Tridosha in ayurveda

Tridosha in ayurveda

In Ayurveda, there are mainly three types of body types - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These Doshas are described as biological energies found throughout the human body and mind. It is quite rare that Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are equally pronounced in a human being, a state that is also called the TriDosha. Vata, Pitta, or Kapha? The combination of your Doshas is essential for your health. When you know what constitution you have, you better understand why you are the way you are at times. You discover what nutrition is suitable for you and how you can stay healthy, fit, and happy with yoga, exercise, and meditation. Want to know about your types of Doshas or about the diet plans according to your Doshas? Stay connected with our social media platforms.

Tridosha in Ayurveda

Tridosha in Ayurveda
We consist of energies and energies surround us. Similarly, each time of the day has an energy. This inner clock functions constantly over a 24 hour cycle. The biological cycle of the body and mind is influenced by the energy of the three doshas. These help to describe the different times of the day and conduct various activities:

● Pitta times of the day are considered to be 10pm-2am and 10am-2pm.
● Vata times of the day are considered to be 2am-6am and 2pm-6pm.
● Kapha times of the day are considered to be 6am-10am and 6pm-10pm.

Kledaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Kledaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official:
There are 5 types of Kapha:
* Tarpaka Kapha
* Bodhaka Kapha
* Sleshaka Kapha
* Avalambaka Kapha
* Kledaka Kapha
Let's get to know about Kledaka Kapha in details:
Location:
It resides in the layers of the stomach. It refers to the juices, acids and digestive enzymes that are secreted into the abdominal cavity for digestion of food.
Function:
It helps to moisten, liquidise and digest the food in the gut.

Avalambaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Avalambaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official:
There are 5 types of Kapha:
* Tarpaka Kapha
* Bodhaka Kapha
* Sleshaka Kapha
* Avalambaka Kapha
* Kledaka Kapha
Let's get to know about Avalambaka Kapha in details:
Location:
The seat of Alochakapitta is in the in Drishti - eyes.
Functions:
The function of the Alochakapitta is to catch the image, form and color of any external object presented to the eye. It is present in the frontal area of the brain, responsible with the process of memory, mainly associated with the experience through vision.Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
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Sleshaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official:

Sleshaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official:
There are 5 types of Kapha:
* Tarpaka Kapha
* Bodhaka Kapha
* Sleshaka Kapha
* Avalambaka Kapha
* Kledaka Kapha
Let's get to know about Sleshaka Kapha in details:

Location:
Sleshaka is located in the joints of the body and refers to the synovial fluid in the joints.
Functions:
It keeps the joints firmly united by keeping the membranes and joints smooth, lubricated and nourished. This makes the joints flexible and strong.Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
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Bodhaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Bodhaka Kapha in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official:

There are 5 types of Kapha:
* Tarpaka Kapha
* Bodhaka Kapha
* Sleshaka Kapha
* Avalambaka Kapha
* Kledaka Kapha
Let's get to know about Bodhaka Kapha in details:

Bodhan means – to make aware.

Location:
Bhodhaka is located in the root of the tongue and the throat.
Functions:
It enables taste perception. In the form of saliva, it differentiates the six tastes and makes the tongue perceive them. It lubricates the oral cavity and initiates the digestion process.

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Samanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Samanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

There are 5 types of Vata:

* Pranavata

* Udanavata

* Vyanavata

* Samanavata

* Apanavata

Let's get to know about Samanavata in details:

One of the important functions of the living being is to ingest food, digest and assimilate it to maintain life and also the mass of the body. Samanavata participates in some of these processes.

Location:

All authorities have stated that the Samanavata is located near the seat of Agni (digestive fire). Charaka stated that it is also located in the channels of Sweda, Dosha and Ambu.

Functions:

The main function of the Samana is the stimulation of the Agni and Pachakapitta (a subtype of Pitta which assists with digestion). The Samana stimulates the Antaragni (another name for digestive fire) to digest the food eaten in the proper amount and proper time, which leads to an increase in lifespan and after the digestion is completed, it then helps in the separation of the nutrients from the residue. It governs the peristaltic movements.

Samanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Vyanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Vyanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

There are 5 types of Vata:

• Pranavata
• Udanavata
• Vyanavata
• Samanavata
• Apanavata

Let's get to know about Vyanavata in details:
The Vyanavata controls the voluntary movements in the body.
Location:
No specific place as location of Vyana has been mentioned by Charaka and Susruta, but both agreed that it pervades swiftly through the body. According to Vagbhata Vyana is located in Hridaya (heart), but transverses throughout the body very swiftly.

Functions:
According to Susruta, the functions of vyana vata include effective transport and circulation of Rasa – Rasadhatu or Aahararasa (the nutrients absorbed from food digestion) in the body and outflow of blood and sweat from the body.
In Ashtangasangraha, Vagbhata added the functions of yawning, recognizing the taste of the food, cleansing the channels, depositing the semen inside the vaginal cavity and separating the essence of food from the waste matter and nourishing the dhatus (tissues).

Vyanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Udanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Udanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

There are 5 types of Vata:

1. Pranavata
2. Udanavata
3. Vyanavata
4. Samanavata
5. Apanavata

Let's get to know about Udanavata in details:
The Udanavata resonates the strength of a person. According to Susruta, Udanavata is that which courses upwards.
Location:

It resides in the throat and head.
Functions:

According to Charaka the normal functions of Udanavata are verbal expression (Vakpravrtti), effort (Prayatana), stimulation (Urja), vitality (Bala) and complexion (Varna). In the head it controls the memory, thoughts, ideas and verbal expression.

Udanavata in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Bhrajakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Bhrajakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

There are five types of Pitta:
* Pachakapitta
* Ranjakapitta
* Sadhakapitta
* Alochakapitta
* Bhrajakapitta
Let's get to know about Bhrajakapitta in detail:

Location:
Located in the skin.
Function:

The function of the Bhrajakapitta is production of normal or abnormal Colors of the skin. The maintenance of the Lustre or complexion of the skin is by the Paka (transformation or conversion) of the (absorbed) substances used for massage etc. It also maintains the normal temperature of the body.

Bhrajakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Alochakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Alochakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

There are five types of Pitta:
* Pachakapitta
* Ranjakapitta
* Sadhakapitta
* Alochakapitta
* Bhrajakapitta
Let's get to know about Alochakapitta in detail:
Location:The seat of Alochakapitta is in the in Drishti - eyes.
Functions:The function of the Alochakapitta is to catch the image, form and color of any external object presented to the eye. It is present in the frontal area of the brain, responsible with the process of memory, mainly associated with the experience through vision.

Alochakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Sadhakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

Sadhakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda Official

There are five types of Pitta:

• Pachakapitta
• Ranjakapitta
• Sadhakapitta
• Alochakapitta
• Bhrajakapitta

Let's get to know about Sadhakapitta in detail:
This is one sub-division of the pitta associated with certain mental faculties and emotions. In view of this, the words hrdaya (heart) and manas (mind) are synonymously used.
Location:

It is located in hrdaya (heart) and the brain to be known as the sadhakagni and its function is to enable one to achieve their aspirations.
Functions:

It is responsible for all mental activities like courage, intelligence, clarity of thoughts and memory etc. It helps to process emotions and thoughts.

Sadhakapitta in Ayurveda by Dr Ayurveda

Ayurvedic perspective of Dr Ayurveda

Ayurvedic perspective of Dr Ayurveda

The biological clock and circadian rhythm of the body - Ayurvedic perspective
How to live, eat and breathe should be in harmony with nature. In Ayurveda, when our inner body clock is in synch with the natural flow of our lifestyle and activities, then this benefit us with optimal health. An individual’s body’s clock is also known as the circadian rhythm. Millions of body rhythms occur that are managed by the body’s clocks. These clocks are managed by a master clock. The master clock of the body is controlled by nature’s most influential cycle called ‘circadian rhythm’. This regulates everything in our body, including the release of vital hormones e.g. Melatonin and serotonin. Modern science is also in agreement with this.

