Review Article
Pratiksha Pramod Deshmukh
Pratiksha Pramod Deshmukh
Department of Kriyasharir, Government Ayurved College Nanded, Maharashtra states, India.
E-mail: pratikshadeshmukh2610@gmail.com, Tel: +918308892139.
Shilpa Kantilal Ingle
Shilpa Kantilal Ingle
Department of Kriyasharir, Government Ayurved College Nanded, Maharashtra
states, India.
Kishor R. Ugale
Kishor R. Ugale
Department of Kriyasharir, Government Ayurved College Nanded, Maharashtra
states, India.
Abstract
According to Ayurveda, the body
humours: Tridosha Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These Doshas control
the creation, maintenance, and breakdown of bodily tissue and elimination of
wastes and also maintain psychological conditions such as love, anger,
understanding and emotions. Due to diet and change in lifestyle one of the Dosha increases body imbalance is
created. Kapha is the combination of water and earth elements. This
bio-energy is the structure-forming principle for the organism and is
particularly associated with cohesion, stability and energy storage. In Ayurvedic teaching the world is clearly
regulated. It consists of the five elements space/ether (Akasha), air (Vayu),
fire (Agni), water (Jala) and earth (Prithivi). Kapha is
a structural manifestation representing mass and is responsible for shape and
form. Kapha governs the structure of the body. It is the principle that
holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, and bone. The primary
function of Kapha is protection.
Abstract Keywords
Dosha, Vata, Pitta , Kapha,
Agni, Jala, Prithvi.
1. Introduction
According to Ayurveda, human body is composed of Doshas, Dhatus and Mala. There are three types of dosha. Kapha is one of them. It is constituting of two elements-Earth and Water, which signify the stability quality of kapha dosha.
1.1 Kapha Constitutio
: Jala
+ Prithvi [1].
Our body consists of around 70% water or fluids. One-third of the body is
water extracellular fluid and two-third of the body water is present in
intracellular fluid. Here these fluids represent Jala manifestation and the
structures like bone, muscles and solid mass of other organs represent Prithvi manifestation in the body.
Synonyms of Kapha: Shleshma, Balas, Soumya.
1.2 Kapha Dosha and Triguna
All living and nonliving things originate from Panchamahabhuta, Kapha dosha evolve from Panchamahabhuta, so these dosha bear triguna property. According to Sushruta, Kapha evolve from Jala and Prithvi. Jala has Satva and Tama predominance [2]. Dosha is present all over the body [3]. They have specific sites in normal physiological conditions. The general location of kapha is the upper parts of the body. It is marked as above heart [4].
1.3 According to their
place and the different functions Kapha Doshas are classified into 5 types [5]
1. Tarpaka Kapha:
Place - Residing in the head, sinus and spinal
fluid.
Function- It nourishes and lubricates the brain tissue
& nerves.
2. Bodhaka Kapha:
Place-
Residing in the tongue, throat and palate.
Function- It
governs the lubrication of the oral cavity, enhances the sense of taste and
aids digestion by making the swallowing of food easier.
3. Kledaka Kapha:
Place - Residing in the chest and gastric area.
Function- It governs the moisture content in the
stomach and intestinal mucosa.
-It lubricates the ingestion of food by
facilitating the passage through the food pipe into the lower digestive tract.
4. Avalambaka Kapha
Place- Residing in the heart, chest and back.
Function-It governs the proper functioning of the
vital organs-the lung and heart tissue-thereby influencing respiration and
circulation.
5. Shleshaka Kapha:
Place-Residing in all joints.
Function- It provides the necessary lubrication necessary to protect the body from friction/wear & tear.
1.4 Qualities of Kapha dosha [6]
1. Snigdha
- Oily, unctiousness and it brings in lubrication.
- Oily skin is because of Kapha dosha.
-lubrication factor in joints, vertebral discs, Cerebral spinal fluid
around the brain and pleural fluid.
2. Sheet-Cold.
- It is the quality of both Vata and Kapha Dosha.
- Sheet is the quality of water hence it is the quality of kapha as
well.
