World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Anita et al. SJIF Impact

World Journal of Pharmaceutical Factor 8.084
Research
Volume 8, Issue 11, 351-358. Review Article ISSN 2277– 7105

ROLE OF TRIDOSHA IN MAINTAINING HEALTH

*Vd. Anita U. Chapke and Vd. Shweta H. Chavhan

PG. Scholar, Department of Kriyasharir, Government Ayurved College, Nanded.

Vd. S.S. Sant Professor and HOD Kriyasharir, Government Ayurved College, Nanded.

ABSTRACT
Article Received on
26 July 2019, The Ayurveda is the ancient science whose main moto is to not only
Revised on 16 August 2019, treat the disease but also maintain the health of the person. Like other
Accepted on 04 Sept. 2019,
pathy it also has its own sidhantas (principles).various basic principles
DOI: 10.20959/wjpr201911-15844
are described by Ayurveda, one of them is “TRIDOSHA
SIDHANTA”. These three vital bioenergies (vata, pitta and kapha)
*Corresponding Author forms the constitution of the physical body. It maintains the personality
Vd. Anita U. Chapke
of person at physical as well as mental level. Each dosha has their own
PG. Scholar, Department of
specific qualities. their function in the body is depends on these
Kriyasharir, Government
Ayurved College, Nanded. qualities. Doshas works since from the embryonic stage. eg, the
meiosis and mitotic divisions in zygote are governed by the vata
doshas. As they maintain the health of the person like wise also disturb the physiology of
individual. The vata represents movements (physiological as well as psychological), pitta
represents digestion, metabolism and transformation. Kapha represents structure and fluid
balance in the body.

KEYWORDS: Tridoshas, sidhantas.

INTRODUCTION
The tridoshas are various forms of energies, vata = kinetic energy, pitta = thermal energy,
kapha = mechanical energy. The balanced condition of these energies maintains the health
status of the individual. The proper dincharya, rutucharya, ahar, vihar are responsible for the
balanced condition of these energies .due to the modernisation the life style of person get
changed, hence there is hyper or hypo functioning of the doshas which may lead to the
diseased condition.

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QUALITIES/ ATTRIBUTES OF TRIDOSHAS

1) VATTA DOSHA: it is often called as “king of doshas“
A) PHYSICAL QUALITIES
 Dry (ruksha) = Due to this property it can absorb more water, oil or fat. Due to excessive
dryness of vatta doshas, the skin becomes very dry and sleep also hamper.
 Light (laghu) = due to this property, the vatta constitution individual have their actions so
fast and easily. If this property get increased then it causes weakness in particular body
functions and may lead to muscle weakness.
 Cold (sheeta) = due to this property, the vata people are intolerant to the cold and it is
alleviated by heat. These peoples joints get easily stiffed in cold weather.
 Rough (khara) = Due to the imbalance of vatas rough property, the hair, nail, and face
becomes dry.
 Subtle (sukshma)
 Mobile (chala) = movement is the main function of this dosha. And it is due to this
property. The hyperactive mobility of vatta makes the people restlessness, uncontrollable
movements of legs, hands, eyebrows etc.

B) EMOTIONAL QUALITIES
When it is in the balance, they are energetics, creative and flexible. When unbalanced, they
are prone to worry and anxiousness and often suffer from insomnia.

2) PITTA DOSHAS
A) PHYSICAL QUALITIES
 Sasneha: Hot due to its digestion function. Due to this they have oily skin, hair or acne.
Tikshna: (sharp): They have excess hunger.
 Ushna (Hot) = Due to this property, the pitta body type people are aggressive and angry.
 Laghu (light): This is different from the quality of the vata.
 Sara (slippery):
 Drava (liquid): Due to this pitta body type people have excess stomach acids .

B) EMOTIONAL QUALITIES
Anger, jealousy, becomes more focused under stress, can sometimes become cynical.

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3) KAPHA DOSHAS
A) PHYSICAL QUALITIES
 Cold = Their skin is cold to touch. They can also experiences the recurrent cases of cold,
congestion, and cough during cold weather.
 Wet
 Heavy = It express the density. kapha involves in the anabolism. Due to this property the
kapha body type people are overweight. Mental heaviness always associated with it.
 Dull: Their actions are very slow due to this property.
 Slow: Due to this they are slow to talk, slow to walk and also have slow digestion.
 Static: They are very stable. And resist change.
 Smooth /Slimy: they have smooth skin. And also have good internal lubrication.

B) EMOTIONAL QUALITIES: LETHARGY, depression and over attachment.