Disruption of the circadian rhythm, affects the harmonious functioning of the body, including the metabolism and hormonal balance. This makes us susceptible to illnesses as the system goes against the natural flow and consequently has an adverse impact on our life and wellbeing.

We consist of energies and energies surround us. Similarly, each time of the day has an energy. This inner clock functions constantly over a 24 hour cycle. The biological cycle of the body and mind is influenced by the energy of the three doshas. These help to describe the different times of the day and conduct various activities:
● Pitta times of the day are considered to be 10pm-2am and 10am-2pm.
● Vata times of the day are considered to be 2am-6am and 2pm-6pm.
● Kapha times of the day are considered to be 6am-10am and 6pm-10pm.

During the Pitta times, the digestion is strong between 10am-2pm and hence a good time to digest bigger meals, whilst late evening 10pm-2am is the time for repairing the body’s system and calming/digesting the mental energy; and therefore a favorable time to retire at night. Around the Vata times this represents creativity and cognitive ability. That is why 2am-6am may be a time that could keep you wide awake due to various thoughts and the period from 2pm-6pm helps to create new ideas and use the mental energy efficiently. Kapha times are thought to be the slowest as these are the starting and the winding down parts of the day. During this time motivation may be required as the day begins, in addition it requires a boost to get through the day smoothly.
Knowing your own constitution can help understand the different times of the day in relation to one’s inner body clock. Therefore, raising awareness of your energy levels and how you feel at different times of the day. Practicing this will help to improve and enhance your own daily habits and lifestyle patterns. You will come to realize whether you are living in sync with your body’s natural biological clock or circadian rhythm.

Key points:
● The Ayurvedic clock is a study of how to live, eat and breathe in harmony with nature.
● This biological clock is also known as the circadian rhythm.

● In Ayurveda the Doshas: vata, pitta and kapha help to describe different times of the day.
● Vata time is associated with creativity and cognitive ability, Pitta time relates to digestion and metabolism; and Kapha time is slow therefore requiring motivation.
● Knowing your own constitution can help you understand your biological clock/circadian rhythm and in effect have a natural flow to your daily life and well being.

Ayurvedic perspective of Dr Ayurveda

Body constitution / Prakrti

Body constitution / Prakrti
Individuals vary in terms of mental, emotional and physical states and capacities. Similarly, all beings have varying proportions of one or more of the three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha. According to the differences of physical characteristics and psychological behaviours, a classification has been made to group individuals based on the proportions of the three doshas present. This is known as their constitution or 'prakrti'.

Prakriti in Sanskrit means ‘nature’. The prakrti is genetically determined and it is dependant on factors such as: the prakrti of the parents at the time of conception, the position of the foetus and the diet/state of the doshas of the expectant mother. Regardless of other factors, prakrti is primarily determined by the doshas.

In Ayurveda, the prakrti plays an important role in one’s health. The knowledge of the prakrti or constitution can guide towards a holistic therapy and thus optimising the individual's wellbeing. For example if someone is susceptible to a particular ailment/disease, then Ayurveda helps to prevent these by choosing the appropriate treatment. It also guides towards the optimal diet and lifestyle for the individual.
Individuals are a combination of all three doshas with a predominance towards one or more. The predominance of two doshas is known as dvandvaja prakrtis. In this situation there will be a mix of the two doshas. The presence of all three doshas in equilibrium is rare and it is known as samadhatu. Below are the seven possible types of prakrtis:
● Vata prakrti
● Pitta prakrti
● Kapha prakrti
● Vata-pitta prakrti
● Pitta-kapha prakrti
● Vata-kapha prakrti
● Sama (vata-pitta-kapha) prakrti

The doshas may be innate/essential (which do not change from birth) and acquired (which change according to internal and external factors). Therefore the predominant dosha of an individual can easily be aggravated. People with more than one predominant dosha will possess the characteristics of both. An Ayurvedic expert should be consulted to determine an individual's prakrti accurately.

