Category: Ayurveda
Hi Beautiful and Peaceful Souls,
When I decided to read the Ashtanga Hridyam, I came to know that before reading this, there is a need to understand the basic principles of Ayurveda i.e., Doshas. Tridosha theory (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) are"Heart" of Ayurveda. During my childhood, my grand mother told us to not eat too much mango in summers, as it will increase pitta. She also used to tell us that kapha is settled in her chest and had pain in her body because of bai (gas). So, when I started reading about Dosha, I came to know that our ancestors had basic knowledge of Dosha and thus they used to eat and behave according to specific time of day and season. For example, she always denies us to eat rice, curd and banana at night. She avoids eating curd and recipes of curd (kadi) during shravan month. She always adds carom seeds in food for lunch. Now, I realized that all these things are related to Doshas. It means, our ancestors were partial doctors. I am not an Ayurvedic Doctor but has done doctorate in Science, so try to put efforts in understanding the scientific basis of Doshas. So, the given information should be considered as discussion only and not a reference.......
Before discussing anything, I want to share one thing, I have seen on various social media platforms people say that we read basics of Ayurveda and follow our diet according to ones prakriti. Although it is good to know our ancient beliefs and follow them as explained in Ayurveda but it is not advisable to follow anything without proper understanding. If you are not a professional in Ayurveda you tend to miss the real picture of our body. So, before staring anything I would advise to consult your Ayurvedic doctor to avoid any complications. Now, Lets come to the point.......
According to Ayurveda, each person is made up of five elements of nature (Panchmahabhutas) i.e., Earth (Prithvi), Air (Vayu), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), and Space (Akasha). Each person has unique balance of these five elements in varying degrees. This unique balance of elements is known as Doshas. Space represents state of void; Air represents state of gas; Fire represents state of energy; Water represents state of liquid and Earth represents state of solid (4). So, unique combination of 5 elements in varying degrees is known as Doshas.
Vata: is made up of air (state of gas) and ether (state of void) elements. Thus, Vata is representative of dry air in body. It performs its functions due to its cold and dry nature. We know that air needs space to move and space is given by ether element only. Our entire body is made up of spaces, including space inside and outside cells. This refers to ether element and provides pathway for air element. All other elements of body pitta (hot liquid), kapha (semi-solid substance) and excreta move around body with the help of Vata (dry air). According to Ashtanga Hridyam, Vata locates below the navel (5). It is considered as leader of three basics principles/functions in body. It is related to mobility, movement of energy, cell division and any kind of movement in cell, tissue, organs, organs system and organism. It regulates all activities of body physical, mental and physiological e.g., movement of nutrients to cellular level and excretion, distribution of energy, endocrine functions, breathing, blinking of eyes, heart beating, blood and other body fluids flow, movement of joints and thoughts and many more (3). So, the set of all these functions are controlled by Vata Dosha. Behavior of these activities decides the Prakriti of a person. For example, every human being blinks his eyes but some of them blink more frequently while some blink less frequently and others seldom blink. This happens due to difference in vata component in different individuals.
Pitta: is representative of fire (state of energy) and sun in body. It is made up of fire and water (state of liquid) elements. Thus, It represents hot water (bile) in body. It performs its functions due to hot nature. According to Ashtanag Hridyam, it locates between navel and heart (5). It represents transformation. It regulates digestion, absorption, assimilation, metabolism, appetite, body temperature, skin color, eye's luster, intelligence, emotions, determination, will power, and many more (3). All these functions are controlled by Pitta Dosha. The behavior of these activities will decide prakriti of a person. For example every human being digests food as an activity of Pitta Dosha. However, some people digest it quickly than others who have a moderate to slow digestion .
Kapha: is representative of water or moon in body. It is made up of earth (state of solid) and water (state of liquid) elements. Thus, it represents cold or semi-solid or cementing substance (mucus) in body. It renders its function through its cold and unctuous nature. This holds cells together and helps in formation of tissues, organs and organ systems and provide lubrication too. It provides growth, strength and immunity to body. According to Ashatanga Hridyam, it locates above heart (3, 5). It regulates structure, immunity and lubrication in body. So, these functions are controlled by Kapha Dosha (3). For example, every individual responds differently to diseases and pathogens. Some have a very strong immunity while others fall ill easily due to weak immunity and there are others who are intermediate of two extremes.
