The Doshas

VATA, PITTA, and KAPHA --
What are Ayurveda’s energy types (doshas)
and balance/imbalances in them?

All of creation can be described with the qualities of fire, water, earth, air & ether(or space). Out of these basic qualites, three doshas or energy types arise - vata ( air & ether); pitta (fire & water); and kapha (water & earth). All of us have all of these qualities within us to maintain our bodily functions. Each is essential. Every person, creature, object & situation has a predominant quality or qualities.

Vata, Pitta, and Kapha express in balance or excess or deficit. This happens for us because when we are formed during conception & pregnancy we are "set" at certain levels for each energy type, which will be our personal balance or constitution. When we are balanced we are containing the levels of each energy we were set at. An excess for one person may be a deficit for another, depending on their constitution.

Balance is effected by the qualities of everything we interact with- food, friends, activities, sights, sounds, temperature, humidity, thoughts. When we know that our life is getting too fiery we can use Pitta reducing self-help steps.When our children are getting over stimulated we can provide Vata reducing measures in their life. By preventing long-term imbalances we prevent deep diseases from forming. When self-help measures don't work it's time to see a well-trained ayurvedic practitioner &/or other health care practitioner.

The Doshas in Balance & Imbalance

Vata - Vata is dry, light, expansive, rough, cold, changeable, subtle, and quick. Too much of these qualities in someone's life can imbalance their Vata. Governing motion, Vata rules neurological communications, movement of food through the digestive system, urinary control, sexual ejaculation, menstruation & childbirth. Its "seat", or place in the body where it is more predominant, is the colon/pelvic area. Fall & early winter are Vata times of year. Elder years are Vata time of life. 3 am- sunrise and 2-3 pm - sunset are Vata times of day. Vata is often more evident during pregnancy and especially postpartum. (If pregnant, always check to make sure any therapy you do is truly safe for pregnancy- everything suggested in this article is considered safe for pregnancy.) Vata can also be overstimulated by the midwifery lifestyle of irregular eating & sleeping, and quickly arising situations.

Balanced expression: The body is functioning smoothly; one feels life flowing. We feel alert, sensitive, enthusiastic, spontaneous, and creative.

Imbalanced expression: The body suffers constipation, shakiness, cramps, gas, fatigue, or menstrual cramps before bleeding. Emotionally, we feel overwhelmed, fearful, forgetful, distracted, moody, or sleep irregularly.

What to do if imbalanced in Vata?

We warm, ground, contain, smooth, moisten, slow, steady.

Have regular, moderate exercise, in moderate amounts, such as walking or hatha yoga

Take warm, relaxing baths. Sip warm,vital water frequently throughtout the day. Listen to a stream or a fountain.

Aromatherapy/incense - sandalwood,camphor,wintergreen,, musk

Use music to the calm, nurture, ground yourself. Use calming, fear-dispelling mantras - Ram, Hrim, Shrim, Sham, Hum . Avoid loud rock music or any loud noises.

Use color therapy ( most colors good -pastel colors for sensitivity, avoiding lots of dark or heavy colors) or gems (emerald, jade, peridot set in gold; yellow sapphire, topaz & citrine & other yellow stones set in gold; ruby or garnet can help circulation & energy) & gem elixirs to work with the energy.

Avoid too much thinking or talking or studying. Avoid excess stimulation by media. Avoid fearful, worrisome or overwhelmed thinking .

Be settled. Avoid moving homes, jobs, etc. too much. Do not travel too much, especially by airplane. Have a routine.

Slow, gentle self massage with sesame or almond oil, especially to feet, top of head, back, & abdomen. Or get massage from someone else regularly.

Drink nourishing herbal infusions daily especially oat straw.

Have time alone. Avoid overworking & too much socializing.

Get regular sleep. Go to bed before 10 pm, earlier if possible. Get enough sleep.

Get the tastes that balance Vata- predominately sweet, sour, & salty. Eat heavy, moist, & warm food with digestive spices added. Avoid cold foods or beverages and stimulants like caffeine, alcohol. ( a little beer or wine w/ meal OK occasionally) Avoid junk food & microwaved food.

Pitta - Pitta is hot, oily, sharp, moist, fluid, and sour.Again, too much of these for a given individual will show up as a Pitta imbalance. Pitta governs digestion, assimilation & metabolism, on a tissue & cellular level as well as system level. Mental processing of experience is also ruled by pitta. It's seat in the body is the solar plexus, relating to liver, spleen & small intestine. Summer is the Pitta season; middle age the Pitta time of life; 10am-2pm and 10 pm -2 am the Pitta times of day.

