Dosha
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Dosha (Template:Langx, IAST: doṣa) is a central term in ayurveda originating from Sanskrit, and which refers to three categories or types of substances that are believed to be present conceptually in a person's body and mind. These Dosha are assigned specific qualities and functions. These qualities and functions are affected by external and internal stimuli received by the body. Beginning with twentieth-century ayurvedic literature, the "three-dosha theory" (Template:Langx, Template:Transliteration) has described how the quantities and qualities of three fundamental types of substances called wind, bile, and phlegm (Template:Langx, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}; Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration) fluctuate in the body according to the seasons, time of day, process of digestion, and several other factors and thereby determine changing conditions of growth, aging, health, and disease.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Doshas are considered to shape the physical body according to a natural constitution established at birth, determined by the constitutions of the parents as well as the time of conception and other factors. This natural constitution represents the healthy norm for a balanced state for a particular individual. The particular ratio of the doshas in a person's natural constitution is associated with determining their mind-body type including various physiological and psychological characteristics such as physical appearance, physique, and personality.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
The ayurvedic three-dosha theory is often compared to European humorism although it is a distinct system with a separate history. The three-dosha theory has also been compared to astrology and physiognomy in similarly deriving its tenets from ancient philosophy and superstitions. Using them to diagnose or treat disease is considered pseudoscientific.<ref name="skep">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Role in disease, RogaEdit
Doshas are purely imaginary; their existence is not supported by any evidence.<ref name=sn>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The ayurvedic notion of doshas describes how bad habits, wrong diet, overwork, etc., may cause relative deficiencies or excesses which cause them to become imbalanced in relation to the natural constitution (Template:Transliteration) resulting in a current condition (Template:Transliteration) which may potentially lead to disease. For example, an excess of Template:Transliteration is blamed for mental, nervous, and digestive disorders, including low energy and weakening of all body tissues. Similarly, excess Template:Transliteration is blamed for blood toxicity, inflammation, and infection. Excess of Template:Transliteration is blamed for increase in mucus, weight, oedema, and lung disease, etc. The key to managing all doshas is taking care of Template:Transliteration; it is taught that this will regulate the other two.<ref name="Frawley">David Frawley, Yoga and Ayurveda: Self-Healing and Self-Realization, 1999</ref>Template:Unreliable source?
PrinciplesEdit
Template:See also The doshas derive their qualities from the five elements (Template:Langx; Template:Transliteration) of classical Indian philosophy.
- Vāta or vata is characterized by the properties of dry, cold, light, subtle, and mobile. All movement in the body is due to properties of vata. Pain is the characteristic feature of deranged vata. Some of the diseases connected to unbalanced vata are flatulence, gout, rheumatism, etc.<ref name="Dict">Monier-Williams, Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford, 1899</ref><ref>http://www.ayurvedacollege.com/articles/drhalpern/Vata_Doshas Vata Dosha</ref> Vāta is the normal Sanskrit word meaning "air" or "wind", and was so understood in pre-modern Sanskrit treatises on ayurveda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some modern interpreters prefer not to translate Vata as air, but rather equate it with a modern metabolic process or substance.<ref name=":0" />
- Pitta represents metabolism;<ref name=":0" /> It is characterized by heat, moistness, liquidity, sharpness, and sourness. Its chief quality is heat.<ref name="Dict" /> It is the energy principle which uses bile to direct digestion and enhance metabolism. Unbalanced pitta is primarily characterized by body heat or a burning sensation and redness. Pitta is the normal Sanskrit word meaning "bile".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is etymologically related to the Sanskrit word pīta "yellow".
- Kapha is the watery element. It is a combination of earth and water. It is characterized by heaviness, coldness, tenderness, softness, slowness, lubrication, and the carrier of nutrients. It is the nourishing element of the body. All soft organs are made by kapha and it plays an important role in the perception of taste together with nourishment and lubrication. Kapha (synonym: Template:Transliteration) is the normal Sanskrit word meaning "phlegm".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| 5 types of vata dosha<ref name="Correlates">Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Unreliable source? | 5 types of pitta dosha<ref name="Correlates" /> | 5 types of kapha dosha<ref name="Correlates" /> |
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Prana, tejas, and ojasEdit
Yoga is a set of disciplines, some that aim to balance and transform energies of the psyche. At the roots of Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration are believed to consist of its subtle counterparts called Template:Transliteration, Template:Transliteration and Template:Transliteration. Unlike the doshas, which in excess create diseases, this is believed to promote health, creativity and well-being.
| Template:Transliteration | Template:Transliteration Composition | Template:Transliteration (Template:Transliteration) | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Transliteration | Vayu, Ākāśa | Sattva | Prana, the life force and healing energy of vata (air) |
| Template:Transliteration | Agni, Jala/Āpas | Rajas | Tejas, inner radiance and healing energy of pitta (fire) |
| Template:Transliteration | Pṛthvī, Jala/Āpas | Tamas | Ojas, the ultimate energy reserve of the body derived from kapha (water) |
Ultimately, ayurveda seeks to reduce disease, particularly those that are chronic, and increase positive health in the body and mind via these three vital essences that aid in renewal and transformation. Increased Template:Transliteration is associated with enthusiasm, adaptability and creativity, all of which are considered necessary when pursuing a spiritual path in yoga and to enable one to perform. Template:Transliteration is claimed to provide courage, fearlessness and insight and to be important when making decisions. Lastly, Template:Transliteration is considered to create peace, confidence and patience to maintain consistent development and sustain continued effort. Eventually, the most important element to develop is Template:Transliteration, believed to engender physical and psychological endurance. Aims to achieve this include ayurvedic diet, tonic herbs, control of the senses, a devotion and most importantly celibacy.<ref name="Frawley" />
CriticismEdit
Writing in the Skeptical Inquirer, Harriet Hall likened dosha to horoscope. She found that different online dosha websites gave different results in personalized quizzes, and summarized that "Ayurveda is basically superstition mixed with a soupçon of practical health advice."<ref name="skep"/> Professional practitioners of ayurveda in the United States are certified by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association Certification Board, which advocates for the safe and effective practice of ayurveda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Alternative medicines used in ayurvedic treatments have been found to contain harmful levels of lead, mercury, and other heavy metals.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Even some Ayurvedic scholars have expressed reservations about the Tridosha theory, arguing that it should be viewed as a useful framework rather than a definitive, universally applicable concept, and instead be employed as a heuristic tool to inform practice and decision-making. <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>