Thus, all human beings possess all three Doshas, but there is dominance of one Dosha which results in a specific prakriti. Prakriti (Human Constitution) is sum total of morphological, physiological and psychological traits in human being. It is decided at the time of conception in intra-uterine life according to predominance of Dosha and can never be changed throughout life (1).
According to Ashtanga Hridyam, if these three Doshas are balanced in state, they provide health but if they are unbalanced then it can ruin our health. If the proportion of Doshas in current state is close to our birth constitution, then our health will be vibrant. So, all three Doshas are present in their natural proportions referred as equilibrium or balanced in state. A divergence between these states, indicate state of imbalance.
Vikruti is used to describe this imbalanced deviation away from prakruti. A particular Dosha is present in greater than normal proportion referred as aggravated and excess or increased state. A particular Dosha is present in less than normal proportion referred as reduced or depleted or decreased state. Of the above discussed states, the increase or aggravated state leads to greater number of imbalances. Imbalances are influenced by many factors, such as diet, lifestyle, external environment, mental states. We are most susceptible to imbalances related to our predominant Dosha. Suppose, I have pitta dominance, so if I will eat spicy food (pitta aggravating food), leads to heartburn (Pitta disorder). Thus, there is need to eat food which are not pitta aggravating (cooling and alkaline food) for me. Therefore, the key is to remember that opposite create balance (8).
According to Ashtanga Hridyam, different Doshas differ in dominance as below:
1. Stages of life: Old age: Vata
Young age: Pitta
Childhood: Kapha
2.Time of day: 2 p.m-6 p.m: Vata
2 a.m-6 a.m: Vata
10 a.m-2 p.m: Pitta
10 p.m-2 a.m: Pitta
6 a.m-10 a.m: Kapha
6 p.m-10 p.m: Kapha
3. Stages of Digestion: Last stage of digestion: Vata
Middle stage of digestion: Pitta
First stage of digestion: Kapha
Till now, I understood that unique combination of five elements are responsible for specific Doshas. These Doshas are responsible to carry out specific sets of functions/activities of body. The behavior of specific sets of functions/activities are responsible for the formation of specific prakriti. Thus, these five elements of nature should be balanced in body to remain healthy. We should definitely spend time in nature to balance them.
Now, try to understand Doshas by relating them with modern science. I have tried a part of it in my previous blog https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/07/ayurveda-protector-and-healer-of-human.html. Each person has its unique genetic constitution. The physical, mental and physiological characteristics of each individual are based on the quantity and quality of products (proteins) formed by the expression of these genes. This genetic system is constituted by gaining half of the genes from father and half from mother at the time of conception.
We have 46 number of chromosomes (total DNA) which carry genes. The expression of these genes is responsible for all the functions of body. Out of 46, 22 pair of chromosomes are responsible for all the functions of body and are diploid (Present in pairs) while 23rd pair of chromosome is responsible for reproduction. This pair is designated as XY in cells of men and XX in cells of women. These chromosomes are responsible for formation of germ cells, with X chromosome in women and X and Y chromosomes in men, which helps in reproduction. Thus, germ cells are haploid i.e., 22 number of somatic chromosomes plus 23rd chromosome (23 number of chromosomes). For example, ovum (female reproductive cell) has X chromosome and sperm (male reproductive cell) has either X or Y chromosome along with 22 somatic chromosomes. At the time of conception, sperm cell carrying either X chromosome or Y chromosome unite with ovum cell carrying X chromosomes. So, 22 number of chromosomes with either X or Y chromosomes of sperm cells enter in the uterus and unite with 23 number of chromosomes of ovum cell of women. The zygote created after fertilization is therefore diploid and contain either a XY (male child) or XX (female child) chromosomes. Therefore, genetic system of child will depend on half DNA (23 chromosomes) from mother's ovum and half DNA (23 chromosomes) from father's sperm.
In a similar way, embryo gets its share of these Doshas from sperm of father and ovum of mother. Dosha forms constitution of an individual (Prakriti) which will be part of child till its last breathe (2). Doshas form the functional components of body. In state of balance, Doshas are responsible for all functions of body (2). All the functions of cells, tissues, organs, organs system and organisms are controlled by Doshas. e.g., functions of cell membrane, muscles contraction, respiration, digestion, movement of joints, body physique, thought process, behavior and many more.
