|
|
There are 3 Doshas:
Vata, Pitta, Kapha.
Vata means a force that generates and possesses the qualities of "air" (and space). Vata is not "gas" but a force, which when in excess, produces gas.
Pitta means a force that generates and possesses the qualities of "fire". Pitta is not "bile" but a force, which produces bile and acid.
Kapha means a force that generates and possesses the qualities of "water" (and earth). Kapha is not "mucous" but a force, which causes mucous to be produced.
Each one of us is made up of all the three Doshas. At the time of conception, Nature decides the permutation -combination of the Doshas within each one of us. That is what makes each of us quite unique.
The Doshas have :
Doshas can be "managed" by the 6 tastes - salty, spicy (chilly), astringent, bitter, sweet and sour. These tastes can aggravate and pacify different Doshas.
With this knowledge we are able to prevent disease, heal ourselves and understand our interpersonal relationships better.
How?
Let us take a very simplistic example.
Anger is a Pitta quality. Let us say I am a Pitta "type" and anger is one of the attributes of Pitta I have in abundance. I also know that Pitta is aggravated by salty taste, spicy (chilly) taste, and sour taste. I I find my anger getting me into trouble day in and day out I would try and reduce and if possible severely curtail my consumption of these three tastes. I further know that Pitta is pacified by bitter, sweet and astringent tastes. I would make certain that my food contains some of all these tastes. Over a period of time I would find that I could manage my anger better.
Taking the same example, let us say I have a very important meeting coming up where tempers are expected to fly. On that day, (and probably on the day prior to the meeting as well!) I would completely abstain from the "offending tastes" and eat a little of the pacifying tastes just before the meeting. Since cold also pacifies Pitta, I would also arm myself with a glass of cold water during the meeting.
In exactly the same way other attributes and diseases can be managed.
Of course, this system is wonderful as a preventive measure, and works
very well to set right minor imbalances but gets quite complicated when
serious diseases arise. In serious diseases, all three Doshas are usually
out of balance and the trick lies in trying to find the one that is easiest
to balance without further aggravating the other two. This can happen,
because what can pacify one Dosha usually aggravates another Dosha.
| Note: It is important to understand that the fundamental common sense information which we have shared with you in SS - Diet and Lifestyle over-rides the information contained in this section. If we speak of "sweet" pacifying Pitta Dosha, we mean "acceptable" sweets - e.g. jaggery. In fact each food has a hidden taste which is not apparent immediately. For example - wheat is sweet and so also is pumpkin. |