Tridosas

 2.2 Tridosas

2.2.1 Vata 

Vata literally means “air.” The description of vata in Ayurveda includes the following: dry, cold, light, penetrating, mobile, transparent, and rough-like air and responsible for all 

TABLE 2.1 

Classification of Vata 

kinds of movements in the body, speed, impulse, and odor. Vata is a part of every cell; however, the major sites of vata are believed to be the colon, lower back, calf muscle, ear, bones, and joints. Some organs of the body also have a higher level of vata biofactor than other organs, such as the brain, spinal cord, autonomic nervous systems, and motor and sensory systems. Vata biofactor is responsible for functions of the central, autonomic, and peripheral nervous systems. Vata controls the respiratory, blood, lymphatic, excretory, and reproductive systems, as well as all types of movements. It is also responsible for the cognitive and neocognitive function of the brain, and secretion of various chemical neu- rotransmitters and hormones. This description of vata resembles the functions of central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. The following six main chakras (extrasensory channels) of vata correspond to modern autonomic nervous system plexuses, further substantiating that vata, in fact, resembles the nervous system: 

1. Agya chakra – nasociliary extension of the cavernous plexus of the sympathetic nervous system 

2. Vishuddha chakra – pharyngeal plexus of the sympathetic nervous system 

3. Anahat chakra – cardiac plexus of the sympathetic nervous system 

4. Manipur chakra – plexus of the cholinergic 

5. Swadhistan chakra – hypogastric plexus 

6. Muladhar chakra – pelvic plexus 

Among tridosas, vata is more critical because it controls pitta and kapha in order to accomplish various physiological functions. Vata is classified into five types based on the organ site and function as shown in Table 2.1. 

Classification of Pitta 

2.2.2 Pitta 

Symptoms of Deranged Pitta

Burning sensation in the stomach, redness, digestive system disturbances, excessive sweating, fainting, symptoms of intoxication, pungent and sour taste, and inability to see white and dark red color 

The second dosa is pitta, which indicates agni (fire, heat energy), and the description in Ayurvedic texts includes heat, sharpness, sourness, and moisture. It is responsible for appetite, thirst, digestion, metabolism, body heat, normal eyesight, softness of the body, luster, mental calmness, and intelligence. This description of pitta resembles that of digestion, metabolism, oxidation, conjugation, reduction, phosphorylation, enzymes, and hor- mones. Although pitta is present in every cell in the body, it is classified based on five major anatomical locations shown in Table 2.2. Although pitta, like vata, exists in every cell of the body, the major sites of pitta are believed to be the stomach, duodenum, liver, spleen, pancreas, heart, eyes, and skin. 

2.2.3 Kapha 

The third dosa is kapha, which is described in Ayurveda as moist, steady, cool, heavy, soft, and slimy materials. Kapha is responsible for the normal body moisture, stability of the joints, firmness of the body, a proportionate bulk, weight, strength, endurance, and courage. The description of kapha resembles those of the lymphatic system, immune system, body fat, and mucous and mucoid systems. Kapha balances pitta in functions by providing basic materials for conversion into body tissues by enzymes, a kind of biochemical feed- back mechanism. Pitta generates heat from the enzymatic activities, while kapha provides ways to eliminate the heat through the skin, lungs, urine, and feces via fat and moisture. 

Although kapha is basically the same in all cells of the body, it is classified into five types based on location and functions as shown in Table 2.3. Again, like vata and pitta, kapha is present in every cell of the body and its major sites are believed to be the chest, stomach, brain, tongue, and synovial membrane of bone joints. 

Soure: Lakshmi chandra Mishra, scientific Basis for Ayurvedic Therapies; 2004 by CRC Press LLC