Ayurveda’s Energy Blueprint: Vata, Pitta & Kapha Explained

There are three dosas:-  Vata, pitta and kapha dosas:

Vata Dosa

Vata reperesents space and air. It is of five types:

1. Prana:It is located in the heart. Apart from breathing, the swallowing of food is done by this prana vayu. Vitated prana vayu causes hiccups, bronchitis, asthma, cold, influenza and hoarseness of voice.
2. Udana:It is located in the throat and is responsible for speech and voice. Vitiated udana vayu causes various diseases of eye, ears, nose and throat.
3. Samana:It is located in the stomach and small intestine. It is responsible for the digestive process and action of enzymes. It equalises the process of the supply of requisite foods to the tissues. The regular functions are affected when it is vitiated.
4. Apana: It is located in the colon and the organs of the pelvis. It removes stool, urine, semen and menstrual blood. When it is vitiated, diseases of sexual organs and the urinary system with pain in the anus may be caused.
5. Vyana:It is located in the heart. It is responsible for the circulation of blood and other fluids through channels. It may cause impairment of circulation and fever, etc. when vitiated.

Pitta Dosa

Pitta represents fire or agni tattva. There are five types of pitta:

• Pacaka:It is located in stomach and small intestine. It performs the function of digestive system. Vitiated pacaka pitta may cause indigestion.
• Ranjaka:It is located in liver, spleen, stomach, bone marrow. It is meant to form blood. Vitiated ranjaka vata causes anaemia, jaundice, etc.
• Sadhaka:It is located in the heart and is responsible for memory and other mental functions. Psychic disturbances may be caused when sadhaka pitta is vitiated.
• Alocaka:It is located in the eyes and is responsible for vision and impairment of vision when vitiated.
• Bhrajaka:It is located in the skin and is responsible for colour and glaze of the skin. It may cause skin diseases when vitiated.

Kapha Dosa

Kapha represent water and earth, in their functional forms, viz. jala tattva and pirthvi tattva. It is also of five types:

1. Kledaka: It is located in the stomach and provides kledaka (a mucous substance), which is needed for digestion. Vitiated kledaka causes indigestion.
2. Avalambaka: It resides in the heart and protects it. When vitiated, may  cause cardiac diseases.
3. Bodhaka: It is located in the tongue for identification of taste. It may communicate wrong taste if vitiated.
4. Tarpaka: It is located in the heart for nourishment of sense organs. Vitiated tarpaka causes loss of memory and impairment.
5. Slesaka: It is located at the joints for lubrication. Vitiated slesaka causes pain in joints and malfunctions of joints in movement, etc.

Aggravation of Dosas

Vata:  Taking dry, cold and astringent food aggravates vata. Taking food without feeling hungry, doing excessive activity such as not sleeping at night, speaking continuously with a loud voice, doing physical exercise that exceeds one’s strength, etc. also aggravate it.

Pitta: It gets aggravated by excessive intake of pungent, sour, salty food and alcoholic drinks with spicy and irritant food items. Anger, excessive exposure to sun, hot air, fire fatigue fear, intake of dry vegetables, indigestion, irregular eating habits are some cause of aggravation of pitta. The autumn season aggravates pitta.

Kapha: Taking heavy, oily, sweet foods aggravates it. Sleeping during the day, eating cold fish and mild and unctuous items, having sugar in large quantity, cakes, toffees and confectionary articles may cause aggravation of kapha. Kapha is aggravated during the spring season.

Signs and Symptoms of Aggravated Dosas

Vata: Aggravated vata is inferred by roughness, dryness, contraction, pain of various types such as colic pain. Colour of the skin may change. Abnormal movement of limbs, fracture, numbness felling of cold, dryness, loss of weight and tissues are other signs.

Pitta: Aggravated pitta may cause excessive sweating fatigue, loss of body fluid, burning sensation, change of colour of skin, bad breath, loose skin, fainting spells, giddiness, incoherent speech and mental abnormalities.

Kapha:  Aggravated kapha causes heaviness, coldness and unctuousness. The individual feels as if he is covered with wet cloth or a layer of some undersirabel material. There is swelling, excessive exudation and delay in responding to stimulus.

Treatment of Ailments caused by Aggravated Dosas

Vata: Alleviation of vatta dosa is to remove main causes of vitiation or aggravation. So, drinks, diet, hot, stable, strengthening and promoting stamina; oils of sweet and sour articles are to be used. Massage, exposure to sun, enema, inhalation therapy, proper rest and sleep, application of hot ointments or lepas, enema with indicated oils or decoctions remove vitiated and aggravated vata dosa.

Pitta: Alleviation of pitta lies in having a regimen of drinks, diet, and drugs that are bitter, sweet and astringent. Cold wind, shade, moon rays at night, soothing music, basement  residence, fountains, fragrance, animal fat especially of cow’s milk, fanning with sprinkling of water, purgation, blood letting and avoiding anger and fire are recommended. Pitta can be conrrected by purgation and by soothing application of ointment on the body.

Kapha: Alleviation of kapha rests on prescribing a regimen of drinks, diet and drugs that are rough, dried, alkaline, astringent, bitter and pungent. Exercise, emesis, sexual indulgence, walking, fighting, remaining awake, pressing body with hands and feet, systematic fasting, inhalation therapy, sweating, steam-bath, applying hot ointment, etc. are recommended.

In case, there is a combination of dosas, a mixed therapy may be used.
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