Tri-Dosh or Three Humors: Their attributes and effects
As per the Ayurvedic principles, each of us contains a unique mixture of three mind body principles that determine our specific mental and physical characteristics. These are called Doshas or humors, present in human body. According to ancient knowledge, every existing physical object is made of five basic elements i.e. earth, water, fire and ether and space. Human body is no exception. These elements come together to form these doshas. Combination of these elements is the basis of doshas. These doshas are Kaph (phlegm), Vat (wind) and Pitt (bile). Kaph is related to the water and earth, while Pitt is related to the fire and vat to the air or ether and earth.
Most of us have one or two doshas which are most prominent in our nature, with the remaining one or two less significant. Each of them represents different basic element and their prominence in human body determines the personality type of the person. Seven body types can be determined on the basis of the combination of the prominent presence of these three humors. People with the prominent presence of kaph, pitt or vat are considered respectively water, fire or air personalities.
Though very essential for human body, humors are waste product in body that should be flushed out from it. The mucus which is a form of kapha protects the sensitive tissues, but it must be expelled regularly by the body. Similarly with the bile, which is a form of pitta which works properly only when it is excreted into the gut and expelled from the body. And vata (air) which is released from the body as it causes other wastes to be released. .
Between three humors, vat is considered most important. Kaph and pitt do not have capacity to move in themselves; theis movement in body depends upon vat. Through the obtained force of vat, disordered humor brings ailment to the whole body, half of the body or any particular organ of the body. It is just as movement of air brings clouds to a particular spot and makes them rain there. This fact makes vat most prominent among these three. Apart from being free flowing in the body, vat is the cause of most dreadful and quick spreading diseases. Pitt is the fire that sustains the body. It makes pitt more important than kaph.
Even though humors are present in whole body at any given time of human life, with respect to age and day-night cycle, vat, pitt and kaph are found respectively in the end, middle and start. In human life span- in old age (end) vat disorder, in young age (middle) pitt disorder, and in childhood (start) kaph disorder are found. In the same manner, during end, middle and start of the day- night, wind-bile-phlegm disorders are found respectively. Governed by the same principle, in spite of their all pervading presence in human body, vat, pitt and kaph respectively originate in the lower parts of body, in the navel and heart, and in the chest area. Main residing places of vat in the body are considered waist, legs, bones and ears. Main residing places of pitt in the body are liver, sweat, saliva, blood, eyes, skin. Main residing places of kaph in the body are neck, head, fluid, fat, liver, nose, tongue, lungs, and knee joints.
In Ayurveda, physical characteristics of humors are also described. Vat is in its physical characteristics dry, cool, slender, subtle, moving, vast and sharp. Pitt is characteristically oily, warm, sharp, liquid, acidic, flowing and bitter. Characteristically kaph is heavy, cold, soft, smooth, sweet, static and smeary. When any two of three humors exceeds or decreases in their appropriate quantity and meet each other, it is called commixture or samsarg. In case all three humors commix in inappropriate quantity, it is called sannipat.
There are three states of humors- accumulation or chaya, disorder or prakopa and subsidence or prashaman. While residing in its own place, growth of a humor is called accumulation. In case accumulation is at some other place, the state is called disorder. When symptoms of disordered humor are shown, this state is considered ailment. Subsidence is the state in which humor is in its own place in equilibrium, without any growth or decay. In this situation, there is no ailment. Accumulation of all three humors is caused by different causes. In normal circumstances, subsidence of vat, pitt and kaph is accelerated respectively in autumn, winter and summer. Accumulation time of vat, pitt and kaph is summer, rain and winter and they tend to be in disorder in rain, autumn and spring respectively.
These doshas function differently in the state of equilibrium and in the state of deviation from the equilibrium. When in the state of equilibrium, vat helps in nurturing and sustaining the body through proper functioning of body systems like respiration, zeal, bodily efforts, and the functioning of receptors and excretory systems. When the presence of vat in the body is more than adequate, it manifests itself in the form of thin body, blackish skin, quivering, excessive feeling of cold, loss of consciousness, insomnia, weakness, digestive disorders, stiffness in the body, problems related to bone-marrow and receptors, mal-functioning of excretory system, problems in stomach, fearful and depressed mental state etcetera. On the contrary, when the presence of vat in the body is less than sufficient, its symptoms are nausea, dripping of saliva, loss of thinking and speaking capacity, reduction of physical activity, weakness, loss of interest in routine activities and dyspepsia.
Function of the pitt in the state of equilibrium is to help in nurturing and sustaining the body through digestion and maintaining sufficient warmth for this purpose, to generate the desire to consume, to balance the tendency of hunger and thirst, to keep the body glowing, to maintain the eye sight and to enhance the mental capacities like, bravery and comprehension. Excessive presence of pitt in the body is manifested as the yellowness in eyes, skin, and nails, weakness of the receptors, loss of strength, desire for burnt edibles, foul taste in the mouth, excessive thirst, insomnia and disproportionate anger, while inadequate presence of pitt in the body results in stiffness and prickling pain in the body, feeling of cold, dryness of skin, quivering, heaviness in the body, non-digestion of grain, whiteness in nails and eyes.
In the state of equilibrium, kaph provides toughness and flexibility to the body, maintains proper functioning of joints, and enhances sexual capacity, intellect, patience, general endurance, strength, containment and gentleness. Excessive presence of kaph in the body is shown as whitish complexion, bulky body and sloth, fainting, excessive sleep, respiration problems, low digestion, and stiffness of joints. Lack of this humor in the body produces illusion, stiffness of the body, insomnia, skin inflammation, burning in throat, loosening of the joints, palpitation, and the feeling of void in throat and heart region.
Ayurveda protects the health of a person and restores the health of an unhealthy person by balancing the presence of these three humors in the body by focusing on regulation of dietary habits, daily routines and by providing natural remedies.