Ayurvedic constitutions or 'doshas'

Ayurveda can be very empowering as we start to take more responsibility for our own health and state of mind. Through coming to know our own specific body type we can make food and lifestyle choices which are both balancing and life enhancing for us.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha

Put very simply- the Ayurvedic teaching tells us that the five elements of Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth manifest through our bodies as the three “doshas” (or energies) Vata, Pitta and Kapha. We each have our own mix or blueprint of these three energies. Most of us have a predominant dosha, which determines our body type, mind tendencies and temperament.

To balance any aggravated or excessive state (which according to its properties will cause specific diseases) we need to bring in the opposite and therefore balancing energy. For example: If there is excessive heat (as in Pitta excess) then we need to cool it down. We can use a variety of techniques: foods, herbs, walking in nature, gemstones etc.

Most of us are a combination of two or all three types, with one more predominant.

Vata

Vata is the lightest of the three, made up of ether and air. Someone with dominant vata energy tends to be creative, thin, dry, restless and tending to anxiety and nervousness when unbalanced.

Pitta

The Pitta constitution is fire with a little water. Pitta types have medium body size, with hot tendencies. Quick and strong, both physically and mentally, they tend towards impatience, anger and “hot” emotions when out of balance.

Kapha

Kapha is water and earth. People dominant in kapha tend to be stable, slow, compassionate, heavier and tending towards sluggishness and depression when out of balance.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha energies move throughout our bodies and produce both good and bad effects. The role of an Ayurvedic practitioner is to accurately assess the state of the energies and the effects they are having, and to counter the influence of those which are harmful.

Find more information about Ayurveda here

At Mullumbimby Herbals Jacinta offers Ayurvedic lifestyle support, Ayurvedic herbal medicines, individual Ayurvedic assessments and constitutional advice. Specific Ayurvedic treatments are also available from Jacinta, for those able to come to Mullumbimby. Contact us for more details

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