Ayurveda and the Thridoshas

BEGINNINGS OF AYURVEDA
Vedic literature- earliest document …Plants began to flourish on the earth three yugas ago, before the time of the Devas. Plants were considered to be of divine origin and they were worshipped as Mother Goddess, by chanting Oushadhi sukthas in praise of them:

Oh divine plants
You are so fertile in nature
You are blessed with all kindness and happiness..

Oh divine plants
Always be kind to us
Pour happiness over us

You have the power of the horse
You are the destroyer of fatal diseases
You are the guardian of mankind
Save and protect us from all kinds of illnesses …
The Rig Veda



Paramatma jeevatma + 5 elements (earth, fire, water, air and space)


Human body 7 dhatus (Tissue sysytems )
(sukradhatu-reproductive tissue; majjadhatu- bone marrow and nervous tissue; asthidhatu-skeleton; medadhatu –fatty tissue; mamsadhatu –musceles tissue; rakthadhatu –blood; rasadhatu –plasma)



Medicinal plants- the beginning
Medicinal Plants – first mention in Rig Veda
The Atharva Veda contained authentic descriptive records of 289 plants used as medicines.
The Samhitha period
Charaka samhitha
Susrutha Samhitha
Astanga hridaya samhitha
The three together known as Brihathrayee – they mention
of about 1900 medicinal plants- 670 are common to all texts

About 17 lexicons exclusively describing Medicinal Plants
- Major ones are those of : Dhanwanthari, Sodala, Madanpala, Naraharipanditha, Bhavamisra etc.


Ayurveda:some basic concepts:


5 elements- Akash (Space);Vayu (Air); Tejas (Fire); Apa (Water); prithvi (Earth).

These are expressions of the creative force ( The Ultimate).
Human body is constituted by these elements.

The human body has 3 basic properties (Tridosha) – the relative proportion of which decides the body type.

The body is further made of seven tissue systems: Saptadhatu: ( Sukradhatu (reproductive tissues); majja dhatu ( bone marrow& nervous tissues); Asthi dhatu (skeleton-bones); meda tissue ( fatty tissue); mamsa dhatu ( muscle tissues )); rakta dhatu (blood ); rasa dhatu ( plasma ).

Disease is the state of disequilibrium of the doshas, dhatus, agnis, and malas; the individual is out of harmony both internally and with relation to environment and experiences unpleasant sensations and misery in some form.

Every living being has an inherent tendency to move in the direction of healing and balance. The balance toward which we naturally move is our “prakriti” (or Janma prakriti ), or our unique and natural proportion of vata, pittaand kapha, inherited by us at the time of birth.
The diseased state is the “vikriti” – a deviation from natural proportion of the doshas.

There is an inherent tendency for the body to move from ‘vikriti” to “ prakriti” and medicines are strategies to assist this movement, which the healing process.


Ayurvedic treatment aims at the maintenance of the balance between the three basic body qualities – vata, kapha and pitta.What are they?



The 3 doshas :Vata, Pitta, Kapha
Vata: It is composed of the elements space and air- considered the most basic of the three doshas, because it is the moving force behind the other two doshas. Vata is responsible for all somatic activities and sensations. It is the intelligence which channels perceptions (temperature, pressure, sweetness, lightning, music etc.) through the appropriate sensory organs, converts them internal psychological events, and then orchestrates the appropriate response via the organs of action. It is responsible for all the movements in the mind and body; the movement of air in and out of the lungs, the flow of blood, movement of nutrients, and thoughts through the mind. Vata promotes a healthy balance between the thought and emotion and gives rise to creativity, activity and clear comprehension.


Balanced vata
Proper coordination of all body functions
Normal movements associated with eating, digestion, elimination
Mental activity controlled and precise
Control of organs of perception and organs of action
Stimulation of digestive juices
Desire to lead an active life, vitality, curiosity, natural interest


Normal drying of occasional mucous discharges

Normal respiratory function

Normal; sleep pattern


Excellent energy level


Unbalanced vata
Body functions impaired or disorganised
Movements for eating, digestion, elimination disturbed (bloating, constipation, gas )
Mental agitation, confusion; imapired memory
Peeception and action inappropriate; senses dulled, response untimely
Deficiency of digestive juices
Loss of energy and joy for life.

