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Enlightenment Journal | Spring 2013

Introduction to Ayurveda:

B

ody/Mind Constitution & Functions of the Doshas

by Cynthia Ambika Copple

"Awareness is the healer. When we listen to our body,  

we remove the obstacles and allow our natural intelligence to  

restore us to our natural balance."

A

yurveda, the original holistic system of health and rejuvenation, originated 

10,000 years ago in the ancient Sanskrit Vedas of india, and is still practiced 

there today. it has been traditionally used to promote wellness and restore 

health, and especially to increase energy; improve digestion and elimination; take 

charge of one’s life and health; detoxify and cleanse; and  rejuvenate the immune system.

The body heals itself. The Ayurvedic system works to correct the underlying imbal-

ances that block the body's own natural healing processes. Ayurveda teaches how 

disease develops through an imbalance in the many forces constantly at play internally 

(thoughts, feelings, emotions) and externally (the changing environment, diet, weather, 

seasons, stresses). The dynamic equilibrium of these forces in an individual is his or her 

unique constitution, and illness is seen as any variance from the individual's constitu-

tional balance. The following information is an introduction to the Ayurvedic system of 

identifying three primary doshas or elements—vata, pitta, and kapha—that make up an 

individual’s body-mind constitution. 

Vata:

 

in the body/mind, Vata is the force behind all movement, oxygenation, catabo-

lism, the movement and change that result from the breakdown of matter into energy. 

The seat of Vata is the colon; it's responsible for the action of the nervous system.

if your primary nature is Vata, you have a lean and thin body structure, like to move 

and be active, like change, are creative, talkative, spontaneous and tend to irregular 

eating and sleeping habits. When out of balance, you may experience constipation, 

spacieness, aches and pains, fear and anxiety. imbalances associated with Vata primarily 

are arthritis, brittle bones, asthma, gas, pain, accidents, and Alzheimer's.

Pitta:

 

Pitta is the force behind all transformative processes, including metabolism, and 

digestion. Heat, energy, acidity are the byproduct of Pitta processes.

if your primary nature is Pitta, you have a sharp intelligence, strong will-power, have 

strong “gut feelings,” and sharp hunger. You are a good organizer, and may have issues 

of control. When Pitta is out of balance, you may experience a tendency to anger and 

irritability, have a tendency to have acid indigestion or loose bowels. imbalances associ-

ated with Pitta primarily are skin, heart, blood, liver problems, and acid indigestion.

Kapha:

 

Kapha is the force behind the process of liquefaction and solidification;  

all secretions and form are the byproduct of Kapha processes. it is anabolic,  

storing energy in matter.