Short points:
● All beings have varying proportions of one or more of the three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha
● Prakrti is genetically and primarily determined by the doshas
● The constitution or prakrti of an individual is based on the proportions of the doshas present
● These varying proportions of doshas determines one’s mental, emotional and physical states and capacities - which is what makes every individual unique
● The constitution of the individual is determined at the time of conception (which depends on the predominance of the doshas at this time)
● Individuals are a combination of all three doshas with a predominance towards one or more
● The knowledge of the prakrti or constitution can guide towards a holistic therapy and thus optimising the individual's well being.

Body constitution / Prakrti

Tridosha in Ayurveda

Tridosha in Ayurveda - Explanation by Dr Ayurveda

Doshas are bio-energies that are present throughout the body and mind. They regulate every physiological and psychological process in the living being. The principles of Ayurveda are based on the three doshas also known as tridoshas: vata, pitta and kapha. The tridoshas arise from the five elements and each dosha has 2 predominant elements:
● Vata → Akasa (space) + Vayu (air)
● Pitta → Tejas (fire) + Jala (water)
● Kapha → Pritvi (earth) + Jala (water)
In a healthy body, the doshas are in balance or in a state of equilibrium. When unbalanced, they cause various signs and symptoms. When left ignored this leads to complex diseases and problems. Therefore, the doshas are the causes of the disease process. Each of these are described in detail:

Vata:
Definition:
Arising from Sanskrit, vata means ‘that which moves things’ and sometimes translated as ‘wind’. It is defined by Susruta as ‘va gati gandhanayoh’. Gati means motion, moving and going, Gandhana means intimation, information and hint.

Characteristics/qualities:
As vata is composed of the elements akasha (space) and vayu (air), it is the moving force behind the other two doshas, pitta and kapha. The significant qualities of vata include:
● Invisibility (amurtatva) - one of the most important qualities. It is not in a visible form as pitta and kapha (also known as asanghatam), owing to its predominant elements, akasa and vayu.
● Instability (anavasthita) - this is also called chalatva mobility. Vata moves very swiftly and therefore has the ability to move pitta, kapha, dhattus (tissues) and malas (waste products), all of which are unable to move independently.
● Self existence (swayambhu) - the Sanskrit texts states that vata is self originated.
● Yogavahi - this means when associated with others, it is able to promote their qualities without losing its own identity/qualities e.g. Vata is still able to identify itself with both pitta (produces a feeling of heat) and kapha (produces a cold feeling) when inducing their activities.

● Other qualities:
- light (laghu) - due to the akasa and vayu elements of vata
- mobile (daruna), rough (khara) and clear (visada)
- cold (sita) - in terms of the action in the body rather than a sense of touch
- dry (ruksha)
- hard (kathinya) - as vata can make a substance hard by drying it up
- penetrative (sukshma) - due to akasa, the ability for vata to penetrate through the smallest areas in the body.

Location:
It is located throughout the body, but predominantly found in the:
● Head, oral cavity, throat, neck, chest
● Urinary bladder and the kidneys (vasthi moothrasaya)
● Large intestine and rectum (purishadhana)
● Small intestine or part of this where digestion is complete (pakvasaya)
● Pelvis or waist (kati or sroni)
● Thighs (sakthini), feet (padam)
● Bones (asthini)
● The sense organs: ears and the skin

Functions:
The two main functions of vata in a Nutshell is movement (cheshta) and knowledge (Jnana).
● It controls the mind and it is responsible for the actions of the mind, including the functions related to the one’s thoughts, emotions and memory.
● It is responsible for every actions in the body e.g. all vital functions such as respiration, heart rate and other functions for maintaining life, which are essential for human existence. Other examples include stimulating the digestive fire by stimulating the secretion of the digestive juices, circulation of nutrients from digestion and eliminating excretions (urine, faeces, sweat) from the body.

Vata functions occur in two types of states: physiological (prakrta kriya), conducted in the balanced state and abnormal (vaikrta kriya), due to an impaired state.

