All about kapha dosha
Are you feeling torpid and lethargic the whole day ?Are you struggling to loose weight even though you work out a lot ?
If yes ,you must be having an imbalance of kapha dosha in the body
What is Kapha Dosha in Ayurveda: Kapha Meaning
The Kapha dosha,the third humor, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, is composed of two elements - earth and water - thus signifying stability and solidity . Its slow ,moist ,cool,oily ,steady,heavy ,sleek smooth, delicate, thick, stable, gross, and cloudy and maintains the body resistance by acting as a soldering agent, giving the body its weight, mass and stability.
Kapha Dosha Characteristics / Mind-Body Constitution
A kapha predominant person is characterised by the following physical characteristics
· body type have Frame and build tends towards strong and steady , excellent, compact and stable body, physically solid, compact and wide with extensive thighs, hips, bums, and chest and has a tendency to be perpetually overweight.
· people with this dosha have Radiant complexion ,large appealing and clear eyes that are blue or dark in color ,thick hair , extravagant, and abundant, typically blond or dark, and wavy. face along with clear complexion and affectionate vocals,. Their skin is fair, cool, always glowing, and aligns with the Ayurvedic concept of balanced doshas.
· kapha body have Sluggish and lethargic ,dependable and dedicated , Slow in activities, diet and speech , Delay in initiation, irritation and slow change in attitude
· Stable temperament
· Strong memory
· Compassionate and affectionate
· Calm, sweet, loyal, and embodies the qualities of balanced doshas, specifically कफ दोष.
· Well learned, brave, calm and lives longer.
· Kapha types are extremely elegant, have a natural, erotic sensuality about them, and are generally very fertile.
· Kapha individuals love heat and they suffer in cold, damp climates
Emotional characteristics of kapha predominant person
· Calm ,thoughtful and loving
· Loyal and supportive
· Stubborn
Function of kapha dosha in our body
· Lubrication of joints and organs, strengthening of the muscles & bones and regulation of cellular secretions are the major functions of kapha dosha.
· Kapha provides structure and firmness to all things; it gives the viscidity needed to maintain a particular form. Kapha additionally hydrates all cells and frameworks, saturates the skin, maintains immunity and safeguards the tissues, an important aspect of maintaining balanced doshas in Ayurvedic practice.
What are the seats of kapha in our body?
The seats of kapha dosha are the chest, throat, head, joints, tongue, nose and small intestine.
Signs of Kapha Imbalance in the body
One may feels Intolerance to coldness, Stiffness/heaviness are often signs of imbalanced doshas in Ayurvedic diagnosis. in the body,Depressed & Drowsiness,Lossening of joints ,Low appetite Obese ,Giddiness ,nausea ,flaccid ,fatigued ,twitching pain in body ,paliptations,excess salivation , sinusitis, cold, cough, asthma, pneumonia,
Factors responsible for Aggravation of Kapha Dosha
The natural factors like
· Seasonal chages- Kapha dosha vitiates during the spring seasons
· Various stages of digestions -like it increases during initial stages of digestion and immediately after taking food
· Early morning hours of the day
· In childhood ages
Other acquired factors
· foods that increase kapha are sweet, sour and salty tastes. In addition, heavy-to-digest food, cheesy greasy food, and excessive water intake aggravate kapha.
· lifestyle - like daytime sleep, lack of exercise, drinking water at night etc.
How to balance kapha dosha
Bring out the easy lifestyle changes like
· Seek stimulation and motivation -Bring out a day to day change from your existing lethargic routine .It can stimulate and motivate you
· Follow a regular daily routine-Fresh air and regular exercise . Physical activity also helps in the pacification of kapha dosha and eliminates harmful toxins from the body by regulating bowel movements.Prefer bicycling ,aerobics ,running and active sports
· Avoid naps
· Learn new hobbies ,take different routes to work each day
· Explore new things
· Listen to peppy music, dance to an energising rhythm, activities recommended in Ayurveda for balancing doshas.
· Socialise with uplifting friends and family members
· Saty warm avoid coldness
· Undergo dry massage which stimulate a better circulation
· Build endurance with these simple tips for balancing kapha
Dietary guidelines to balance kapha
· Eating food that is dominant in tastes like pungent, bitter and astringent ones can pacify kapha
· Favor warm substances in your regular diet especially spices like cinnamon, cloves and dried ginger, basil, turmeric etc.