As mentioned above, the person's physique, psyche, and physiology depends on the formation of the quality and quantity of the product (proteins) by the expression of a single or clusters of genes. So, here we can say that variation in gene expression is responsible for difference in prakriti or Doshas of a population of same race. Many scientific reports have shown the relation of Prakriti and genes. In one research, it was observed that there is variation in the CYP2C19 loci, a gene encoding for drug metabolizing enzymes with persons of different Dosha (prakriti). Person having Pitta prakriti or Pitta Dosha dominance are fast drug metabolisers while others of kapha prakriti or Kapha Dosha dominance are slow drug metabolisers. It means, the variations in CYP2C19 gene expression influences the way of metabolizing the drug by person of different prakriti of same population.
Doshas can be related to the products of housekeeping genes in body. These are the genes which are responsible for basic functions of body and other functions of body are dependent on them. Similarly, Doshas (movement of energy; Vata, bile; Pitta and mucus; Kapha) are the products of some set of genes and are responsible for other functions of body. These set of genes expressed products (Doshas) in all human beings but variation in them results in different quality and quantity of products (Doshas) and leads to different prakriti in same population. For example, a gene responsible for bile (Pitta) is expressed in all human beings but the difference in quality and quantity of bile due to variations in this gene in different human beings of same population results in dominance of particular Doshas and Prakriti. Pitta Prakriti has good digestive system, according to Ayurveda, than kapha and Vata Prakriti. It means, the set of genes responsible of digestion are expressed in greater quantity in people of pitta than Vata and kapha prakriti. Also there may be variations in these genes in people of different prakriti due to which the quality of product of these genes differs. This may be the reason that Pitta has good digestion than Vata and Kapha Prakriti. This is my interpretation of how doshas can be related to genetics. This of course needs a lot of scientific research to conclude anything.
Friends, this is how I have understood Doshas with the help of references take from some scientific research papers and some renowned websites which are driven by Ayurvedic doctors. This gathered information really helped me to understand if there is any reference of vata in Ashtanga Hridyam then I can easily understand the context of it. This really helps me to understand the basic rules of Ayurveda i.e., food and behavior should be in line with different times of day and seasons. Slowly we will learn together about them from the treasure of Ashtanga Hridyam.
Hope, this blog gives an idea of Doshas to you people.
Take Care all of you,
Your's Well wisher
Purnima Ghai
References:
1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292144132_GENOMIC_CONCEPT_OF_Prakriti_HUMAN_CONSTITUTION_AN_AYURVEDIC_ACUMEN
2.https://www.easyayurveda.com/2019/02/23/tridosha-ayurveda/
3.https://www.ayush.com/what-is-your-dosha
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2876924/
5.https://www.easyayurveda.com/2019/01/11/doshas-pancha-mahabhuta/
6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3336287/pdf/ASL-29-6.pdf
7. Ashtanga Hridyam Book
8.http://www.eattasteheal.com/ayurveda101/eth_bodytypes.htm
Other Accounts:
1.https://in.pinterest.com/bhoomiphd83/
2. https://www.instagram.com/
3. https://twitter.com/explore
According to Ayurveda, each person is made up of five elements of nature (Panchmahabhutas) i.e., Earth (Prithvi), Air (Vayu), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), and Space (Akasha). Each person has unique balance of these five elements in varying degrees. This unique balance of elements is known as Doshas. Space represents state of void; Air represents state of gas; Fire represents state of energy; Water represents state of liquid and Earth represents state of solid (4). So, unique combination of 5 elements in varying degrees is known as Doshas.
Vata: is made up of air (state of gas) and ether (state of void) elements. Thus, Vata is representative of dry air in body. It performs its functions due to its cold and dry nature. We know that air needs space to move and space is given by ether element only. Our entire body is made up of spaces, including space inside and outside cells. This refers to ether element and provides pathway for air element. All other elements of body pitta (hot liquid), kapha (semi-solid substance) and excreta move around body with the help of Vata (dry air). According to Ashtanga Hridyam, Vata locates below the navel (5). It is considered as leader of three basics principles/functions in body. It is related to mobility, movement of energy, cell division and any kind of movement in cell, tissue, organs, organs system and organism. It regulates all activities of body physical, mental and physiological e.g., movement of nutrients to cellular level and excretion, distribution of energy, endocrine functions, breathing, blinking of eyes, heart beating, blood and other body fluids flow, movement of joints and thoughts and many more (3). So, the set of all these functions are controlled by Vata Dosha. Behavior of these activities decides the Prakriti of a person. For example, every human being blinks his eyes but some of them blink more frequently while some blink less frequently and others seldom blink. This happens due to difference in vata component in different individuals.
