A balance of the doshasis necessary for optimal health. In childhood
kaphaelements associated with growth predominate; in adulthood pittais
more important, while as the body deteriorates in old age vatabecomes
more important. When there is an imbalance or disharmony in health more
than one doshamay be present.
Physical constitution
Bodily features may be characterised in terms of the doshas. For example, a
person having a vata prakriti would be light-weight, tall and ill-nourished,
a pitta prakritiwould be characterised by moderate weight and a well-
nourishedappearance and a kapha prakritiwould be typically associated
with a heavily built person. Examples of prakritiare presented in Table 7.1.^5
Mental constitution
Three gurasor temperaments correspond to the humours that determine
physical constitution, as described above, and are responsible for a person’s
behaviour patterns. They are, with brief examples of the main characteristics:
- Satvas: people with a satvatemperament have healthy bodies and
moderate behaviour. They are often very religious, compassionate and
loving. - Rajas: people who are interested in business, prosperity, power and
prestige. They enjoy wealth and are extroverts. - Tamas: people who are ignorant, lazy, selfish and show little respect
for others.
In the realm of modern predictive medicine, efforts are being directed
towards capturing disease phenotypes with greater precision for successful
identification of markers for prospective disease conditions. Differences in
biochemical profiles including liver function tests, lipid profiles and haema-
tological parameters such as haemoglobin have been shown to exist between
prakrititypes.^6
Disease
Allergies can result from an imbalance of any or all three of the doshas
although typically one of them will characterise the reaction.^7 The vata
doshaor bioenergetic principle of movement is always involved because an
imbalanced vatalowers immunity, making one susceptible in the first
instance. An incessantly runny nose, fatigue, continuous sneezing and
throbbing headaches further indicate vata-type allergies. Heated, red eyes,
sharp sinus headaches, fevers and itching skin indicate pitta-type allergies.
A build-up of congested mucus indicates kapha-type allergies. The condi-
tion may be relieved by ayurvedic practices including nasal irrigation and
breathing exercises.
200 | Traditional medicine