Balanced Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) for better health

Three humors (Tridosha):

In Siddha medicine which is the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) are responsible for the creation, preservation, and destruction of human body and health. These three doshas in the state of equilibrium (ratio 4:2:1) our body remains in a healthy state but any disturbance in this equilibrium leads to diseased state. Ayurveda’s concept of the Tridosha is unique to medical science. According to Ayurveda, the body is made up of tissues (dhatus), waste products (malas), and doshas (loosely translated to energetic forces). Tridosha assists with the creation of all of the various tissues of the body and to remove any waste products from the body. It is also the tridoshas that influence all movements, all transformations, all sensory functions, and many of the other activities in the human body and mind.

a) Vata:

It represents the elements air and space and these are responsible for all movements of mind and body. Vata controls the motor and sensory activities of body. It present in all over the human body. It is tributes to certain processes of body like roughness, dryness, lightness, and mobility. It also reinforces the five sensory organs and regulates respiration the functions of physical and physiological reflexes. Vata exhibits itself in ten different forms in our body such as Piranan, Abanan, Viyanan, Samanan, Udhanan, Naagan, Koorman, Kirugaran, Devathathan, and Thananjeyan. Vata is more powerful than other doshas because:

i) It produces more diseases in the body.

ii) It imbalances other doshas.

iii) It is the only dosha which has movement while pitta and kapha cannot move on their own.

iv) It is fast acting.

v) It spreads all over the body.

vi) It produces chronic diseases.

b) Pitta:

Pitta signifies the element fire in our body and is accountable for the preservation of health. It maintains the body temperature for usual physiology and concern with chest and abdominal body. It showed itself in five appearances within our body such as Analapitham, Ranjagapitham, Saathagapitham, Aalosagapitham, and Pirasagapitham.

c) Kapha:

It is formed by the elements ‘earth’ and ‘water’. Kapha is responsible for strength, joint movements, body built and body endurance. It dictates the head and neck region. It exhibits itself in five different forms like Avalambagam, Kilaetham, Pothagam, Tharpagam, and Santhigam.

Table 1: Some most important plants are implicated in Tridosha humors

Sr. no.	Plants	Uses/treatments
1	Apium graveolens	Seeds and leaves are used in the treatment of asthma and liver diseases. Seeds are also used in the treatment of psoriasis.
2	Boerhavia diffusa	A drug Punarnavin is isolated from roots and used in the treatment of kidney stone.
3	Calotropis gigantea	Flowers are used in cough, and asthma.
4	Justicia adhatoda	Leaf extract used to treat bronchial asthma and cough.
5	Piper longum	Fruits are used in the treatment of hiccup, colic, and flatulence. Seeds are also used in the treatment of asthma, cough, and cold.
6	Strychnos potatorum	Fruits and seeds are used in the treatment of diabetes and dysentery.
7	Terminalia bellirica	Fruits are useful in the treatment of asthma, cough, dropsy, and dysentery.
8	Tylophora indica	Roots and leaves are used in asthma, dysentery, and syphilitic rheumatism

Fig. 1: Tridoshas

Table 2: Normal states of tridosha

Sr. No.	Normal states of tridosha
1	Digestion: Easy digestion of food and drink.
2	Emotions: Evenly balanced emotional states.
3	Energy: Abundant mental and physical energy to perform.
4	Elimination: Normal elimination of waste – sweat, urine, faces, and others.
5	Happiness: Sense of well being.
6	Mental functions: Good memory, comphrension, intelligence, and reasoning ability.
7	Physical body: Healthy bodily tissues, organs, and systems.
8	Senses: Proper functioning of eyes, ears, nose, taste and touch.

Balanced and imbalanced states of tridosha:

Doshas has certain quantity, qualities, and functions. When all of these are balanced it is called normal or balanced (dosha shamya). This condition is conducive to well-being, health, and wellness. However, this balanced state is not stable; it is always changing. The doshas will become either increased or decreased. Both of these states lead to ill-health or disease. However, increased doshas have much more power to cause problems than do decrease doshas. The important point here is to understand that each dosha has a set of quantities associated with it which can increase or decrease in quantity.

Fig 2. Basis of Siddha system