Pitta:
Characteristics/qualities:
It is made up of the elements, tejas (fire) and (jala) water. The physical properties:
● Colour is any excluding white and red - according to the susrutha, the colours are blue (nila) and yellow (peeta)
● Taste is pungent (katu) and acidic (amla)
● Smell, that of raw meat (visrata)
● Consistency is fluid (drava).
● Other qualities include:
- unctuous - greasy/oily (snigdha)
- hot (ushna)
- penetrative (tikshna)
- mobile (sara)
- light (laghu) and clear (visada) 

● Pitta may be in two states:
- raw, where it is bluish in colour and acid in taste or
- ripe, where it is yellow in colour and has a pungent taste

Location:
Pitta is found in various areas such as:
● stomach (aka amasaya in Sanskrit), intestines and the whole gut
● liver and spleen
● heart
● umbilical region (nabhi)
● brain
● nutrient body fluid (rasa or rasadhattu)
● lymphatic system (lasika)
● blood (rudhira)
● sweat (sweda)
● eyes (chakshu)
● skin (sparnanam)

Functions:
In summary pitta generates normal body heat, is involved with the hunger, thirst, appetite, digestion, power of vision and skin complexion. Other functions include the management of anger, courage and delusion. The functions can be classified as: physical and psychological / emotional as shown below:

Physiological functions:
● Stimulates normal appetite (kshut) and thirst (thrshna)
● Digestion and metabolism (pakti)
● Strength/power of vision or visual perception (darshanam)
● Producing normal heat (marausha)
● Responsible for normal skin complexion (prakrta varna), temperature, lustre (prabha) and softness of the body (dehamardava)
Psychological / emotional functions
● Responsible for all mental activities e.g. courage (sauryam), anger (krodham), delusion, infatuation (moham) and happiness (prasada)
● Aids in processing thoughts and emotions 

There are five types of Pitta:

• Pachakapitta
• Ranjakapitta
• Sadhakapitta
• Alochakapitta
• Bhrajakapitta

Kapha:
Definition
Kapha is defined as ‘kena jalena phalati iti kapha’. The synonym sleshma is derived from the root slish alingane - slish, which means to embrace, to cohere or to keep things together. Bala relates to overcoming opposition in a working situation and is a potential source of resistance to disease and decay. In an abnormal state, kapha may become a waste product (mala) that needs to be excreted from the body.
Characteristics/qualities:
The elements that form this dosha are jala (water) and prithvi (earth). The physical properties:
● It is white and transparent in colour.
● It’s taste is sweet (madhura) when well formed and salty (lavana) when not well formed.
● It is cool (sita), soft, yielding (mrdu and mrtsna), unctuous (snigdha), slimy (picchila), viscous (vijjala) and smooth (slakshna)
● The consistency is firm (sthira), dense and compact (sandra) and firm like coagulum (sara).
● Other qualities include: heavy (guru), inactive (manda), and stable (stimita).

Location:
Kapha is located in the:
● Small intestine
● Chest
● Head, root of the tongue and throat
● Joints of the body

Functions:
Kapha acts to restrict the forces of vata and pitta and prevent them from overworking, where their effects are active in the body. It provides support, strength and stability, both physically and psychologically. Functions include the following:
● Hold or to keep things together such as binding together various structures of the body e.g. the joints and (bandhana) the musculo-skeletal frame.
● To keep the body steady and sturdy (sthiratva), including firm and compact (dardhyata); and heaviness of the body (gaurava) / physical strength.
● Promotion of unctuousness / lubrication (snehana).
● Resistance to disease and decay (bala).
● Virility, sexual potency and capacity to reproduce (vrshta) and for growth (upachayam).
● It governs the human emotions (compassion, love, loyalty, forgiveness and patience), enthusiasm (utsaha), forbearance (kshama), fortitude, courage (dhrti), greedlessness (alobha) and intelligence (dhi, jnana).
● Responsible for knowledge, learning, wisdom (jnana); cognition, perception, comprehensiveness, understanding and talent (budhi). 

There are 5 types of Kapha:

• Tarpaka Kapha
• Bodhaka Kapha
• Sleshaka Kapha
• Avalambaka Kapha
• Kledaka Kapha