Ayurveda states that the human body is made up of the same five elements that make up the external environment, forming three doshas: vata, pitta, and kapha. Each dosha has specific characteristics and tendencies that must be balanced for good health. The doshas also follow a circadian cycle, with each dominant at certain times of the day. Proper routine and food can help keep each dosha in balance and create harmony on all levels of mind, body, and spirit.
According to Ayurveda, one of the oldest branches of the Vedas, vata, pitta and kapha are formed by the combinations of the five elements that make up our universe. For thousands of years, it has been understood by many that our bodies are made up of these same five elements that make up our external environment. When these elements combine in human physiology, they create three guiding principles, or doshas, which must be kept in balance to maintain good health.
Out of these three primary doshas, vata rules all of them. Air and space combine to form vata. Fire and water govern pitta; and water and earth, kapha. The attributes of each dosha, along with the specific combination within each individual, help determine the physical, mental and emotional characteristics and tendencies of the individual.
Anything that moves, fluctuates or changes is governed by vata. Ayurveda explains that without air and space, life would not be able to progress, move or move. As in the outside world, vata dosha is responsible for all movement within the body. This involves all forms of movement in the mind and body such as circulation, elimination, peristalsis, respiration, nerve impulses and thought process. Vata qualities include changeability, airy, cold, moving, quick, light, dry and rough.
Vata-type people have small bones, move and talk rapidly, with dry skin, and small or irregular appetites. Unbalanced Vata can cause poor memory, worry or anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and weakness, arthritis, high blood pressure, constipation, or rough, dry skin. To balance it in the physiology it is necessary to introduce the opposite qualities: abundant rest, heat in the food and in the environment, heavier, fatty foods with a sweet, sour or salty taste.
Pitta controls all forms of transformation and metabolism in the mind and body such as assimilation, digestion, metabolism, the immune system and the processing of sensory information. Pitta type people have medium builds, strong appetites, strong intellects and dislike heat. They are also articulate, intense and tidy with fiery personalities.
An overabundance of pitta can cause excessive body heat, anger, impatience, skin and eye problems, heartburn, and ulcers. Pitta dosha is balanced by its opposite qualities: cool environment with cool, heavy, oily diet that is sweet, bitter or astringent.
Kapha qualities include cold, heavy, slow, soft, steady, oily, sticky, and sweet. Kapha controls all forms of fluid balance and structure in physiology such as water retention, mucus, physical strength, natural tissue strength, and proper body structure. People with a predominantly Kapha body are big boned, strong with an even disposition, loving and forgiving, methodical, down to earth and slow to forget.
Kapha types will show a dislike for cool, wet weather. Too much kapha can cause laziness, dullness, overweight, asthma and depression. Kapha dosha is balanced by its opposite qualities: more exercise, less oversleeping, bland, dry, hot foods with pungent, bitter, or astringent tastes.
The north winds of winter are associated with ambient vata. The vata season is between November and February when the cold and dry weather of winter aggravates our internal vata dosha. Pitta season is between July and October, when the heat is experienced as hot and oxidizing. Kapha is between March and June during the wet and heavy season.
Each change of season soothes and balances the effects of the previous season. Vata cools the accumulated heat from the pitta season, kapha replenishes the dried vata season moisture, and pitta warms the cold kapha moisture. At the end of each season, there will be an accumulated flu found in the body. Our bodies need an opportunity to balance out any influences a particular dosha may have established.
The three primary doshas are also evident within the circadian cycle, all in local standard time.
Vata is dominant among
2am and 6am 2am and 6am
Pitta is dominant among
10am and 2am 10am and 2am.
Kapha is dominant among
6:00 and 10:00 6:00 and 10:00.
During the early morning hours between 2am and 6am, vata removes toxins and impurities from the nervous system. Ayurveda also recommends the importance of getting up before 6am so you can maintain clarity and flexibility. If we sleep past the vata time and into the subsequent kapha time, we will be dull, lethargic, and rigid. During the afternoon vata time between 2:00 and 6:00, our clarity and intensity are at their highest. This is the best time for work or mental activity. If for any reason we feel sluggish or sleepy during this time, it is due to improper digestion of our midday meal. This makes it especially important not to fall asleep.
During the midday pitta hour, 10am to 2am, while the sun is at its peak, our digestion is warmest and most efficient. Our most important meal of the day should be eaten as close to midday as possible to ensure proper digestion. During the night pitta, between 10:00 and 2:00, it is important to rest as our digestion takes this time for its cleansing cycle. Pitta’s warming qualities take the opportunity to cleanse our systems of any undigested food.
This is why our first impulse in the morning is to evacuate the bowel and bladder of waste. We blow our noses, clean our ears, eyes, mouth and tongue of accumulated congestion, which is considered the residue of undigested food. It is especially important not to eat during the night pitta because without this cleansing opportunity, undigested food (ama) and toxins accumulate.
During kapha time, between 6:00 and 10:00, we will begin to settle down and feel ready for sleep. It’s important to go to bed before 10am, so kapha still affects our nervous system. If we wait for the pitta flu to start taking hold, we’ll start waking up and feeling hungry. Kapha time is the easiest time to fall asleep, and the first two hours of sleep will be most valuable when accompanied by kapha.
According to the Ayurvedic tradition, our routines should be in line with the circadian and environmental cycles of vata, pitta and kapha to ensure the proper functioning of our body. Improper sequencing is the ultimate key to imbalance, which leads to disease. In addition to establishing our routine, proper food will help keep each dosha in proper balance.
Since vata drives the other doshas, it should be our primary concern when dealing with imbalances in the system. Often by balancing our vata dosha, this will bring pitta and kapha back into balance. Ayurveda explains that these lifestyle adjustments will create harmony on all levels of mind, body and spirit. By addressing the vata, pitta and kapha tridoshas, our life will be enriched on every level.
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