New Delhi: To stay healthy, it is important to understand the nature of your body and eat accordingly. According to Ayurveda, there are three doshas in the body — Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These are essential for keeping the body healthy and functioning properly. If any one of these three doshas becomes imbalanced, it can harm a person’s health. For instance, if Kapha increases in the body, it can lead to cough, cold, and many other health-related problems. Therefore, if Kapha dosha has increased in the body, it must be reduced. To cure this, the remedies suggested by Patanjali can be adopted.
Patanjali was founded by yoga guru Baba Ramdev, with the aim of creating awareness about Ayurveda. Acharya Balkrishna has written a book to spread knowledge about Ayurveda. The name of the book is The Science of Ayurveda. It shares various insights on staying healthy and understanding Ayurveda, including how to control Kapha dosha. Let us explore what Kapha dosha is and how it can be managed, based on this book.
Kapha dosha
Kapha dosha provides nourishment to every part of the body. It also helps regulate the Vata and Pitta doshas. It provides moisture, oiliness, and smoothness to the organs. It is essential for the proper movement of joints and bones. Kapha increases willpower and enthusiasm for work. It also aids in wound healing, enhances immunity, and provides energy for both mental and physical activities. Kapha also promotes mental stability. When heat in the body increases due to Pitta and Vata, Kapha increases the secretion of oils and smooth fluids, thereby protecting tissues from damage.
Types of Kapha
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Kledaka Kapha: Aids in digestion and protects the stomach lining from acid.
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Avalambaka Kapha: Strengthens the heart and lungs; provides strength and stability.
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Bodhaka Kapha: Controls the sense of taste.
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Tarpaka Kapha: Maintains the health of sensory organs.
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Synovial Kapha: Found in joints; provides lubrication for movement.
Properties of Kapha
Kapha is heavy, cold, sweet, stable, smooth, and sticky by nature. It is slow and moist. Its symptoms vary depending on the dominance of its traits. For example, people with dominant Kapha are slow due to its heaviness. Its cooling nature results in reduced thirst, hunger, and sensitivity to heat. People with soft and mild Kapha tend to have fair and beautiful skin. Stable Kapha often leads to delay or laziness in initiating tasks.
Causes of increased Kapha
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Diet: Consuming excessive sweet, sour, heavy, and oily foods; overconsumption of meat, fish, sesame-based products, sugarcane, milk, salt, cold water, and soft drinks; eating too much curd, ghee, sesame-urad khichdi, water chestnut, coconut, and pumpkin.
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Habits and tendencies: A sedentary lifestyle and lack of daily exercise can also increase Kapha. It naturally rises in the morning, early night, after meals, and during childhood.
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Seasons: Spring, winter, humid weather, and snowy regions can also contribute to increased Kapha.
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Genetics: A family history of diabetes, obesity, or allergies increases one’s risk. Depression from weight gain can also raise Kapha levels.
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Dairy products: Overconsumption contributes to Kapha imbalance.
Symptoms of increased Kapha
Symptoms include excessive sleep, constant lethargy, heaviness in the body, sticky sweat/urine/stool, a feeling of dampness, increased mucus in the nose and eyes, bronchial asthma, sore throat, cough, diabetes, and fluid retention. Other signs include disinterest in work, depression, emotional attachment, slow movement, and resistance to change.
How to control Kapha
To control Kapha dosha, first identify its causes. Balancing Kapha requires dietary and lifestyle changes. Dry, bitter, and hot foods can help reduce Kapha, but should only be consumed under expert guidance, who can advise the correct quantity and timing.
Helpful practices include consuming old honey in moderation, using anti-cough herbs, trying to lose weight, sunbathing daily, exercising regularly (e.g., jumping, running, walking), wearing warm clothes, and staying active rather than remaining idle.
If Kapha levels are excessively high, induced vomiting is considered beneficial in Ayurveda. Ayurvedic doctors administer warm, sharp medicines to help expel Kapha. Since Kapha accumulates in the stomach and chest, vomiting helps eliminate it from these areas.