FUNCTIONS OF DOSHAS
A) VATTA DOSHA
It is the master of other two doshas and control the all functions of body like cell division,
control on mind, breathing, blood circulation, and excrete the waste product from the
body.
 MASTER OF ALL BODY FUNCTIONS
The initiation, motivation and stimulation, all movements, blood circulation, mechanism
of excretion and all the motor and sensory functions are governed by vata doshas.
 Speech: The speaking process involve the movement of air in and out of voice box. Vatta
is responsible for that. Hence vatta constitution people are more talkative.
 INSPIRATOR AND CONTROL OF MIND
Balanced vata is necessary for stability of mind. Stable mind can only perceive the
knowledge, and understand the things properly. Hence vata body type people are quite
unstable and fast in thinking hence cant concentrate on things properly.
 Digestion function: The air is necessary for fire. Hence vata helps indirectly in digestion
process. This is due to its light property. The peristaltic movements of oesophagus,
stomach and intestine are required for proper mixing of food with gastric and intestinal
juices.

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 CONTROL OF PITTA AND KAPHA

These two doshas are immobile. For their action they are totally depend on vata (carrier
function). Eg. As the clouds are moved from one place to another by wind like this it
stimulates or guides the pitta and kapha.
 RESPIRATION
It consist of entry and exits of air in lungs.
 BLOOD CIRCULATION: It means transportation of gases, nutrients, waste products to
the cells. And this is carried by vatta by its mobile property.
 EXCRETION OF WASTE PRODUCT: Urination, excretion of solid waste product or
in the form of sweat, respiration vata plays very main role.
 FOETUS GROWTH AND CHILD BIRTH: Since from transportation of sperm
through female genital tract to ampulla of fallopian tube, its is governed by vata. Cell
division, foetus growth and expulsion of foetus from womb at term are manipulated by
vata.

TYPES OF VATA: On the basis of its place and specific action the vata is divided in to five
types.
1) PRANA VATA: it is located in the head and moves in chest, throat .it regulates will
power, sense organs, intellect, vision. It causes expectoration, sneezing, belching,
swallowing of food.
2) UDANA VATA: It is located in the chest, it moves in the nose, umbilicus, and throat; its
functions are: initiation of speech, effort, enthusiasm, strength, colour, complexion and
memory.
3) VYANA VATA: It is located I the heart, and moves in all body .it is mainly related to the
blood circulation and muscle activities like flexion and extension.
4) SAMANA VATA: It is located near the digestive fire .it moves in gastrointestinal tract.
Its functions are: receiving the food in to stomach, helps in digestion, divide the food into
useful and waste parts. It controls normal downward peristaltic movements.
5) APANA VATA: It is located in the apana -large intestine, moves in waist, bladder,
genitals. It performs the functions such as ejaculation, menstruation, defecation, urination,
and child birth.

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 FUNCTIONS OF PITTA DOSHAS

 DIGESTION AND METABOLISM
Pitta is directly involved in process of digestion and metabolism. Its not only happens at
the level of stomach and intestine but also at cellular level.
 MAINTAINANCE OF BODY TEMPERATURE: It maintains temperature by its hot
property. Hence all the conditions where temperature increases like fever, inflammation,
there is pitta involvement.
 VISION: Vision is always corelate with light. Hence it is the function of pitta.
 HUNGER, THIRST, AND APPETITE: All this functions are controlled by pitta.
Hence in pitta body type the hunger and thirst is more.
 SKIN AND COMPLEXION: Pitta, blood tissue and skin are interlinked. Hence it
maintains the complexion.
 INTELLIGENCE AND COURAGE: We already mentioned that pitta means light and
hence it is compared to knowledge.

 TYPES OF PITTA
1) PACHAKA PITTA
It is located between stomach and large intestine .it is made up of panchamahabhutas. It
contains more fire element and less water. It is called as anala (fire) because of its
digestion functions .it also divides the food in to useful and waste parts. It has great
influence on the other pitta type and hence it is dominant one.
2) RANJAKA PITTA: It is located in the stomach .it converts the rasa dhatu into blood.
3) SADHAKA PITTA: It is located in the heart .it controls all mental functions like
knowledge, intelligence, self consciousness.
4) ALOCHAKA PITTA: It is located in the eye. And it is responsible for the vision
5) BHRAJAKA PITTA: It is located in the skin and maintains the colour and complexion.

 FUNCTIONS OF KAPHA DOSHA

1) Stability: Kapha is responsible for holding the all cells of body. It is responsible for the
stability of joints and mind.
2) Stability of Mind: There are various types of thinking come in mind, but their
organisation is necessary. Hence by organising the thoughts, the kapha gives stability to
the mind.