3. Guru-Heaviness.
4. Manda - Mild and Viscous.
-Delay in making decisions, understanding and expressing feelings. etc
are features of Manda qualities of Kapha Dosha.
5. Shlakshna- Smoothness
-It is healing in nature and smooth to the touch.
6. Mrutsna- Soft.
- Soft to touch.
- Produces features in the body tissue like muscle, fat and heart.
7. Sthir-Stability or
immobility.
- It produces stability in body tissue.
1.5 According to Aacharya
Sharangdhar
1. Shweta
2. Tanmogunaadhik.
This article aims to review the functional aspect of kapha dosha through Ayurved literature.
2. Materials
and methods
The material used in this paper is from Ayurved texts like Charak samhita, Sushrut Samhita, Ashtang hriday, Harit samhita and Ashtang Sangrah etc.
3. Results and discussion
Ayurveda offers a holistic treatise on the physical, psychological and emotional
well being of an individual. According to Ayurveda
the world and Human body are made of the following five elements (Panchamahabhuta): Prithvi (earth), Tejas
(fire), Jala (water), Vayu (air), and Aakash (space).
A unique combination of these
elements gives rise to what is called a Dosha,
or humour. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha. Each individual embodies a unique combination of all
of these doshas, where one dosha dominates, or is predominantly
larger in quantity. Kapha has
independent tasks in the body. However, it is dormant without Vata dosha.
The principal function of kapha dosha is to maintain normal physiology
by supporting growth and anabolism. The special functions of kapha are as below
[7-10].
-Snehana -
provides and maintains unctuousness to the body.
-Bandhana - Maintains
the anatomical integrity of various cells, tissues, and organs with each other,
as well as provides support/ Maintain the integrity of joints
-Sthirata or dardhyata
- Maintain firmness and steadiness. sthirata or dardhyata)
- Gauravata
- Provides weight to
various structures and organs
-Vrishta -
Maintains reproductive health.
-Bala - Provides physical and
mental strength.
- Kshama - Maintains the quality of forgiveness.
-Dhriti- Maintains the quality of patience.
-Alobha - Maintains
the quality of greedlessness.
-Upachaya -
Growth of the body.
- Jnana - Knowledge.
- Buddhi
- Intelligence.
Acharya Vagbhata was the first to describe five types of kapha with names [11-13].
-Maintains the structural integrity of joints (sandhi samshleshana)
-Maintains the unctuousness (snehana)
-Helps in the healing process(Ropana)
-Provides nutrition to the whole body(purana)
-Provides strength (bala).
Avalambaka, kledaka, bhodhaka, tarpaka, and shleshaka are the five
classifications of kaphadosha. The location and function of five types of kaphadosha
based on different ayurvedic texts are given in Table 1.
Table 1. The classification of Kapha is based on different functions and
locations in the human body [14-18].
S. No |
Type of Kapha |
Location |
Functions |
01. |
Avalambaka
|
Chest(Ura) |
-Supports Trika (area of conjugation of the head
with two arms) -Support and maintain the structural and
functional integrity of the heart by the power of nutrients present in food. (annarasasahitenhridyaavalambana)). -Supports other kapha sites (sheshanam cha
shleshmasthananamavalambanat). |
2. |
Kledaka |
Stomach (amashaya) |
-Liquefication and disintegration of food
particles to facilitates easy digestion. (praklinnambhinnasanghata
or annasanghatakledanat). - Supports the other kapha sites through its inherent qualities. |
3 |
Bodhaka |
Root of tongue(jihvamula) Throat(kantha) |
-Facilitate the perception of taste(rasajyane) |
4 |
Tarpaka |
Head (shira) |
-Due to the presence of natural qualities, it
nourishes the sense organs (tarpanata). |
5 |
Shleshaka |
Joints (sandhi) |
-Maintains the structural and functional
integrity of all joints (sarvasandhisanshleshat, sarva sandhi anugraha). |
3.1 Factors responsible
for abnormal states of kapha
Certain factors cause excess or decline of kapha in the human body. These factors are natural or unavoidable and artificial or avoidable.
3.1.1 Natural factors
These factors are the essential components of biological rhythm
occurring in the external as well as internal environment of the body. This
natural increase is physiological. These factors are as follows [10-22].
