The Ayurvedic secret of knowing the root cause of your disease.

Ayurveda, or the Science of Life, as translated from Sanskrit is an ancient science of health and healing. It purports that everything in the Universe is made up of five elements namely; – space, air, fire, water, and earth. Ayurveda works on the principles of these five basic elements and explains the importance of keeping these elements balanced for a healthy body and mind.

Each person is influenced by certain elements more than others because of their natural constitution (prakriti), which is categorized into three doshas:

• Vata dosha - where the air and space elements dominate
• Pitta dosha - where the fire element dominates
• Kapha dosha - where the earth and water elements dominate

Most people’s prakriti is a combination of two doshas. Doshas affect the body’s shape, bodily tendencies (like food preferences and digestion), and one’s mind and emotions. For example, the earth element in people with Kapha dosha is evident in their solid, sturdy body type and their emotional steadiness.

An imbalance in any of these doshas causes illnesses. Let us now look at the different doshas and the effects of an imbalance.

Vata Imbalance

The Vata dosha is the most important of the three doshas. This is because if Vata becomes imbalanced for long enough, it can also cause the other two doshas (Pitta or Kapha) to become imbalanced.

Symptoms & Effects of Vata Imbalance

Symptoms

Physical

• Constipation
• Gas formation or distension in the abdomen
• Dehydration
• Dry and rough skin
• Pains and general body-ache
• Astringent taste in the mouth
• Loss of strength, fatigue, low vitality
• Disturbed or lack of sleep
• Tremors and twitches
• Feeling dizzy or spaced out
• Sensitiveness to cold and desire for warmth

Behavioral

• Irrational, Anxious, Nervous, Agitated, Impatient
• Wanting to run away
• Feeling confused, fearful & shaky
• Feeling ungrounded
• Excessive movement or talking

Effects

• Wasting of muscles
• Joint pains
• Stiffness
• Headaches
• Retention
• Constipation
• Weight loss
• Cramps
• Convulsion, tremors, paralytic attacks
• Colic
• Dryness, scaling
• Phobias

Pitta imbalance

The Pitta dosha is associated with fire or heat. Wherever there is transformation, there is Pitta prakriti working. Pitta works in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, skin, eyes and brain.

Symptoms & Effects of Pitta Imbalance

Symptoms

Physical

• Excessive thirst or hunger
• Heartburn and acidity
• Burning sensation in eyes, hands and sole
• Hot flushes in body
• Skin rashes, acne, and boils
• Vomiting bile (yellowish water)
• Hypersensitivity to light
• Strong body odor
• Nausea and headache
• Loose Motions
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Sensitiveness to heat and desire for a cool environment

Behavioral

• Snappy speech and actions
• Judgmental or criticizing tendencies
• Anger, irritability, hostility
• Argumentative, aggressive attitude
• Impatience and restlessness
• Frustration

Effects

• Hyperacidity
• Inflammations
• Bleeding
• Hypertension
• Burning sensations
• Excess eliminations
• Skin rashes, pimples, boils
• Mania

Kapha imbalance

Kapha is the heaviest of the three doshas. It provides structure and lubrication to the body. These qualities help to counterbalance Vata's movement and Pitta's metabolism. A big, heavyset football player or wrestler is a person with a predominance of Kapha.

Symptoms & Effects of Kapha Imbalance

Symptoms

Physical

• Lethargy
• Less or no appetite, nausea
• Water retention
• Congestion, mucous formation
• Secretions in the mouth
• Difficulty in breathing
• Excessive sleep
• Sweetness in mouth

Behavioral

• Feeling of heaviness
• Depression, sadness
• Dull, inactiveness
• Feeling lack of support or love
• Feeling greedy, entangled, possessive

Effects

• Obesity
• Swellings
• Water retention
• Excess mucus production
• Extra growth
• Depression

Understanding the doshas and the results of their imbalance helps one ascertain the cause of their illnesses and take necessary help. If you are witnessing any of the above-mentioned symptoms and effects, contact an Ayurvedic doctor. He/She will help restore balance in your doshas through effective Ayurvedic remedies and a suitable diet.