Dosha

This article is about the notion of a bodily humor in Ayurveda. For the type of food, see dosa.

The three doshas and the five great elements they are composed from

A dosha (doṣa) is one of three bodily humors that make up one's constitution according to Ayurveda. These teachings are also known as the Tridosha theory.

The central concept of Ayurvedic medicine is the theory that health exists when there is a balance between three fundamental bodily humours or doshas called Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

• Vāta or Vāyu (wind) is the impulse principle necessary to mobilize the function of the nervous system. It affects the windy humour, flatulence, gout, rheumatism, etc.
• Pitta (bile) is the bilious humour, or that secreted between the stomach and bowels and flowing through the liver and permeating spleen, heart, eyes, and skin; its chief quality is heat. It is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and hence metabolism.
• Kapha (phlegm) is the body fluid principle which relates to mucus, lubrication and the carrier of nutrients.

All Ayurvedic physicians believe that these ancient ideas, based in the knowledge discovered by the Rishis and Munis, exist in harmony with physical reality. These Ayurvedic concepts allow physicians to examine the homeostasis of the whole system. People may be of a predominant dosha prakruti (constitution), but all doshas have the basic elements within them.

5 types of vata dosha	5 types of pitta dosha	5 types of kapha dosha
Prana Udana Samana Apana Vyana	Pachaka Pitta - exists in the small intestine, stomach and colon as non-liquid heat, bile or digestive fire.[citation needed] Ranjaka Pitta - located at the stomach, liver and spleen.[citation needed] Alochaka Pitta Sadhaka Pitta Bhrajaka Pitta	Kledaka Kapha - tissues. Avalambaka Kapha - located at the stomach, liver and spleen.[citation needed] Tarpaka Kapha Bodhaka Kapha Sleshaka Kapha