How to Balance Your Doshas with Ayurveda

Composed of the five elements of nature, the three doshas, vata (wind), pitta (biles), and kapha (phlegm) are responsible for smooth functioning of the body. For a healthy lifestyle, it is necessary to balance your doshas. Here is an overview about what are doshas and ways to balance the same.

Vata dosha, composed of air and space elements, is majorly responsible for regulating the nervous system, respiratory system, pulse rate, speech, eliminates feces, urine and sweat. Imbalance of vata can lead to rheumatism, constipation, anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia. Prolonged untreated vata can eventually trigger pitta and kapha imbalance.

Pitta dosha, composed of fire and water elements, regulates the digestive system, appetite, endocrine system, thermogenesis, and enhances the physical appearance and vision. It is responsible for generation and functioning of red blood cells. Its imbalance can cause acid reflux, heartburns, acne, excessive sweating, diarrhea, low blood sugar and meningitis.

Kapha dosha, composed of water and earth elements, commands the arterial system, facilitates the functions of the body, providing lubrication through phlegm. Imbalanced kapha can make one lethargic, obese and can induce conditions like sinusitis that can eventually lead to asthma.

Chyawanprash, a jam like superfood with its 35 herbal ingredients like Amla (Indian gooseberry), Ashwagandha, honey, ginger, Shatavari, long pepper, neem leaves and Bacopa leaves is known to regulate the levels of vata, pitta and kapha in the body. It is recommended to have a tablespoon of Chyawanprash daily for definite results.

• For vata: Ashwagandha and ginger, consisting of natural steriods like withanoloids and alkoloids enhance the immune response, improve memory, relieve stress and prevent neurodegeneration.
• For pitta: Shatavari and Bacopa prove to calm your body and mind.
• For kapha: Long pepper and holy basil clear congestion from the respiratory system.

• People with pitta and vata must have melons, limes, grapes, pears, cherries, berries, pineapple, avocado and beetroot.
• Those with kapha and pitta must have peaches, cucumber, carrots, pumpkin, okra, artichokes, kale, mushrooms and legumes like kidney beans and soybeans.

Tip: Avoid spicy, fried, salty, fermented foods, caffeine and alcohol intake.

Regular intake of Shatavari (asparagus racemosus) churna (powder), Ashwagandha churna, triphala churna and Brahmi (Bacopa), nourishes the tissues of the body. Pair these herbs with ½ or ¼ teaspoon of ghee, honey or a glass of warm milk for smooth functioning of the body.

• Having Brahmi tea or Brahmi syrup with water stabilizes vata and pitta, thus, reduces stress and anxiety, boosts memory, concentration, improves physical and emotional health.
• Shatavari, helps treat constipation (vata dosha), indigestion (pitta dosha) and reduces bloating (kapha dosha), thus, balances all the three doshas.

Yoga enhances vitality while meditation calms, relaxes the body and mind, thus, improves your overall health. It also helps to boost your memory and concentration.

• Walking barefoot on grass, tadasana (mountain pose), shavasana (corpse pose) and utrasana (camel pose), improves flexibility of the spine (maintains posture) and sacroiliac joint and regulates small intestine, thus, balancing both vata and kapha dosha.

Remember:

• Practicing yoga for just 20-30 minutes daily (preferably in the morning) will give you definite results.
• Yoga and meditation enables a peaceful sleep pattern that makes you feel fresh after you wake up.

• Peaceful sleep supports the respiratory system, clears sinusitis and regulates blood circulation, thus, balancing vata.
• Enough amount of sleep improves metabolism, digestive system, immune system and reduces inflammation, hence, pacifies pitta.
• Good quality of sleep provides sufficient lubrication to the joints, thereby stabilizing kapha.

All of these doshas are interconnected, so, imbalance in either can hamper the functioning of the other two. Similarly, balance in one dosha helps pacify the other two doshas.

Robert Svoboda, in his book Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity, rightly said, ‘The three doshas enable the spiritual and mental planes of existence to express themselves through the physical body’. Thus, balancing doshas leads to a healthy living.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for entertainment and reference purposes only, and is not meant to serve as actual medical information. For advice about any of the illnesses listed, please visit a qualified physician.