Pitta: is representative of fire (state of energy) and sun in body. It is made up of fire and water (state of liquid) elements. Thus, It represents hot water (bile) in body. It performs its functions due to hot nature. According to Ashtanag Hridyam, it locates between navel and heart (5). It represents transformation. It regulates digestion, absorption, assimilation, metabolism, appetite, body temperature, skin color, eye's luster, intelligence, emotions, determination, will power, and many more (3). All these functions are controlled by Pitta Dosha. The behavior of these activities will decide prakriti of a person. For example every human being digests food as an activity of Pitta Dosha. However, some people digest it quickly than others who have a moderate to slow digestion .
Kapha: is representative of water or moon in body. It is made up of earth (state of solid) and water (state of liquid) elements. Thus, it represents cold or semi-solid or cementing substance (mucus) in body. It renders its function through its cold and unctuous nature. This holds cells together and helps in formation of tissues, organs and organ systems and provide lubrication too. It provides growth, strength and immunity to body. According to Ashatanga Hridyam, it locates above heart (3, 5). It regulates structure, immunity and lubrication in body. So, these functions are controlled by Kapha Dosha (3). For example, every individual responds differently to diseases and pathogens. Some have a very strong immunity while others fall ill easily due to weak immunity and there are others who are intermediate of two extremes.
According to Ashtanga Hridyam, if these three Doshas are balanced in state, they provide health but if they are unbalanced then it can ruin our health. If the proportion of Doshas in current state is close to our birth constitution, then our health will be vibrant. So, all three Doshas are present in their natural proportions referred as equilibrium or balanced in state. A divergence between these states, indicate state of imbalance.
Vikruti is used to describe this imbalanced deviation away from prakruti. A particular Dosha is present in greater than normal proportion referred as aggravated and excess or increased state. A particular Dosha is present in less than normal proportion referred as reduced or depleted or decreased state. Of the above discussed states, the increase or aggravated state leads to greater number of imbalances. Imbalances are influenced by many factors, such as diet, lifestyle, external environment, mental states. We are most susceptible to imbalances related to our predominant Dosha. Suppose, I have pitta dominance, so if I will eat spicy food (pitta aggravating food), leads to heartburn (Pitta disorder). Thus, there is need to eat food which are not pitta aggravating (cooling and alkaline food) for me. Therefore, the key is to remember that opposite create balance (8).
According to Ashtanga Hridyam, different Doshas differ in dominance as below:
1. Stages of life: Old age: Vata
Young age: Pitta
Childhood: Kapha
2.Time of day: 2 p.m-6 p.m: Vata
2 a.m-6 a.m: Vata
10 a.m-2 p.m: Pitta
10 p.m-2 a.m: Pitta
6 a.m-10 a.m: Kapha
6 p.m-10 p.m: Kapha
3. Stages of Digestion: Last stage of digestion: Vata
Middle stage of digestion: Pitta
First stage of digestion: Kapha
Till now, I understood that unique combination of five elements are responsible for specific Doshas. These Doshas are responsible to carry out specific sets of functions/activities of body. The behavior of specific sets of functions/activities are responsible for the formation of specific prakriti. Thus, these five elements of nature should be balanced in body to remain healthy. We should definitely spend time in nature to balance them.
Now, try to understand Doshas by relating them with modern science. I have tried a part of it in my previous blog https://thepureknowledge.blogspot.com/2020/07/ayurveda-protector-and-healer-of-human.html. Each person has its unique genetic constitution. The physical, mental and physiological characteristics of each individual are based on the quantity and quality of products (proteins) formed by the expression of these genes. This genetic system is constituted by gaining half of the genes from father and half from mother at the time of conception.