Balanced expression: The body is taking things in well and using them properly. We are energetic, intelligent, confident, with right use of our will.

Imbalanced expression: There is heartburn, cracking or itching skin,bad taste or odor from body, excessive thirst, diahhrea, inflammations, cramps with menstrual bleeding, or excessive heat in the body. We notice anger, irritability, unrestrained ambition, or criticism of ourselves or others.

What to do if imbalanced in Pitta?

We want to cool, soften, calm, sweeten.

Spend time out-of-doors in fresh, cool air, with cool lakes & streams, in gardens & flowers. Be careful not to overdo sunlight &/or heat or hot tubs. Bathe in moon light!!!

Regular, cooling & calming exercise is best - guard against overdoing it & pushing yourself beyond 1/2 of capacity.

Taking relaxing baths & invigorating showers, avoiding too hot of water. Drink vital, cool water. Listen to or wade in a stream or a fountain.

Aromatherapy/incense-sandalwood, vetivert, henna,rose, lotus, jasmine, gardenia, honeysuckle, iris.

Use music to calm & cool Pitta; cooling, calming mantras like Om, Sham, Som, Shum, Shim.

Use color therapy (cooling white, blue or green; avoid very bright colors, esp. red; gray or brown is ok but avoid black) or gems (moonstone, clear quartz crystal, emerald, jade, peridot, blue sapphire, amethyst set in silver) & gem elixirs to work with the energy.

Avoid dwelling on anger, jealousy, competition, being critical of others - stay with sweetness of speech, forgiveness, & contentment.

Pay attention to yourself - self inquiry is important in giving up tendencies to anger, overcritical or argumentative attitudes.

Drink nourishing herbal infusions daily (esp. red raspberry, nettles, or red clover).

Get moderate amounts of sleep, going to bed early (before 10 pm) & getting up early (before sunrise).

Massage ( with cooling coconut, sunflower, or ghee) - whole body or top of head, forehead, heart.

Get the tastes that reduce Pitta - mainly sweet, bitter & astringent, with fresh, raw foods & juices. Avoid alcohol, chilies, tea, coffee, & fried foods.

Kapha - Kapha isheavy, cold, moist, stable, sweet, soft, sticky, dull, smooth. Too much of these will result in a Kapha imbalance.Kapha governs the integrity & lubrication of the physical matrix of the body. Its seat is the chest. The wet, end of winter and the spring are Kapha time of year; childhood is Kapha time of life; and sunrise - 10 am and sunset - 10 pm are Kapha times of day.

Balanced expression: The body has great strength & endurance, fertility. We are steady, reliable, solid and dependable.

Imbalanced expression: The body gains weight easily, loses with difficulty; excessive mucous, trouble with sugar metabolism, is congested or retaining fluids. We notice dullness, lethargy,denial, laziness, and heavy depression.

What to do if imbalanced in Kapha?

We want to lighten, warm, clear,move & invigorate.

Spend time out-of-doors in fresh air, in warm breezes. Sunbathe. Avoid coldness & damp.

Get regular strong, aerobic exercise.

Take invigorating showers. Drinking moderate amount of warmed,vital water.

Aromatherapy/incense -musk, camphor, cloves, cinnamon, cedar, frankincense, myrrh.

Use music to move the Kapha the energy; clearing & stimulating mantras like Aim, Hrim, Hum, Om.

Use color therapy ( warm & bright colors; avoid white, pink, or pale blue or green; some brown, gray, & black) or gems (ruby, garnet, cat's eye set in gold) & gem elixirs.

Following a discipline & enduring physical hardship are good for Kapha reducing. A detached mind is a useful quality to develop, avoiding greed, desire & sentimentality. Mental stimulation is important.

Travel & pilgrimage is a useful form of Kapha reduction.

Less sleep helps reduce Kapha - staying up late may help. However, definitely avoid sleeping in the daytime.

Any massage (dry or with stimulating oils like wintergreen, camphor, cinnamon) - whole body or foot/head/hands

Get the tastes that reduce Kapha - pungent, bitter & astringent, including warm light & dry foods with spices. Occasional fasting or skipping a meal is good. Avoid cold foods or drinks.

By applying the simple & natural principles of Ayurveda for reducing excesses, we can not only help avoid deep seated diseases; we can also enjoy the creativity of balanced Vata, the energetic intelligence of Pitta, and the reliable steadiness of Kapha in ourselves & our families.