(A) When parents give us a name, it accompanies us for the whole life. In the same way the constitution of our parents leaves an indelible mark on our health.
Constitution implies a unique combination of a person’s physical,physiological and psychological characteristics. It has an influence on our life
from birth to death. In fact, we experience the subtleties of our constitutional characteristics in our daily life, time and again.
For example, someone, who is thin, has coarse hair and skin, falls ill quickly and often due to slight exertion or changes in weather (Vata Prakriti);
If someone has a lot of moles and birthmarks on his body, he gets headache if he moves around in the sun (Pitta Prakriti);
Or one whose activities are slow, and if he eats ice-cream, he gets sore throat (Kapha Prakriti).
What we can tolerate and what we can’t, depends on our Constitution.
In the earlier paragraph we have seen some examples of variations in response of persons having different Constitutions. However, while thinking broadly about Balancing of the three Doshas, we need to know some basic principles and terms used in Ayurveda. Also, if a Dosha increases, we need to understand in detail what changes-symptoms we feel in the body. The symptoms will indicate the Dosha which might have aggravated. After that, we can see how to reduce the increased Dosha through changes in our diet and lifestyle. In the article “Know your Constitution and protect your health”, we have been briefly introduced to the three doshas in the body.
Now in this article we will see the properties of doshas, sub-types of doshas and their functions, symptoms experienced due to imbalance in Doshas and what measures should be taken to balance the Doshas.
| Dosha / Sub-type | Major Functions |
| Vataवात-वायू | |
| PrAna प्राण | Breathing in, food and water intake, knowledge of various subjects |
| UdAn उदान | Breathing out, speech, hearing |
| VyAna व्यान | Pushing a food through the alimentary canal and delivering nutrients from food to the blood vessels |
| SamAna समान | Heart beats and blood nutrients are delivered to the body |
| apAna अपान | Excreting faeces, urine, Shukra- semen, menstruation and birth of a baby |
| Pitta पित्त | |
| PAchak पाचक | Digestion of foods that it can be assimilated by cells as their food |
| Ranjak रंजक | Formation of blood from fully digested food |
| SAdhakसाधक | Understanding the information of an object given by the sense organs that perceive the object's words, touch, form, taste and smell. |
| BhrAjakभ्राजक | Digestion of topical application- absorption of medication applied to skin |
| Alochakआलोचक | Acquiring knowledge of the form of visible matter as seen by eyes |
| Kaphaकफ | |
| Kledak क्लेदक | Helping in digestion of food particles by moistening the food in the stomach. |
| avalambakअवलंबक | To prevent wear and tear of the heart and lungs by supplying fatty and moist substances |
| Bodhakबोधक |
Helps in understanding taste of the food taken and protects the tongue and mouth |
| Shleshakश्लेषक | Lubricating the knee and other joints to prevent wear and tear |
| Tarpakतर्पक | Nourishing the sense organs in the head such as eyes, ears, smell and tongue. |
| Vata Dosha | Pitta Dosha | Kapha Dosha | |
| General Symptoms | Weakness, Loss of Immunity and hence higher possibility of recurring illnesses | Rise in body heat,Increased thirst,Dominating nature | Heaviness of body,obesity |
| Mental | Dejected, very chatty, hysterical | Dizziness, anger | Laziness, fatigue, unwillingness to work, drowsiness |
| Whole Body | Stiffness of Back-neck and waist stretching | Allergic inflammation, profuse sweating, bad body odour | Heaviness of the limbs, feeling as if a wet cloth was wrapped around the limbs |
| Head | Ache in conch region or forehead; headache | Migraine, hair loss, premature baldness, greying of hair | Heaviness of the head |
| Eyes | Painful, stiff eyelids | Swelling, blistering, burning of the eyes | Whiteness of eyes |
| Nose | Absence of smell | Bleeding, nose-bleed | Nasal congestion, excessive discharge from nose |
