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Ayurveda’s three doshas, vata, pitta, and kapha, affect a person’s physical constitution and can lead to health problems. Practitioners recommend lifestyle and dietary changes to balance doshas and optimize health. Each dosha is associated with natural elements and can increase the likelihood of certain health conditions. Determining a patient’s dominant dosha is crucial to diagnosis and treatment.
The doshas in Ayurveda are believed to be the three types of energy that work together to contribute to healthy mental and physical functioning. The three doshas in Ayurveda are usually called vata, pitta and kapha and can be associated with one or more natural elements. One, two, or all three doshas can dominate a person’s physique in equal measure. It is believed that most people have only one dominant dosha, but it is considered possible to have two or even three dominant doshas.
The doshas in Ayurveda are believed to have a significant effect on the physical constitution. A person’s dominant dosha can affect every element of their constitution, from body type, to preferences for cold or heat, to the likeliest health problems. Ayurvedic medicine practitioners often recommend special dietary and lifestyle considerations to help balance the energies of the doshas within the body and optimize health.
People with dominant vata energy are often very thin in build and may have dry hair, skin, and nails. They may need more than the average recommended amount of sleep per day. They can be restless and anxious and can get bored easily. Though creative and intelligent, they can have trouble concentrating.
Ayurvedic medicine practitioners believe that a patient’s dominant dosha determines which health problems they are most likely to develop. Ayurvedic practitioners typically associate vata energy with the natural element air. People with dominant vata energy are therefore considered to be more vulnerable to lung conditions and anxiety disorders.
People with pitta dominant energy are generally of average build. They are usually intelligent and have few concentration problems. They are believed to have good appetite and good digestion. Pitta dominant energy is said to make a person who is fond of cool weather and vulnerable to sunburn and heat-related illnesses. Dominant pitta energy is said to contribute to a volatile temper.
Ayurvedic practitioners typically associate pitta energy with the natural elements of water and fire. People with pitta dominant energy are thought to be more vulnerable to liver disease, fever and inflammatory conditions.
People with dominant kapha energy are believed to be strong, large, and exceptionally healthy. They are believed to be calm and sympathetic in temperament. Ayurvedic practitioners believe kapha energy is associated with the natural elements earth and water. Dominant kapha energy can therefore increase the likelihood of colds, flu and water retention disorders. Weight gain and conditions associated with obesity may also be more likely in these types.
Practitioners believe that determining a patient’s dominant dosha or doshas in Ayurveda is central to the diagnostic process. Ayurvedic practitioners typically believe that health problems occur with abnormal imbalances in the patient’s natural dosha energies. Bringing these energies back into balance is believed to be critical to the management and treatment of disease.