1. Season (ritu):
Kapha undergoes accumulation in winter (hemant and shishira), gets vitiated
during spring (vasanta) and subsides
to normal during summer (grishma).
2. Various
stages of digestion of food:
Kapha gets increased during the first stage of digestion
or immediately after eating food(bhuktamatra).
3. Biological
rhythm of day and night:
Kapha is increased in the morning (purvahe) and evening
(purvaratre or pradoshe).
4. Habitat (desha):
Marshy area (anupa).
5.
Age (vaya): In childhood, Kapha is
dominant as compared to other dosha.
Acquired factors:
Acquired factors are those which increase and aggravate kapha dosha other than natural factors.
These are avoidable and used in clinical practice by applying the concept of samanya vishesha siddhanta. These
factors are as follows [23, 24].
1. Diet
(dravya) and properties of diet:
Food with sweet (madhura),
sour (amla) and salt (lavana) taste, heavy-to-digest food,
slimy, unctuous food articles and excessive intake of water cause kapha vitiation. The common examples of
these foods are pickles, sour fruits, curd, dairy sweets, freeze cold items,
milk products, oily and deep fried food items.
2. Lifestyle
and other activities
Daytime sleep (diwaswapna),
lack of exercise (avyayama), drinking
water at night (nisha ambupana),
mixing wholesome and unwholesome together (samashana)
and over eating before digestion of previous meals (adhyashana) [25] etc.
3. Emotional
and behavior factors
Pleasure (harsha), procrastination, laziness, excess sleep, lack of mental activities.
3.1.2 Kapha Doshas
A) Physical qualities
1. Cold = Their skin is cold to touch. They can also experience recurrent cases of cold, congestion, and cough
during cold weather.
2. Wet
3. Heavy = It expresses the density. Kapha is involves in anabolism. Due
to this property the kapha body type people are overweight. Mental heaviness is
always associated with it.
4. Dull: Their actions are very slow due to this property.
5. Slow: Due to this they are slow to talk, slow to walk and also have
slow digestion.
6. Static: They are very stable. And resist change.
7. Smooth /Slimy: they have smooth skin. And also has good internal
lubrication.
B) Emotional qualities
lethargy, depression and over attachment.
4.
Conclusions
According to ayurveda, Kapha dosha is the element associated
with water and earth The nature of Kapha
is slow, cool, smooth, moist, oily, heavy and steady. Apart from that, Kapha
embodies lubrication, stability, and structure in the mind and body. Due to the
qualitative nature of the Doshas, Ayurveda types of bodies can be defined. The
Kapha body type is earthy with the water element in it. This makes them
grounded and more stable. These are powerful individuals and caring by nature.
They not only get things done but help and support others too.
Authors’ contributions
All authors contributed equally
Acknowledgements
Funding
The author did
not receive any financial aid.
Availability of data and materials
All relevant
data are within the paper and its supporting information files. Additional data
will be made available on request according to the journal policy.
Conflicts of interest
The authors have
declared that no competing interests exist.
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This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Abstract
According to Ayurveda, the body
humours: Tridosha Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These Doshas control
the creation, maintenance, and breakdown of bodily tissue and elimination of
wastes and also maintain psychological conditions such as love, anger,
understanding and emotions. Due to diet and change in lifestyle one of the Dosha increases body imbalance is
created. Kapha is the combination of water and earth elements. This
bio-energy is the structure-forming principle for the organism and is
particularly associated with cohesion, stability and energy storage. In Ayurvedic teaching the world is clearly
regulated. It consists of the five elements space/ether (Akasha), air (Vayu),
fire (Agni), water (Jala) and earth (Prithivi). Kapha is
a structural manifestation representing mass and is responsible for shape and
form. Kapha governs the structure of the body. It is the principle that
holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat, and bone. The primary
function of Kapha is protection.
Abstract Keywords
Dosha, Vata, Pitta , Kapha,
Agni, Jala, Prithvi.
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution
4.0
License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
Editor-in-Chief
Prof. Dr. Christian Celia
This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License.(CC BY-NC 4.0).