Everyone who has just read, heard or seen where Ayurvedic medicine is practiced always hears the words elemental substances or doshas. A handful of them usually find it difficult to grasp the meaning of these words at first. Some even find it hard to understand the reasoning behind building medical practices on the bases of such beliefs.

According to Ayurveda, each of us has a unique combination of three elemental substances in our bodies. These elemental substances are called Dosha and consist of Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The specific combinations of these Dosha that we possess determine our body types, and even our temperaments.

Now that the meaning has been made clear, let us try to give some logical explanations as to why the belief holds.

The ancient seers asserted that only substance or matter can produce an effect. If you can experience something then this experience occurs because you have come in contact with substance or matter. These seers conceived of substance or matter as having five forms.

Today we say these are the continuum between energy and mass. Ultimately everything is a form of energy; conversely, all states of mass have some form of energy. This is some of what is meant by the famous equation E = mc2 that mass and energy are interchangeable.

The seers felt that there are five states they called Space or Ether, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. These represent the five possible states of matter. We understand them as unique by the way we experience them; we use the terms “attribute” or “quality” to describe these states of matter. We know that fire is hot and that water and earth are cold. These attributes- hot, cold, etc.-describe the way we experience each of the pure types of elements. The set of attributes for these elements are as follows

Vata: Dry Light Cold Rough Subtle Mobile Clear.

Pitta: Oily Sharp (penetrating) Hot Light Mobile Liquid.

Kapha: Heavy Slow Cold Oily Slimy (smooth) Dense Soft Static (stable) Cloudy (sticky)

From these attributes of the doshas, a little can be deduced by way of logic about what effects substances containing these elements can have on one’s physiology.

A substance predominantly containing air and ether will have very dynamic properties and effects and they have come to be known as Vata substances. The Pitta substances have the physiological effect of aiding digestion, metabolism and transformation. Similarly, Kapha substances are composed of water and earth elements that have the functions to support, lubricate, secrete, etc.

Knowing what elements a substance is made of is important to understanding the kinds of effects it produces. These effects are sometimes described in terms of the attributes. Thus, the elements and their attributes can help you to understand why a certain effect is produced. You can use this same logic to counteract an effect with substances or activities that contain its opposite attributes, bringing balance and health.

Natural therapies can, therefore, help you in maintaining balance and providing you with good health. But you have to trust the right doctors to handle your health. Visit Ayurved Health Clinic today for the best doctors in the business.