| Mouth | Astringent taste or tasteless, dry mouth | Bitter taste, mouth-ulcer, Fuming sensation, burning, blistering, vomiting | Sweet taste, excessive salivation, enlargement of parotid glands |
| Throat | Sore throat, inability to speak, dry cough | Sour belching, Acid eructation, burning sensation in throat | Vomiting of phlegm, feeling as if the throat were wrapped up with moisture |
| Respiratory System | Rubbing pain in the chest, Impairment of Thoracic movement, palpitations | Heartburn, painful sores in ribs and armpits | Feeling as if there is excessive collection of phlegm in chest |
| Digestive System | Flatulence, rumbling in the stomach, prolapse of the anus | Burning in the stomach, non- satisfaction even after eating a lot, swelling or ulceration of the anus, excessive thirst, foul smelling stools | Feeling of fullness, loss of appetite, white stools |
| Skin | Dry rough, hard skin | Cracking or tearing of the skin, itching sensation, red blisters | Skin looks white |
| Periods of aggravation of symptoms | Morning and evening, 4 to 8, summer and monsoon. | Morning and evening from 8 to 12, summer and September and October | 12 to 4 in the afternoon and night, in the rainy season - in the winter, in the spring, after sleeping in the afternoon |
| Wholesome / Good / Favour | |||
| For Aggravated Vata Dosha | For Aggravated Pitta Dosha | For Aggravated Kapha Dosha | |
| Generally Agreeable | Sweet, sour, salty foods; Greasy- hot food; Recommended to have Breakfast and meals as per appetite. | Sweet, bitter, astringent foods; Food – take as much as your appetite permits, heavy breakfast is recommended. | Eat spicy, bitter, astringent foods, hot food; Recommended to have light breakfast and meals. |
| Diet | Grains Wheat, rice | Grains Barley, rice, sorghum, wheat | Grains Buckwheat, millet, barley, rice, maize, sorghum, millet, ragi, coarse grains; It is best if the grains are roasted |
| Vegetables should be cooked, salad should be served with soy/oil dressing | Vegetables Eat Fruit vegetables other than sour and pungent vegetables, white onion, cucumber, amla, lemon,Kokum-Garcinia Indica , | Vegetables Uncooked vegetables, cooked vegetables and vegetables cooked in a little oil will work |
|
| Pulses ,moong, lentils, in small quantities, should be soaked in water before cooking | Pulses Moong, Moth Bean, Lentils, Kabuli Chana. | Pulses should be eaten in small quantities | |
| Eggs, meat, fish Eat in small quantities, take eggs with milk | Eggs, meat, fish (in moderation) Chicken, beef, turkey, rabbit will do, egg whites | Eggs, meat, fish Eat less eggs, meat, fish. | |
| Oils All types of oils are useful, but should be used in moderation. Sesame oil is good. | Oil Coconut oil, olive oil, sunflower oil should be used sparingly | Oil Oil should be used sparingly | |
| Fruits, dry fruits should be used other than astringent and dry fruits.apple, apricot, mango, peach, pear, jujube fruit, tamarind, Kokum- Garcinia Indica, Coconut- kernel,Figs -Raisins soaked in water. | Fruits, Dry Fruit Sweet Fruits,apple, mango, peach, pear Pomegranate, Grapes, Lime, Chiku, Coconut Coconut Milk, Raisins, Raisins, Almonds, Dry Dates | Fruits, dry fruits apricot, amla Dry Dates | |
| Nuts, seeds, almonds soaked in water and peeled, pumpkin seeds poppy seeds, sesame seeds | Nuts, seeds, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds | Nuts, seeds Pumpkin and sunflower seeds | |
| Milk, milk products Cow's milk- cream; Homemade ghee and butter, fresh buttermilk | Milk, milk products Milk, Homemade ghee, unsalted yogurt and soft cheese; butter | Milk, milk products Homemade Ghee; Take milk in moderation,fresh buttermilk | |
| Spices Moderate use of garlic, mustard, asafoetida Mint, cardamom, cumin seed, cinnamon in spices; | Spices (to be used sparingly) Turmeric, Curry Leaves, Coriander, Cardamom, cumin seed | Spices: garlic, ginger, pepper, cinnamon, cloves | |
| Water Drink hot water; | Water Drink plenty of water. | Water Drink hot water; | |
| Others take a glass of warm milk with homemade ghee, before going to bed; | Others Chutney of ripe Woodapple or Mint or sesame- seed and coconut- kernel gulkand (Rose-flower jam), moravala (Cranberry jam), honey (unheated), a glass of warm milk with homemade ghee before going to bed | ||
