Kapha Dosha predominant people are also characterized with emotional qualities like easygoing, relaxed, affectionate, sympathetic, slow but steady; faithful as well as reliable. They are generally physically strong and sturdy with a good immune system while they have a weak digestive system. Imbalance in this dosha leads to cold, sinusitis, asthma, allergic conditions and other respiratory problems. Kapha Dosha predominant people are advised to remain away from processed/fast /packaged foods and also heavy oily food. To get avoid putting on weight, they should include numerous physical activities and exercises. However, Kapha Dosha is known to be the most stable and unchanging among all the 3 Doshas.

How do I determine my type?

You have already known a lot about three Doshas. Now, do you want to know your Dosha type? It’s effortless. You will find many books and websites on Ayurveda that offer questionnaires which you can use to determine your mind/body constitution.Holistic Online is one of the favorite websites that offer such questionnaires which are very detailed and thorough. Generally shorter questionnaires can give a more generalized and approximate result.Since your body frequently changes with age, seasons, and life situations, the results can also change. Keep in mind, taking a few different questionnaires can give you a more positive result for your Dosha type.

Recomendation

Good. Now try to follow the diet and lifestyle routine which your mind/body constitution suits. For instance, if you are predominantly Vata, you can include more cooked, warm foods, and add more warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to your food. Stay away from icy drinks, maintain regular habits, try to eat and sleep at the same time every night.If you are predominantly Pitta type Dosha, you need to keep cool by avoiding overexposure to direct sunlight and fried and spicy foods. Avoid alcohol and tobacco, and conflicts. Include fresh vegetables and watery and sweet fruits to your diet.Try to develop the virtues of honesty, morality, kindness, generosity, and self-control. If you are predominantly Kapha type Dosha, first suggestion for you is to be active on a daily basis, be receptive to useful change, and be intentional in implementing life-enhancing actions. Try to cultivate the habits of taking foods that are light, warm, and spicy. Ginger and/or lemon tea can be a great pick-me-up for Kaphas. You can use different types of spices to your foods

Sources

https://examine.com/supplements/ayurveda/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4230501/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204288/https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/ayurvedic-treatments#1

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