Know Your Dosha

Ayurveda is one of the oldest medical practices in the world. Born over 5,000 years ago, Ayurveda is so much more than medicine – it is a science of life. The Sanskrit term Ayurveda translates to ‘knowledge of life’, and the principles of this ancient wisdom tell us that the entire web of life is connected. Ayurveda doesn’t just emphasize total wellness, harmonizing our internal and external worlds, it addresses all aspects of life, from birth to death to our infinite connection with eternal Spirit.

For the purpose of this article, I want to introduce the Ayurvedic doshas and provide you a free resource so you can determine yours, along with examples of how this knowledge can improve your health and wellbeing.   

Just like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda is grounded in understanding the energetic principles of life. For more information on how energy plays a role in your physical makeup and therefore health, read my article, “The Science (And Common Sense) Of Acupuncture.”

The three doshas are the building blocks of life, biological energies expressed throughout the human body and mind. These energies define our individual makeup, governing all physical, mental, and emotional processes. How the doshas appear, and in what proportion, creates each person’s unique constitution, offering infinite possibilities in how each of us manifests in our lives. Because the doshas provide every living creature with a unique blueprint for health, understanding your dosha makeup can help you live a healthier, more balanced life. 

The three doshas are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. They are derived from the Five Elements found in all living things – ether, air, fire, water, and earth. Vata is composed of Space and Air, Pitta of Fire and Water, and Kapha of Earth and Water. 

Also similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the principles of Ayurvedic medicine look at whether these energies are excessive or deficient, causing imbalances that lead to disease. Treatment and prevention – as you might guess – addresses restoration of energetic balance to improve overall wellbeing. 

In Ayurveda, there are six stages of disease. The first manifests as energetic imbalance and the final produces actual symptoms or disease. Western medicine intervenes at the last stage, treating disease with medication or modalities such as surgery, which often fail to address the actual cause of disease. 

Why wait till the final stage of disease when you can be more proactive, diagnosing and treating imbalances at their origin? This is what Eastern medicine does, and why despite all the modern day knowledge Western medical research has provided, the ancient practices have persisted.

So how do you begin to understand your dosha type, and how do you use that information to begin healing yourself? One of the reasons I love Ayurveda is because so much of it can be done on your own. I highly encourage you to work with a practitioner, but if things such as cost and time are preventing you from doing so, or you are curious but not ready to fully invest, learn your dosha type and start researching what habits benefit – and harm – your specific energetic makeup.

To learn your dosha makeup you can take a free test online. There are several but I like Dr. Deepak Chopra’s, an Ayurvedic expert who is also a western trained medical doctor. Click here to access his free test.

In addition to Dr. Chopra’s site, there is a plethora of information on Ayurveda. If you desire to know more, check the reference section below. I also found this interview with an expert, Dr. Vasant Lad, quite helpful. In addition to the websites below, I strongly recommend following modern day Ayurveda guru Sahara Rose on Instagram (@iamsahararose). Don’t do social media? Check out her website or purchase her book, Ayurveda (Idiot’s Guide). Lastly, I recommend this article, an interview between experts Sahara Rose and Dr. Deepak Chopra on the future of Ayurveda.

I will end with some examples of how I use dosha knowledge to address my health issues and improve my wellbeing. I am as Vata as they come, as my energetic makeup is more than 80% of this space and air dominated dosha. As described on Dr. Chopra’s site, Vatas are full of energy and creativity. Vata governs movement in the body, activities of the nervous system, and the process of elimination. Because of this, movement and change are our nature. We are always on the go, full of energy, creativity, and fast thinking minds. When balanced, we are lively and enthusiastic, ready to connect, create, and enjoy life to the fullest. 

Our physical makeup is a thin, lean frame with excellent agility. We are often intolerant to cold, sleep lightly, and have sensitive digestion. This explains why, when imbalanced, we can have skin and gut issues, restlessness and irritability, and are prone to conditions like insomnia, anxiety, arthritis, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, and addiction. Our imbalance feels like being out of control, and let me tell you – this describes me perfectly!

So how do I improve my health and wellbeing with this dosha knowledge? For Vatas, consistency is key. Getting to bed on time, slowing down and maintaining a schedule, eating regular, consistent meals, and taking the time to meditate help me re-establish balance in my mind and body. In addition, keeping my body warm (including eating warm, cooked meals), practicing the Ayurvedic self-care ritual of abhyanga (oil massage), and sticking with light exercises that enhance balance and flexibility also reverse the effects of excess Vata energy. When I implement these behaviors, I feel fantastic, and there is no better proof than how you feel.

Stay tuned for future articles on the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, including additional resources, simple practices that can benefit all dosha types, and the Eastern principles of nutrition.

References 

1. National Ayurvedic Medical Association (United States): https://www.ayurvedanama.org
2. National Institute of Ayurveda (India): http://www.nia.nic.in
3. The Ayurvedic Institute (resource section): https://www.ayurveda.com/resources/overview 
4. Sahara Rose: www.iamsahararose.com 
5. Deepak Chopra, MD: www.deepakchopra.com (search site for “Ayurveda”)
6. Scientific paper on Ayurveda diagnostics (if you really want to nerd out): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307817067_Nidana_traditional_diagnostic_approaches_as_per_Ayurveda