| Life style | Bath with hot water, massage with coconut oil;
Regularity, wake up on time, sleep on time, have breakfast and meals on time. Shirodhara on forehead, Gandush (holding sesame oil in mouth), Karnapuran (inserting few drops of oil in ears), Nabhipuran (inserting few drops of oil in navel) |
Clothes preferably cotton, get enough rest sleep, walk slowly for five to ten minutes after meals and before going to bed,body massage with coconut or cranberry oil,Massage soles with shatadhaut ghrut or cow ghrut | Walking, running , Movement exercises of joints. |
| Others | Season Vata dosha aggravates in summer and Vata flares up in rainy season, to avoid flaring up of Vata dosha, one should take care from summer by following the rules of diet, exercise and control mental causes. |
Season Summer, autumn is not tolerated, pitta flares up in autumn, so be careful in the months of September and October. |
Season Kapha dosha starts to increase in the body during cold season and Kapha flares up in spring. To prevent outbreak, it is necessary to follow the rules of diet and exercise from cold season to prevent Kapha flare up. |
| Time of the dayProminent during 4 to 8 a m and 4 to 8 p m. | Time of the day12 noon to 4 p m in the afternoon and midnight to 4 a m is the period of increase of Pitta. | Time of the 8 a m to noon and 8 p m to midnight is the period of increase of Kapha, | |
| Unwholesome / Avoid / Minimise | |||
| For Aggravated Vata Dosha | For Aggravated Pitta Dosha | For Aggravated Kapha Dosha | |
| Generally Disagreeable
Diet |
Pungent, bitter, astringent juices; dry and cold foods; Excessively dry- Fluffy foods,such as, crisp parched rice, Excessive fasting, | Pungent, sour, salty food, excess of anger, sadness, fear should be avoided. | Avoid sweet, sour, salty food, tendency to obesity, frequent eating, difficult to digest food, overeating, snacking between two meals. |
| Grains Buckwheat, Maize, Bajri, Rye, Vari, Ragi, Fermented foods Idli- Dosa, Bread and bakery products; |
Grains buckwheat, maize, millet, rye; bread and bakery products; Fermented foods like idli- dosa should be taken in moderation | Grains Bread and bakery products; May prefer toast in place of bread | |
| Vegetables Uncooked vegetables, spinach, potato, tomato, eggplant, cucumber potato. | Vegetables tomato, radish, beet, carrot, red onion | Vegetables Potatoes, tomatoes, onions, very sweet, very sour and juicy vegetables should be avoided; tubers should be eaten sparingly. | |
| Pulses, cowpeas, peas, chickpeas; | Pulses Pulses should be taken in small quantities | Pulses | |
| Eggs, meat, fish should be avoided | Eggs, meat, fish Eggs, meat, fish, raw egg yolk | Eggs, meat, fish Don't eat eggs, meat, fish, fried meat, fish | |
| Oil Oily- fried foods, wafers, fast food, | Oil Oily- fried foods, wafers, fast food, | Oil Oily- fried foods, wafers, fast food, | |
| Fruits, Dry FruitsAmla, Pomegranate, Raw Fruits, Dry Fruits; Watermelon, watermelon fruits should be eaten with fennel pepper; Eat less |
Fruits, dry fruits sour fruits, papaya, lemon in moderation | Fruits, dry fruits too sweet, too sour-juicy fruits should be avoided. Banana, dates, coconut, |
|
| Nuts, Seeds Take grains and seeds in moderation |
Nuts, Seeds Groundnuts Other Grains and Seeds | Nuts, Seeds Take nuts and seeds in moderation |
|
| Milk, milk products Hard cheese |
Milk, milk products such as hard cheese, sour curd or yogurt | Milk, milk products sweets, paneer, cheese, chakka, | |
| Spices Spices should be taken in moderation | Spices mustard salt cumin and black pepper in small quantity | Spices Salt |
|
| Water cold water, | Water | Water cold water, Excess quantity of water | |
| Others Cold food |
Others tobacco alcohol, coffee harmful / tea in small quantities | Others Sweet or cold foods, sleeping during the day, sedentary work, lack of exercise |
|
Compiled by - Sudhir Gadre.
Reference-
“शारीरक्रियाविज्ञान दोषधातुमलविज्ञान” – Dr. Subhash Ranade & Dr. B. V. Sathye.
“आयुर्वेदीय शारीरक्रियाविज्ञान” – Prof. Vaidya Ya. Go. Joshi
“ स्वास्थ्यवृत्त ” - डॉ. शरदिनी डहाणूकर.
“Prakriti”- Dr. Robert E. Swoboda.