We have established that dosha are not physiological or personality types at all, but rather functions in nature and in the body, made up of the five universal properties.. All these functions are indispensable and interrelated and any attempt to separate them out is necessarily a simplification. We must remember that these functions are taking place in every cell in the body at every moment. When they cease to work in harmony, illness develops and if one of them were to stop working we would die.
Main
functions of sharir dosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
Vata dosha (made of akasha, vayu) determines movement, communication and knowledge. Who or what is it that communicates and reacts? The brain and central nervous system.
Pitta dosha (made of tejas) controls metabolism and transformation. What is it that metabolizes? Enzymes, gastric juices and whatever catabolizes in the body.
Kapha dosha (ap, prithvi) creates stability and cohesion. What nourishes? Nutrition, food, anabolic processes.
Vata is the source of voluntary and involuntary movement, internal and external triggers
of knowledge, stimulus, reaction, brain impulses, messages to the body to
react, receptiveness to the world. When aggravated, Vata is responsible for degeneration, and pain.
Pitta has to turn anything which is different to the body either into the body itself or has to turn it out of the body – ie it digests and transforms it so that it can be absorbed or changes it in order to expel it as waste. Transformation,
metabolism, expulsion, the assimilation into plasma and tissues, all of these are Pitta functions. When aggravated, Pitta creates inflammation and excessive heat and related disorders.
Kapha creates the physical structure of the body, stability, the power of repair and healing, nourishment, immunity, and strength. It slows down the degeneration of the body, and is the end
result of nutrition, forming and reforming all the tissues of the body. When intake is good and Vata and Pitta work properly good kapha is created, giving immunity and strength. When Kapha is aggravated, the result is congestion. Bad kapha results in poor quality and toxic tissues. If the end result of optimum Kapha is ´ojas´ (the concentrated, refined and high quality nourishment/immunity remaining when all tissues have been formed and wastes expelled) the end result of ´bad´ kapha is ´ama´(a kind of toxic sludge found in tissues, pathways and organs of the body and mind)
VATA
Main
seats of Vata
brain
and central nervous system messages,
knowledge
colon,
large intestine nervous,
dry, movement down
skin receives
information, knowledge
lower
back nerves,
movement of legs
joints articulation,
movement
pelvis
stability,
weight transformation
1
Here you can see functions of Vata more clearly
2
Here is where when accumulated, or aggravated you can first see the effects.
Physical properties
dryness ruksha
coldness sheeta
light laghu
rough khara
penetrative
tikshna
active tiksna
WhenVata
is aggravated, these are the qualities that increase.
Normal
functions
Normal
heartrate and breathing, normal speech, normal digestive movements, normal
appetite, circulation and activity of motor organs, normal evacuation of waste
products, menstruation, ejaculation.
Normal mental functions
Normal thinking capacity, interest in life, creativity, imagination
Abnormal
functioning
Heartrate
problems, breathing difficulties, asthma, stammering, autism, gas, bloating,
disturbed digestion, lack of appetite, varicose veins, circulation problems,
cramps, cold hands and feet, menstrual disorders, premature or delayed ejaculation, constipation, lower back pain, cracking joints, cracked heels, dryness in the body, breaking nails, insomnia, memory loss, Alzheimer's , weight-loss, paralysis,
muscular dystrophy, arthritis, and any kind of degeneration
Abnormal mental functioning
Stress, anxiety, fear, accelerated thinking, circular thinking, losing touch with reality, recklessness, panic.
PITTA
Seats of pitta
small
intestine digestion
skin protection,
temperature of body, shine and glow
eyes converts
images
blood transformation
liver
and spleen makes
and destroys red blood cells, general properties of pitta
brain and heart courage, happiness
1. These are where you see the function most clearly
2. These are where you first see the effects of accumulation or aggravation
Physical properties
hot ushna
moist ardra
Penetrative tikshna
Liquid drava
Flowing
sara
bitter
when healthy, acid when unhealthy
green
when healthy, yellow when unhealthy
bad
smell generally
active
sharp
Normal functions
Normal
digestion of food, metabolism and elimination, normal formation of blood, proper maintenance of temperature, appropriate sweating function, shine and glow of skin and eyes, proper vision, ie converting images
accurately.
Normal mental functions
Enthusiasm,
confidence, courage, happiness, valour, bravery, well-being, leadership, initiative, endorphins
Abnormal functioning
Burning,
infections, inflammations, disturbed digestion, hyper-acidity, acid reflux,
piles, bleeding disorders, ulcers, herpes, diarrhoea, burnout,
hepatitis, jaundice, acne, pimples, irritation, UTIs, gallbladder problems, red
burning eyes, pancreatitis
Abnormal mental functioning
Anger,
over-confidence, arrrogance, hatred, extremism, jealousy, competition, aggression, rigid thinking .
What
aggravates pitta? Strife, smoking, citrus fruits, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, lemon, spices,
mustard oil, burning, stimulants, sunshine, sauna, whatever is hot in nature
KAPHA
Seats of kapha
brain cerebral fluid, shockabsorber
tongue saliva, taste functions
sinuses humidifies air, isulates sensitive structures
chest
region fluid linings of heart and lungs
stomach mucous cells
joints synovial fluid
1. These are where we can see the functions clearly
2. These are where kapha accumulates first and where we first see ay aggravation.
Physical properties
clear liquid fluids
vishada when healthy
slimy fluids pichila when unhealthy
sweet when healthy, salty when unhealthy madhura/lavana
transparent when healthy, whitish, yellowish, greenish when
unhealthy (see above)
heavy
guru
sluggish
manda
cold
sheeta
damp, moist drava
snighda unctuous
heavy guru
sweet madhura
Foods
that build kapha are oils, milk, butter, ghee, cream, rice, meat, avocado,
olives, rabbit, nourishing, porridge, dates, cashews, almonds, raisons.
Normal functions
Kapha maintains strength, immunity, stamina, structure, nourishing formation of dhatus, healthy tissues and bones, helps in tasting sensation, protection of all major organs,
reproduction, structural integrity, confines organs to specific locations,
fluid balance, potential energy, immunity.
Normal mental functions
Contenment, satisfaction, forgiveness, kindness, love, peacefulness, calm, emotional and
intellectual stability
Abnormal functioning
Obesity, heaviness, laziness, apathy, high cholesterol, diabetes,
mucous, phegm, lack of appetite/cravings, low digestive power, sinuses, chest
infections, eye gunk, lethargy, oedema, swellings, lack of interest.
accumulation, congestion,
Abnormal mental functioning
Lack of interest in anything, complacency, closed-mindedness, indifference to others, possessiveness,
clinging, greed, laziness.
