The three doshas

The five basic elements further manifest in the human body as three basic principles or humours known as tridosa. The three humours are known as vata, pitta, and kapha (individually known as doshas) and govern all biological, psychological and physiopathological functions of the body, mind, and consciousness. The concept of tridosha is unique to Ayurveda although the idea of balance of forces being responsible for health in common to many holistic therapies. The primary requirement to treat a disease is to understand these three humours and their relationship. A slight similarity can be drawn with the Greek system medicine where humour theory holds that the body consists four fluids (phlegm, blood, yellow bile, and black bile) and disease occurs when there are out of balance. Similarly, when the tridosha work in harmony and function in a balanced manner the result is good nourishment and feeling of well-being in an individual. However, in case of imbalance and disharmony within or between them, result in disease or poor health.

These tridosha have been redefined by modern scientist as the equilibrium, balance, and coordination of the three vital body forces: the central nervous system corresponds to vata, the endocrine system to pitta, and the immune axis to kapha, operating with positive and negative feedback mechanism. The balance of vata, pitta, and Kapha is neither geometric, nor arithmetic, rather, its is a biological equilibrium.

Vata (Derived from air and space):

Governed by principle of movement. It may be characterised as a form of subtle energy that governs biological movement and thus comprises all phenomena of the central and sympathetic nervous system. It also engenders all subtle changes in metabolism. Vata governs breathing, blinking, pulsation of the heart, all expansion and contraction of the body, the movement of cytoplasm, cell membranes and single impulse in the nerve cells.

Pitta (Derived from fire and water):

It is manifestation of energy in living organisms. It helps in the regulation of thermogenesis or heat production, metabolism regarding the process of digestion, and assimilation, the formation of blood, activation of endocrine glands, secretions and excretions. It controls body temperature, skin coloration, lustre of eyes, intelligence and understanding.

Kapha (Derived from water and earth):

It binds the tissues, providing the material for physical structure, and is responsible for biological strength and natural resistance, controlling regulatory functions and the formation of preservative fluids such as mucous and synovial fluid, giving structural integrity and fulfilling a protective role. Kapha lubricates joints, provides moisture to skin, helps to heal wounds, fills space in the body, gives biological strength, vigor and stability, supports memory retention, gives energy to heart and lungs and maintains immunity.

Ayurveda, a state of health exists when the digestive fire (Agni) is in a balanced condition, the tridosha are in equilibrium and the three waste products (urine, faeces, and sweat) are produced at normal levels. The senses are then functionally normal and the body, mind and consciousness are harmoniously working as one. When the balance of any these systems is disturbed the disease process begins.