The Tridosha Theory

“Ayurveda teaches us that the root of all healing lies in self-awareness and understanding our unique constitution.” 

– Dr. Pratima Raichur

The Tridosha Theory is fundamental to Ayurveda, and it’s a way for us to establish a language that allows us to communicate with our body and mind, and adapt according to our own uniqueness, and with that, to live with more intelligence and awareness of how our daily choices, our environment, our relationships, and so much more, can influence our state of wellbeing. 

What is Vedic Wisdom?

Let’s go deeper into the Vedic wisdom in the ancient sacred texts that form the foundation of Hindu philosophy, religion, and spiritual knowledge. Composed in Sanskrit, the Vedas are among the oldest known scriptures in the world, believed to have been written between 1500 and 500 BCE. These texts were transmitted orally for centuries before being written down and are revered as śruti (meaning “what is heard”), reflecting divine revelations perceived by ancient sages or rishis during deep meditation.

According to the Vedas, the entire universe derives from three original powers: energy, light and matter. Science recognizes these as physical forces that govern the external world, but from a Vedic perspective, they are powers of consciousness itself. Energy is the source of the life force and is the most important of all. Light is the source of the mind, through which we can see, know and discern. Matter is the basis of the body through which we obtain form and substance in time and space.

These three forces, when attributed to prana or life energy, create the three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Vata, like wind, gives energy, life, movement and expression. Pitta, like fire, creates heat and light, through which it is possible to see, digest and transform. Kapha, like water, contains, supports and nourishes the other forces like a living tissue.

According to the Tridosha theory, you, me and everything in the Universe is made up of the same 5 elements: space, air, earth, fire and water. A person is formed by the conglomeration of these elements into Atma, which means spirit, or soul.

“Vata, Pitta and Kapha are called the three pillars. By recognizing this group as the sacred mantra OM in three parts, the wise will be liberated.”

Brihat Yogi Yajnavalkya Smriti II.25

Although all the elements are present in every individual, each one has a different proportion of each element, a different balance. Just like the genetic code, the particular constitution of each person is determined at the moment of conception and remains constant throughout life, determining the basic characteristics of each one.

Biological existence is a dance of the three doshas. Life is a multicolored fabric made up of their movements in countless waves of balance and imbalance.

Although we refer to the elements using terms such as proportion and combination, their balance is not merely a physical phenomenon, like a cake recipe, since our basic ingredients are not essentially things.

According to the Rishis, the ancient wise authors of the Vedas, in their heightened state of consciousness, they realized that the fundamental component of consciousness is not matter, or even the energy contained within it. It is infinite intelligence. 

This intelligence transcends direct sensory perception and even surpasses objective science, as it resides at a deeper level of human consciousness, where subjectivity is intrinsic to its essence.

In any case, the effects of this intelligence are evident everywhere: in the rhythms of nature, in the movement of planets and galaxies, in the complex structures of matter – and in the evolution of life itself – DNA. Without it, both energy and matter would be lost in chaos, incapable of the cosmic organization that clearly underlies existence.

Ayurveda considers this continuum of omnipresent and invisible intelligence to be the true source of all mind and matter. Therefore, the 5 elements are simply patterns of intelligence, which are also known as “pancha mahabhutas” (pancha = 5 / maha = great / bhutas = elements). These elements are grouped in two to form a Dosha.

Dosha can be translated as humors or imbalances. There are three of them: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. They are formed from the grouping of the five great elements common to everything in Nature. This grouping occurs due to an energetic degree of subtlety and densification.

Space + Air = Vata

Fire + Water = Pitta

Water + Earth = Kapha

The doshas are the factors that produce the physical body and are responsible for its functions. The body tissues are predominantly Kapha, or water in nature. The digestive system is Pitta, or fire. The nervous system is basically vata, or air.

As previously mentioned, each individual is unique in terms of their balance between these three energies, or biotypes. Everyone has some level of Vata, Pitta and Kapha present in their personality constitution, but usually one or two doshas are predominant.

Each dosha has specific physical and emotional characteristics. This factor is responsible for determining the body type, appetite, energy levels, mood and behavioral tendencies.

The practice of Ayurveda consists of identifying which dosha is aggravated and from there prescribing a balanced diet, changes in habits, stress reduction techniques such as yoga and meditation, specific therapies, in addition to the use of prescriptions of numerous plants and herbs targeted to the unique constitution of each person, to bring their body back into balance.

Ayurveda teaches us that understanding our doshas is key to achieving balance in both body and mind. Have you explored your dominant dosha yet? Whether you’re new to Ayurveda or have been on this journey for a while, I’d love to hear your thoughts! How do you keep your Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energies balanced? 

Share your experiences and any Ayurvedic tips in the comments below, and let’s continue the conversation together.