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3) Forgiveness: when you are misbehaved by someone, vata makes you think about the
options that you have .pitta makes you to attack the person. But kapha maintains the
balance in the mind and forgive the offender.
4) Rentension: The people with kapha body type have stability of thoughts, and hence they
have memory for long time.
5) Lubrication: Oil is necessary for the lubrication of all types of machine. Our body is also
a engine. And lubrication in it is maintained by kapha dosha. When this lubrication
decreased, the joints becomes porous, stability of mind lost.

 TYPES OF KAPHA DOSHA

1. KLEDAK KAPHA: it is located in the stomach. It moistens the food and helps in the
digestion.
2. BODHAKA KAPHA: it is located in the tongue. it is responsible for the taste perception.
TARPAKA KAPHA: it is located in the head and it nourishes the all the sense organs in
the head.
3. AVALAMBAK KAPHA: it is located in the chest it gives strength to the heart, lungs and
mediastinum.
4. SHLESHAKA KAPHA: it is located in the bone joints .it lubricates and strengthens the
joints. Above we have discussed about the physiology of the tridosha. But when there is
imbalance of doshas, the diseased condition forms.

 VATA DOSHA IMBALANCE SYMPTOMS

A) SYMPTOMS OF VATA INCREASE
 Weight loss: generally vata body type people have tendency to loose weight .it is due to
the increase in light and rough property of vatta.
 Black discolouration: the whole body or affected part undergoes blackening due to
increase vata. It is due to the rough or cold property of vata.
 Desire for hot: the people have desire for hot due to cold property of vata’.
 Tremors: whenever there is increase in vata due to cold property, the body resist it by
chala property. And hence tremours occurs.
 Bloating: it is the distension of abdomen due to the vata accumulation.
 Constipation: vata is like air. As it dries the clothes it also dries the fecal matter, hence
constipation occurs.
 Loss of sensory functions: vata controls the sensory functions.

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 Increased speech: vata controls speaking activity.

 Delusions, dizziness, and giddiness: Due to increase in vatta, the strength of organs
looses.

 SYMPTOMS OF VATTA DECREASE

 Decreasd activity: vata is responsible for motion .hence decreased in vata, decreases
activity.
 Decreased speaking strength: speech is the function of vata.
 Lack of happiness: vata is related to the energy and enthusiasm.
 Dullness: due to the loss of energy, delayed response to the stimuli.

 IMBALANCE OF PITTA DOSHA

 Increase pitta symptoms: When pitta increased produces yellow discolouration of the
faeces, urine, eyes, and skin. Excess of hunger and thirst; pitta corelated to the
metabolism hence more pitta means more digestive activity. Burning sensation: burning is
the symptoms of pitta. Less sleep: reduced sleep is pitta dominance symptoms.
 Decreased pitta
Weakness of digestive activity
Coldness
Lack of lusture
Lack of intelligence.

 IMBALANCE OF KAPHA DOSHA

 Kapha increase symptoms
Weak digestive strength: kapha means water and solid element. Digestion is related to
the fire. Increase kapha means increased liquid element in the body. Hence less appetite
 Feeling of heaviness
 White discolouration: white is colour of kapha.
 Coldness: because kapha is made up of water.
 Excess of sleep
 Increase of oilness
 Itching
 Dyspnoea, cough, asthma, copd etc.

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DISCUSSION
Above we have mentioned the physiology as well as pathological state of the tridosha. from
above we say that they regulates the all systems of the body. And hence plays the imp role in
maintaining health of the body.

CONCLUSION
Each and every cell of the body is made up of the tridosha. Tridosha theory regulates all the
mechanisms. And also causes the diseased condition. Hence from this we conclude that the
tridosha plays vital role in the healthy as well as unhealthy condition. And it can maintained
by proper dincharya, ritucharya, ahar and vihar.

REFERENCES
1. Charak Samhita. Edited by Acharya Vidyadhar Shukla and pro. Ravidutt Tripathi.
Sutrasthan. Chaukhamba Surbharti Prakashan, Varanasi, 2011; 185.
2. Charak Samhita. Edited by Acharya Vidyadhar Shukla and pro. Ravidutt Tripathi.
Sutrasthan. Chaukhamba Surbharti Prakashan, Varanasi, 2011; 188.
3. Charak Samhita. Edited by Acharya Vidyadhar Shukla and pro. Ravidutt Tripathi.
Sutrasthan. Chaukhamba Surbharti Prakashan, Varanasi, 2011; 37: 38.
4. Sushrut Samhita. Edited by Kaviraj Ambikadatta Shastri. Nidansthan. Chaukhamba
Prakashan, Varanasi, 297-298.
5. Ashtang Hrudaya. Edited by Dr. Ganesh Krushna garde. Sutrasthan. Chaukhamba
Surbharti Prakashan, Varanasi, 2009; 55.
6. Ashtang Hrudaya. Edited by Dr. Ganesh Krushna garde. Sutrasthan. Chaukhamba
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