What is Kapha dosha?
Kapha governs all structure and lubrication in the mind and body. It controls weight, growth, lubrication of the joints and lungs, and formation of all the seven tissues — nutritive fluids, blood, fat, muscles, bones, marrow and reproductive tissues.When we think of Kapha types we often think of loyal and compassionate individuals with a stable quality about them. This unique stability of kapha arises from the predominant elements of both water and earth which can also make Kapha types vulnerable to cold, moist, slow and heavy characteristics. Therefore, management of Kapha types is centered around:
TASTES TO PACIFY KAPHA:
Ayurveda describes an interesting relationship of taste and its influence upon the body. According to this philosophy, kapha types often are most balanced by pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes as these tastes are considered to be drying and lightening in nature with catabolic actions.
KAPHA IN A NUTSHELL:
Slow digestion, weight gain, congestion, edema, and poor circulation.
SIMPLE CONSIDERATIONS TO BALANCE KAPHA TYPES:
- Wake up early, be active and consider exercise daily
- Avoid sedentary lifestyle and daytime sleeping
- Avoid cold drinks and instead consider warm and spicy food and hot drinks
- Eat fresh raw vegetables to help balance the oily nature of kapha
- Consider drinking hot water mixed with small amounts of honey
KAPHA QUALITIES AND THIER MANIFESTATIONS:
Ayurveda helps to manage certain qualities simply by introducing the opposing quality in order to promote a state of balance. For example, the “heavy” quality of kapha can be balanced by the opposing “light” quality. Therefore, kapha types will naturally find benefit by eating smaller “lighter” meals and should even consider fasting at times. Interestingly, kapha types will also benefit from honey and hot water as this helps to oppose the heavy quality of kapha and can even help to loose excess “heaviness” or weight from the body.
I think we all have, at some time, experienced the dull and slow nature of the body. This dull quality can make one’s thinking sluggish and can even make the body feel like a ton of bricks. This dull nature of kapha combined with the heavy quality [described above] can makes one’s metabolism slow and dull often making kapha types vulnerable to weight gain. This “dull’ quality of kapha is often best managed with the opposing “sharp” quality. An easy example would include stimulants such as caffeine, however, more preferable considerations would include herbs such as kutki, chitrak, brahmi, and even guggulu.
The cool quality of kapha comes from the predominating element of water. This can cause excess congestion, cough and colds for kapha types. Therefore, kapha types would benefit by introducing heating elements such as cumin, black pepper and ginger into their diet. Likewise, kapha types will do best by having more hot and spicy foods while avoiding food and drinks which are cold.
Kapha, inherently, is considered oily and because of this oily quality it can lead to oily skin, high triglycerides, increased cholesterol, increased adipose tissue, and even fatty changes within the liver. It is best to balance this excessive oily quality with the opposing dry quality, for example, by eating raw vegetables. In the same manner, kapha types should naturally avoid fatty and fried foods. Lastly, kapha types benefit greatly by having warm water mixed with small amounts of honey.