Persistent bodily discharges
Shortness of breath, dry cough, disturbance in respiratory movements.
Insomnia, light or interrupted sleep
Non-specific fatigue, anxiety, worry, cold- intolerance, depletion of life force.

Kapha is constituted of prithvi (earth) and jal (water).
It is the force which provides structure to everything , gives strength, stability, and endurance- both physical and mental and promotes human emotions and capacities such as love, compassion, empathy, understanding, forgiveness, loyalty and patience.
Kapha dosha governs immunity and resistance against disease; its energy promotes self-healing, and the on-going processes of self repairs. Kapha is the anabolic force in the body which governs the formation of neuropeptides, stomach linings, provides lubrication at various joints in the body,

Balanced kapha
Excellent nutritional status; firm musculature, strong bones.
Adequate moisture and lubrication through out the body
Well-knit joints
Stable, compact and strong physique
Sexual potency, strong immunity
Calm, forgiving, understanding, patient
Strong digestion, regular appetite
Physiological amounts of respiratory moisture


Unbalanced kapha
Poor nutritional status, flabby, fatigued
Dry; decreased mucous and saliva
Loose joints, prone to sprains
Soft and weakened physique; obese
Sexual impotency, sedentary, diminished immunity
Intolerant, insecure, jealous, rude
Slow digestion, appetite unregulated
Excess mucous production


Pitta dosha is composed of agni (fire) and jal (water ).

Pitta dosha governs all digestive function and all chemical and metabolic transformations in the body as well as the process that promoted heat (energy) production
. Pitta stimulates intellect and creates enthusisam and determination.
Regarded as the fire within the body, and thus controls energy production and all the associated metabolic processes. Pitta also controls vision and body complexion.
Balance pitta

Strong and complete digestion

Normal heat and thirst mechanisms
Excellent vision

Good complexion, healthy facial tone & coloration

Hair lustrous, usually slightly wavy


Courageous, cheerful, focused, stimulated, open, intelligent.

Unbalanced pitta
Incomplete digestion
Irregular body temperature, disturbed perspiration, unregulated fluid intake
Impaired vision
Variable, blotchy skin color, inflamed unhealthy appearance
Irritable, anxious, obsessed
Loss of energy and joy for life
Dullness of reasoning faculty
Spiritually impoverished

Heartburn, peptic ulcer, irritable bowels, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, alcoholism.

Prakrithi (Constitution

The relative proportion of the vata/ kapha/ pitta qualities determines the prakrithi or the constitution of a person.
A person can be a single dosha type (vata/ pitta/kapha type ) or a bi-doshic type ( vata-pitta/ pitta-vata/ pitta-kapha/ kapha-pitta/ kapha-vata/ vata-kapha).Bi-doshic types are the most prevalent. Tri-doshic types also occur, though less commonly.
The treatment schedule depends on the unique composition of the person as found out through the examination of the roga and the rogi (Roga-rogi pareeksha ).

Check your PRAKRITI


VATA
Skin and hair texture dry
Skin cold
Physique normal
Short build
Talk a lot, cannot sit idle, walk fast
Less stamina
Regular bowels
Can digest heavy meals
Fluctuating mood
Get easily bored
Hurry in doing any work


PITTA
Skin and hair oily
Skin cant tolerate hot weather
Physique slim
Proportionate build
Think a lot and always pre planned
Average stamina
Regular bowels
Can digest heavy meals
Vigorous, impatient
Set goals & do not sit till the job is finished
Work in a normal speed


KAPHA
Skin smooth, sool, moist, hair normal thick
Skin likes warm weather
Physique heavy
Disproportionate build
Speak low, walk slow, talk slow
Good stamina
Easily constipated
Cant digest heavy meals easily
Calm, patient
Decisive, stick to the decision
Work slowly, take time tp finish work.

Dr PN Ravindran