Dosha

The three doshas and the five great elements they are composed from

A dosha (Bioelements), according to Ayurveda, is one of three bodily Bioelements that make up one's constitution. These teachings are also known as the Tridosha theory. The three bioelements are always fluctuating in the body. They are highly unstable and changes with day and night, and with food.

The central concept of Ayurvedic medicine is the theory that health exists when there is a balance between three fundamental bodily bio-elements or doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

• Vāta or Vata (airy element). It is characterised by properties of dry, cold, light, minute, and movement. All movement in the body is due to property of vata. Pain is the characteristic feature of deranged vata. Some of the diseases due to vata is windy humour, flatulence, gout, rheumatism, etc.
• Pitta is the fiery element or bile that secreted between the stomach and bowels and flowing through the liver and permeating spleen, heart, eyes, and skin; It is characterised by hotness, moist, liquid, sharp and sour, its chief quality is heat. It is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and enhance metabolism. It is primarily characterised by body heat or burning sensation and redness
• Kapha is the watery element, it is characterised by heaviness, cold ,tenderness, softness, slowness, lubrication, and the carrier of nutrients. It is nourishing element of the body. All the soft organs are made by kapha, it plays an important role in taste perception, Joint nourishment and lubrication.

Ayurvedic doshas

Tridoshas are the three humors or forces of the body, which bring health when in balance, and produce diseases when out of balance. The three doshas are called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

The doshas ensure that all mahabhutas are held together and exert their functions in synergism for the optimum function of the human body. These are forces or energies that work through the body to maintain homeostasis. [2]

• Vata is the force that holds together Akasha and Vayu mahabhuta.
• Pitta is the force that holds together Agni and Jala mahabhuta.
• Kapha is the force that holds together Prithvi and Jala mahabhuta.

Vata

Vata makes sure that your body movements take place without obstructions. This includes absorption, cell ion exchange, nervous system conduction, all types of excretions, breathing and musculoskeletal functions.

Pitta

Pitta has an equally important role in keeping together two very opposite qualities of fire and water. Like an acid, which are fluids in their existential state, but burn. Pitta governs this principle in the body. It brings about transformation, acts as the heat energy, digests food at gross and cellular levels. It imparts warmth, vision and colour to the body.

Kapha

Kapha is the cohesive and lubricating force that holds together the opposing elements Jala and Prithvi. Imagine mixing stone and water. Kapha force makes the body stable, the structures well held with muscle, tendons, ligaments and fats. It also forms the protective coverings and fluid shock absorber for joints, brain (CSF) and spinal cord.