Tridosha ( The Three Doshas )

The cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine is the concept of the Doshas or

which govern the psycho-biological aspect of the body. These are three        
in number and are called the Tridosha, the Vata, Pitta and the Kapha.



These doshas are composed by the combination of the five elements or
the ‘PanchMahabhut’. The five elements are:

• Space or Akasha
• Air or Vayu
• Fire or Tejas
• Water or Apa
• Earth or Prithvi

Elements Composing The Tridosha

Vata: Space (Akasha) and Air (Vayu)

Pitta: Fire (Tejas) and Water (Apa)

Kapha: Water (Apa) and Earth (Prithvi)






Thus, Vata is composed of space and air, Pitta of fire and water, and
Kapha of water and earth.

The tridosha regulates every physiological and psychological process in
the living organism. The interplay among them determines the qualities
and conditions of the individual. A harmonious state of the three doshas
creates balance and health; an imbalance, which might be an excess
(vrddhi) or deficiency (ksaya), manifests as disease.



Vata-pitta-kapha are present in every cell, tissue and organ. In every
person they differ in permutations and combinations. The sperm and the
ovum also contain vata-pitta-kapha (VPK). The sperm gets influenced by
the father's lifestyle, diet and emotions, and the ovum by the mother's.
At the time of fertilization, when a single sperm enters a single ovum,
individual constitution is determined.




According to Ayurveda, there are seven body types: mono-types (vata,
pitta or kapha predominant), dual types (vata-pitta,pitta-kapha or,
kapha-vata), and equal types, (vata, pitta and kapha in equal
proportions). Every individual has a unique combination of these three
doshas. To understand individuality is the foundation of healing
according to Ayurveda, "The Science of Life".