The notion of dosha is central in Ayurveda. What are they ? Why is this notion so fundamental ?
According to Ayurveda, the Universe was created by the 5 elements “mahabhutas” which are space/ether (akasha), air (vayu), fire (tejas), water (apa) and earth (prithvi).
The space would have been filled with air, the friction of the air would have created heat and thus the fire, the fire would have liquefied giving water and the water would have densified to form the earth.
These 5 elements make up all materials, so they are present everywhere, both in the world around us and in our bodies. Ayurveda believes that the microcosm of our body is only a reflection of the macrocosm of the universe.
Combined together, these elements form the doshas.
The elements ether and air form the Vata dosha which is the energy of movement.
The elements fire and water form the Pitta dosha which is the energy of transformation.
The elements water and earth form the Kapha dosha which is the energy of consolidation.
The word Dosha literally translates as “defect” which could also be translated as vital energy. These three energies are present in our body. When the doshas are in a state of balance, they help the body by participating in all of its functions. On the other hand, when they are in a state of imbalance, they favor the appearance of illness, hence the word “defect”.
These three doshas are present in each individual in varying proportions.
Prakriti in Ayurveda means our birth constitution, that is to say the dominant dosha(s) which were given to us at birth and which we will keep throughout our life. They determine our physical appearance, our character and our aspirations. We can either have a dominant dosha (single constitution), or have two dominant doshas (double constitution) or the three doshas in equal proportion (quite rare triple constitution).
→ Why is it important to know your prakriti ? This helps us to know and understand ourselves better. This allows us to have a lifestyle that suits us and allows us to stay balanced. Therefore, we will not recommend the same foods or the same physical activities to a Vata, Pitta or Kapha person. One can know this prakriti by consulting an Ayurveda practitioner.
This prakriti should not be confused with vikriti, the state of imbalance. This is one or more doshas which may become unbalanced during our lives due to our lifestyle, our activities, our environment, our diet, etc. This imbalance contributes to the appearance of the disease. In this case, Ayurveda has many tools to return this dosha to its initial state of balance.
→ Why is this important ? If a dosha is out of balance, it is essential to return it to a state of balance because it favors the onset of disease. To do this, it is advisable to consult an Ayurveda practitioner who will help you understand the origin of the imbalance and will support you in implementing an appropriate lifestyle.
Our digestion is also punctuated by the doshas. On average, digestion takes place in three hours divided into three phases, each corresponding to a dosha.
The first phase of digestion is a phase of assimilation of food which corresponds to Kapha and which takes place in the stomach.
The second phase corresponds to the transformation of food carried out by Pitta. Food is sorted and then transformed into nutrients in the small intestine.
The last phase is an evacuation phase carried out by Vata in the colon.
Each period of our life is also punctuated by one of the three doshas.
The beginning of our life until adolescence is a Kapha phase. This is the period during which the body is built and strengthened and we therefore need the elements earth and water to develop.
The period from adolescence to menopause/andropause is a Pitta phase. Pitta is the dosha responsible for our hormonal activity, with our hormones playing an important role in adulthood.
Finally, the last phase of life is dominated by Vata. This is the period of our life preceding death, little by little air and ether are more present in our body until the soul leaves the body.
The doshas will also have an influence on the time.
Classic texts distinguish six time slots :
2 a.m. to 6 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
} Each of these phases corresponds to one of the three doshas.
The Vata dosha is strongest between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The Kapha dosha is aggravated between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The Pitta dosha is worsened between 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. and between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
The exact time of these phases must be nuanced when you do not live in India. The Kapha phase starting at 6 a.m. corresponds to the time of sunrise and that starting at 6 p.m. is the time of sunset. However, if the sun does not rise at 6 a.m., which is the case in Europe depending on the season, it is then appropriate to adapt these times by starting the Kapha phase at the time of sunrise and at its to sleep.
→ Why is this important ? Knowing the link between the doshas and the time allows us to adapt our activities or the quantity of our meals. For example, lunch in Pitta time must be the most important meal of the day because Pitta, the energy of fire, is then at its maximum and will help us transform the meal.
It is also interesting to watch the time in case of illness. If we observe that a symptom appears during the same time slot, this allows us to know which dosha may be aggravated.
Doshas are also found in the weather and our seasons. Certain seasons, due to their characteristics, will contribute to the aggravation of certain doshas.
Indeed, summer is a period when temperatures are high. This heat increases the Pitta dosha, the energy of fire. It is said that Pitta will be aggravated because it will increase considerably. If the heat is humid heat, Pitta composed of both fire and water will be even more aggravated.
Autumn is a period when the days get shorter, temperatures drop and the cold begins to appear with windy episodes. These elements aggravate the Vata dosha composed of ether and air. Similarly, the Vata dosha is a dosha that increases in cold and dry conditions.
Winter prolongs autumn. Cold and negative temperatures continue to aggravate Vata. If the winter is cold and wet, then the Kapha dosha may be aggravated as well. The Kapha dosha is partly composed of water.
Finally, spring, a period when heat begins to reappear, is a season of worsening Kapha. The latter, having accumulated during the winter, is at its maximum in spring and will be liquefied by the heat.
→ Why is it important to understand the link between the seasons and the doshas ? The microcosm is the image of the macrocosm, this means that if we are in summer and the Pitta dosha is aggravated, it will also increase in our body. This is why it is important to have a lifestyle adapted to the season (diet, sport, activities, etc.) to prevent the dosha from worsening and becoming unbalanced.
Have you observed the influence of the doshas ? In your digestion ? In the period of your life ? In your environment ? Don’t hesitate to share your experience in the comments!
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