Kapha dosha

Kapha is one of the 3 doshas in Ayurveda. It is made up of the Water and Earth mahabhutas (elements).

Kapha is responsible for strength and stability in the body. Kapha is what gives us our muscles, our bulk, and the adipose tissues that protect our internal organs. It is responsible for all the watery, mucus secretions of the body. These secretions keep our body surfaces both internal and external, moist, and lubricated. This is especially important in our joints. Kapha is responsible for growth in the body. Kapha also gives us the power of resistance to disease and for that reason it is important for immunity. On account of its nature, it gives stability in crisis and translates into courage when needed.

An individual with a Kapha dominant prakruti will have both physical and emotional features that resemble the qualities of Kapha. What are some of the qualities of Kapha? Kapha is heavy, smooth, oily, cold, and stable. A Kapha person will have a good build, with strong bones and muscles. They also have big eyes with long eyelashes, and thick luxurious hair. They have good endurance and can work at a steady pace for prolonged periods of time. Emotionally, they are deeply loving and loyal. They are usually “stuck in their ways” and find it difficult to change their habits/routine. They have a tendency towards gaining weight easily. Their strengths include a strong and stable nature. They are dependable and loyal to their family and friends.

When Kapha goes out of balance, they can tend towards obesity. By nature, they are drawn towards sweet, heavy foods that add to this. Physically, when Kapha is aggravated, they can feel lethargic and sluggish. On an emotional level, when Kapha is aggravated, they can feel clingy and possessive. Feeling dull and sleeping during the daytime are some of the characteristic features of Kapha. They can also suffer from a slow, sluggish digestive system. Abnormal growths in the body are also Kapha in origin.

Kapha can get aggravated by a lot of factors both external and internal. A cold, wet environment, excessive intake of sweet, oily, and heavy foods will further increase Kapha in the body. Seasons, particularly spring after a cold winter can cause Kapha disorders to manifest.

Some of the common diseases that have are Kapha in origin are obesity, hypothyroidism, hardening of blood vessels, fibrocystic diseases of the breast, lipomas and other growths.

A proper daily routine (dinacharya) and a thoughtful seasonal routine (ritucharya) can help keep one’s Kapha in balance. Spices and herbs that give digestion a boost are also important factors in balancing Kapha.