Empower Yourself With Say As "Eye-Your-veda," Read As "Ayurveda," The Ancient Popular Health Science

The doshas are a very important concept of ayurveda and a source of confusion for most of my western patients. The question that has been asked to me almost everyday for twenty years, "What is my body type?" This is an essential question and can easily be ascertained by taking the dosha test.

However, basically, dosha means the identifying energy of nervous system , digestive system and the tissues system.

So, the vata dosha is the energy of the nervous system, the pitta dosha is the energy of metabolism and digestion and kapha is the earth like value of tissue.

Now, you ask how do I get a body type out of this? If you are predominant vata dosha it means you exhibit many characteristics that are expression of nervous system and so on with pittq and kapha dosha. Take the dosha test and then read the article on Now that You Have Taken Your Dosha Test. What Next?

I will give you a little warning. Because after taking the dosha test and identified whether you are one dosha over another that does not mean a westerner understands the many ways the word dosha is used in the science of ayurveda.

I would advise for purposes of introduction to ayurveda to use the word as a body type system identifier then as you study this rich science you can expand your understanding on the more penetrating aspects of the science of doshas.

The three doshas, or governing principles, are called vata, pitta, and kapha. When vata is imbalanced insomnia, dry skin, anxiety,and constipation are the most common imbalances. Too much Pitta results in hives, over heating,and hyperacidity. Kapha imbalances are at the bottom of depression and obesity.

Ayurveda recognizes five basic elements, or constituents, to be the smallest components to which anything can be reduced. They are air, space, fire, water, and earth. Everything in nature is composed of these five glorious, mysterious, essential components-including humans. Akasha is the Ayurvedic term for the gaseous form of matter.

SPACE (sometimes called ether) is the expanse or area in which air is contained and through which it moves.

FIRE is the radiant form of matter and is needed for any process of transformation, or "digestion." WATER is used to describe the liquid form of matter.

EARTH is the solid form of matter and is responsible for groundedness and solidity. The five elements, in infinite combinations and proportions, are the basis of all life-forms and things, with three forces to keep the elements in the right relationship with one another. The three forces, the doshas, govern all the functions of the body, mind, and universal consciousness. When vata is imbalanced insomnia, dry skin, anxiety, and constipation are the most common imbalances. Too much Pitta results in hives. Kapha imbalances are at the bottom of depression.

The three doshas, or governing principles, are called vata, pitta, and kapha. Each dosha has its own set of characteristics, which arise out of the elements from which they are made. This includes the physical and emotional characteristics and personality traits of people, as well as of everything else.

For example there are vata, pitta, and kapha kinds of flowers, people, houses, music, foods, trees, birds, and bees, as well as times of day and seasons. Every person (and thing) contains all three doshas.

However, the proportion varies according to the individual, and usually one or two doshas predominate. Within each person the doshas are continually interacting with one another and with the doshas in all of nature.

This interplay among the fundamental forces and components explains why people can have much in common but also have an endless variety of individual differences in the way they behave and respond to their environment. Ayurveda recognizes that different foods, tastes, colors, and sounds affect the doshas in different ways.

For example very hot and pungent spices aggravate pitta; but cold, light foods such as salads calm it down. This ability to affect the doshas is the underlying basis for Ayurvedic practices and therapies.

Free Today My 358 page book http://www.effortlessayurvedicliving.com/ on the basics of Ayurveda. Instructions for the body type test, all common daily diet, morning yoga, according to body type and much more.

Copyright © Dr. Helen Thomas 2008

About the Author

Dr. Helen Thomas has been practicing chiropractic for 25 years. Specializing in Ayurveda since 1987. She has collaborated and served communities giving her collective gift with phenomenal results. Please visit her site http://www.effortlessayurvedicliving.com/.