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doshas

Doshas are central concepts in Ayurveda, the traditional system of medicine from the Indian subcontinent. They are described as three functional bioenergetic forces that govern physiological and psychological processes. Unlike physical substances, doshas are dynamic principles that arise from the five elements and are present in every individual as a unique constitutional pattern called prakriti. The doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, each associated with particular combinations of elements and with broad patterns of function and temperament.

Vata, primarily composed of ether and air, governs movement, nerve activity, and communication; Pitta, composed of

Imbalances can be influenced by diet, lifestyle, seasonal changes, age, and emotional factors. Diagnosis in Ayurveda

fire
and
water,
governs
metabolism,
digestion,
and
transformation;
Kapha,
composed
of
earth
and
water,
governs
structure,
lubrication,
and
stability.
They
are
described
with
certain
qualities:
Vata
is
light,
mobile,
and
dry;
Pitta
is
hot,
sharp,
and
intense;
Kapha
is
heavy,
slow,
and
cohesive.
In
health,
the
doshas
exist
in
balance
in
a
person’s
body
and
mind;
illness
is
thought
to
result
from
an
imbalance
(vikruti)
among
them.
involves
reading
signs
such
as
pulse,
tongue,
voice,
and
symptoms,
and
considering
a
person’s
prakriti
and
current
vikriti.
Treatment
focuses
on
restoring
balance
through
diet
and
daily
routines
(ahaar
and
dinacharya),
personalized
herbs
and
minerals
(dravyas),
and,
in
some
cases,
cleansing
therapies
(panchakarma).
Modern
discussions
of
doshas
often
use
the
framework
for
wellness
and
personal
health
planning,
while
not
substituting
conventional
medical
care.