· Reduce intake of diary .In case if you need you can Consume low fat milk .You can process it with stimulants and digestives like pepper ,ginger for easy digestion .Avoid yogurt
· Prefer buttermilk
· Avoid heavy and rich fruits like banana ,dates,figs ,pineapples ,coconut ete
· Go for lighter fruit like aples ,pears etc
· Avoid sweetners ,especially sugar ,nuts
· Prefer millets when compared to wheat and rice
· Avoid sour fruits ,deep fried foods,cold and wet foods
· Fast intermittently
· Keep sipping warm water of ginger water through out for easy digestion and weight management
· Avoid red meat
· Add all spices except for salt, following Ayurvedic guidelines for balancing doshas with dietary choices.
What are Types of Kapha Dosha ?
The Five types of Kapha dosha are as follows:
Avalambaka kapha
Sanskrit term of avalambaka means “to hold,” pivotal in understanding the function of कफ दोष in the Ayurvedic system.
The seat of avalambaka kapha is the lungs and their inner structures as well as the layers covering the lungs ,trachea,bronchi and the pericardium .
On an imbalance of avalambaka kapha ,there would be a disturbance in breathing pattern and can arise problems with heart and lungs .Increase in avalambaka kapha leads to fluid increase in the respective organs and a decrease can lead to lack of lubrication and resulting in dryness
Kledaka Kapha, which plays a crucial role in the Ayurvedic doshas system.
The Sanskrit meaning of term kleda means moisture .The seat of kledaka kapha is located in upper part of the stomach and inner lining of stomach walls and responsible for the secretions for digestion of food .In the process of food digestion ,moisture content is needed to soften the food ,which is supplied by kledaka kapha .
An increased secretion of kledaka kapha can disturb the acid and delay the digestion process but the decreased secretion of kledaka kapha leads to acidity and hyper reflux
Tarpaka kapha
The word meaning of tarpaka is to nourish
Its located in head and the main function of tarpaka kapha is to nourish the entire nervous system .On its imbalance ,there is lack of clarity in mind , memory loss,poor concentration and memory and emotional issues like greed ,anger irritation etc
Bodhaka Kapha, a key component in Ayurvedic understanding of doshas.
The term bodhaka signifies knowledge .This sub type of kapha is responsible for intelligence .Its mainly located in mouth,tongue and throat .An imbalance in bodhaka kapha leads to impairment in digestion in initial phases since the production of saliva is disrupted which plays a vital role in process of digestion and it can lead to hoarseness of voice too
Shleshhaka Kapha
The term meaning of slesaka is binding .
The main function of slesaka kapha is to lubricate all the joints and to maintain the movements of all these joints .It also acts as a shock absorber .On an imbalance of slesaka kapha ,the lubrication in joints may dry up and and it may be swollen and weakened .It may hinder the regeneration of the joints
What are specific Yoga for Balancing Kapha?
Some of yogasanas which can help balancing the kapha dosas
Trikonasana, an Ayurvedic yoga pose that helps in balancing doshas.
Dhanurasana
Vrikasana
Shavasana
Veerabhadrasana
Pranayama
What kind of food should kapaha prakruthi person eat ?
Since kapha is cooling ,Prefer foods which are warm ,dry ,rough and light for digestion .Avoid food like butter ,curd ,cheese and ddeep fried food
Is too much coffee good for kapha ?
Since caffeine is stimulating ,its good for kapha .You can process it with warming spices
What is instant way to reduce kapha ?
Engulge in vigorous activities like exercise ,dancing etc
What is kapha season ?
Winter season is the kapha season cherecterising qualities like coldness, dampness, sluggishness and lethargy.
Is ghee and milk good for kapha dosha?
Its generally not recommended due to its heavy property .If consumed ,choose low fat or spice it up with warm spices like ginger ,cinamon
How do you know you have kapha predominance ?
You may experience a weight gain and feels too lethargic and lack of interest in everything you do . In excess, Kapha can cause sluggishness, lack of motivation, heaviness in the mind and body, and excessive sleep.
What can help maintain good health for a kapha-dominant person?
Focus on regular exercise, a healthy diet, maintain a warm body temperature
How much sleep does a Kapha individual need?
It is best for these individuals to wake up before sunrise. Exercising after waking up and in the evening is better , as these are the times of the day when kapha dosha is most active.
What are kapha balancing herbs?
Cinnamon ,cumin ,cardamom ,turmeric ,cumin ,black pepper ,mint ,tulsi ,yasti ,methi ,punarnava