We have 46 number of chromosomes (total DNA) which carry genes. The expression of these genes is responsible for all the functions of body. Out of 46, 22 pair of chromosomes are responsible for all the functions of body and are diploid (Present in pairs) while 23rd pair of chromosome is responsible for reproduction. This pair is designated as XY in cells of men and XX in cells of women. These chromosomes are responsible for formation of germ cells, with X chromosome in women and X and Y chromosomes in men, which helps in reproduction. Thus, germ cells are haploid i.e., 22 number of somatic chromosomes plus 23rd chromosome (23 number of chromosomes). For example, ovum (female reproductive cell) has X chromosome and sperm (male reproductive cell) has either X or Y chromosome along with 22 somatic chromosomes. At the time of conception, sperm cell carrying either X chromosome or Y chromosome unite with ovum cell carrying X chromosomes. So, 22 number of chromosomes with either X or Y chromosomes of sperm cells enter in the uterus and unite with 23 number of chromosomes of ovum cell of women. The zygote created after fertilization is therefore diploid and contain either a XY (male child) or XX (female child) chromosomes. Therefore, genetic system of child will depend on half DNA (23 chromosomes) from mother's ovum and half DNA (23 chromosomes) from father's sperm.
In a similar way, embryo gets its share of these Doshas from sperm of father and ovum of mother. Dosha forms constitution of an individual (Prakriti) which will be part of child till its last breathe (2). Doshas form the functional components of body. In state of balance, Doshas are responsible for all functions of body (2). All the functions of cells, tissues, organs, organs system and organisms are controlled by Doshas. e.g., functions of cell membrane, muscles contraction, respiration, digestion, movement of joints, body physique, thought process, behavior and many more.
As mentioned above, the person's physique, psyche, and physiology depends on the formation of the quality and quantity of the product (proteins) by the expression of a single or clusters of genes. So, here we can say that variation in gene expression is responsible for difference in prakriti or Doshas of a population of same race. Many scientific reports have shown the relation of Prakriti and genes. In one research, it was observed that there is variation in the CYP2C19 loci, a gene encoding for drug metabolizing enzymes with persons of different Dosha (prakriti). Person having Pitta prakriti or Pitta Dosha dominance are fast drug metabolisers while others of kapha prakriti or Kapha Dosha dominance are slow drug metabolisers. It means, the variations in CYP2C19 gene expression influences the way of metabolizing the drug by person of different prakriti of same population.
Doshas can be related to the products of housekeeping genes in body. These are the genes which are responsible for basic functions of body and other functions of body are dependent on them. Similarly, Doshas (movement of energy; Vata, bile; Pitta and mucus; Kapha) are the products of some set of genes and are responsible for other functions of body. These set of genes expressed products (Doshas) in all human beings but variation in them results in different quality and quantity of products (Doshas) and leads to different prakriti in same population. For example, a gene responsible for bile (Pitta) is expressed in all human beings but the difference in quality and quantity of bile due to variations in this gene in different human beings of same population results in dominance of particular Doshas and Prakriti. Pitta Prakriti has good digestive system, according to Ayurveda, than kapha and Vata Prakriti. It means, the set of genes responsible of digestion are expressed in greater quantity in people of pitta than Vata and kapha prakriti. Also there may be variations in these genes in people of different prakriti due to which the quality of product of these genes differs. This may be the reason that Pitta has good digestion than Vata and Kapha Prakriti. This is my interpretation of how doshas can be related to genetics. This of course needs a lot of scientific research to conclude anything.
Friends, this is how I have understood Doshas with the help of references take from some scientific research papers and some renowned websites which are driven by Ayurvedic doctors. This gathered information really helped me to understand if there is any reference of vata in Ashtanga Hridyam then I can easily understand the context of it. This really helps me to understand the basic rules of Ayurveda i.e., food and behavior should be in line with different times of day and seasons. Slowly we will learn together about them from the treasure of Ashtanga Hridyam.
Hope, this blog gives an idea of Doshas to you people.
Take Care all of you,
Your's Well wisher
Purnima Ghai
References:
1.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292144132_GENOMIC_CONCEPT_OF_Prakriti_HUMAN_CONSTITUTION_AN_AYURVEDIC_ACUMEN
2.https://www.easyayurveda.com/2019/02/23/tridosha-ayurveda/
3.https://www.ayush.com/what-is-your-dosha
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2876924/
5.https://www.easyayurveda.com/2019/01/11/doshas-pancha-mahabhuta/
6.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3336287/pdf/ASL-29-6.pdf
7. Ashtanga Hridyam Book
8.http://www.eattasteheal.com/ayurveda101/eth_bodytypes.htm
Other Accounts:
1.https://in.pinterest.com/bhoomiphd83/
2. https://www.instagram.com/
3. https://twitter.com/explore
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