The Ayurveda Series: The doshas
Today we look at the physical traits of each dosha, the cause and signs of each dosha's aggravation and look at ways in which these can be brought back into balance.
Vata
Vata's essence is movement. It is our life force (prana), derived primarily from breath. Vata is reflected in the circulation of blood and lymph and the impulses of the nervous system.

Vata traits;
A narrow or irregular frame and slight build
Some find it impossible to put on weight and some become overweight through stress, digestive problems and eating badly
Prominent bones, joints often crack
Rough, dry skin that can crack easily
Variable appetite and, as a result, eat irregularly as they find it hard to be still
However, if they don’t eat regularly they can become hypoglycaemic and easily feel faint or weak, then even more anxious
Feel the cold, poor circulation, any symptoms they have are worse in cold weather
Love warmth and sunshine
Dry skin and hair but their variability means some areas may be oily
Erratic digestion – wind, bloating, IBS
Changeable, fickle, find it hard to make decisions
Restless, hard to relax
Low stamina, they tire easily but use nervous energy until exhausted
When in balance – bright, enthusiastic, creative, full of new ideas and initiative and a visionary
Think fast, talk fast, love being with other people, enjoy travel and change
Good at initiating things but not so good at seeing them through!
Poor memory (take things in quickly but forget quickly), lack of concentration, disorganisation, fear and anxiety and can suffer from nervous problems such as disorientation (spaced out), panic attacks and mood swings

Causes of Vata aggravation;
Irregular, erratic lifestyle, irregular eating patterns, missing meals
Stress, grief, anxiety, fear, shock, loneliness
Change, such as moving, work or relationship
Flying, travelling, changing time zones, food, etc
Change of season (especially autumn)
Too much movement
Exposure to dry, cold, windy weather
Lack of sleep, exhaustion
Talking too much
Loud noise, overstimulation
Signs of Vata aggravation;
Constipation, wind, colic, bloating, anxiety related diarrhoea
Aching pains in the bones, cracking joints, arthritis, backache in the lower lumbar
Fatigue, lowered resistance to infection, loss of weight
Tinnitus, tingling and numbness
Feeling cold, poor circulation
Dry skin and hair, brittle nails
Restless sleep, tension and anxiety
Remember - if you have any symptoms that are unusual for you or that you are concerned about please visit your GP as this guide is not a replacement for professional advice.

Treatment of Vata aggravation;
Take plenty of relaxation, rest and sleep; avoid overstimulation and doing too much
Practice yoga, pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation
Regular routine, eating meals and taking gentle exercise
Massage or similar therapies
A light diet of warm, soft foods, avoiding hard, raw, dry and indigestible foods
Add mild spices to your cooking, such as fresh ginger, cumin, cardamom, fennel and coriander
Increase sweet, sour and salty foods and minimise pungent, bitter and astringent foods
Avoid processed or ‘windy’ foods and if you love salads have them in summer with plenty of oil
Avoid caffeine as it’s too stimulating and also cold and carbonated drinks. It’s better to go for herbal teas, hot water or warm milk
Vata can snack but avoid dry items such as crackers, crisps or cereal bars, go for fruits or soaked or well-chewed nuts
Pitta
Pitta's essence is transformation and heat and it controls all the chemical and metabolic conversions in the body that create energy and heat. Pitta is reflected in the digestion of nutrients which provides energy as well as the hormonal system.

Pitta traits;
Medium build and weight, well-proportioned figures
Skin is warm to touch, pale or pink in appearance and may be sensitive so prone to rashes or spots
Skin burns easily, often have moles or freckles
Sweat readily, even in cold weather and never seem to feel the cold
May have blonde or red hair, often fine, straight and oily and turns grey early
Men who go bald early are usually pitta dominant as high testosterone levels are a pitta phenomenon
Good appetite, love eating, fast metabolism
Hate to miss meals, when hungry, irritable and hypoglycaemic with headaches, dizziness, weakness and shaking
Digestion good and bowels efficient but if they get hot, agitated or angry or eat too many hot, spicy foods then they may suffer from indigestion, heartburn or diarrhoea
Methodical and organised
Good at public speaking, entrepreneurial
Obsessive about time and perfectionists
Often wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day
Sleep well, unless they’re worried but go to bed late and tend to work into the night
Highly competitive, fear of failure
Passionate, romantic, intense, can be obsessive and jealous
Aggravated by hot weather, vigorous exercise, hot, spicy foods and red meat
An excess of pitta causes irritability, anger, overly-critical and can become a workaholic!
Tendency towards infections and skin problems such as acne and eczema, heartburn and indigestion, eye problems, anaemia

Causes of Pitta aggravation;
Hot weather, getting overheated
Bright light, hot sun
Late spring and summer
Inflammatory situations, anger, jealousy, arguments, irritation, frustration
Perfectionism, overambition
Missing meals
Suppression of emotions
Overwork, over-commitment, over-competitive environment
Pungent, sour and salty foods, fried foods
Caffeine, hot spices, alcohol
Going to bed late
Signs of Pitta aggravation;
Inflammation, heartburn, acidity
Inflammatory skin problems such as eczema
Blood disorders, anaemia, high blood pressure
Eye problems such as conjunctivitis, styes and blephartis (inflammation of the eyelids)
Heat and burning symptoms, fevers, profuse sweat
Thirst, increased appetite, dizziness, diarrhoea
Cystitis, burning urination
Headaches, migraine
Hormonal problems, PMS
Irritability, intolerance, aggression, perfectionism, obsessions, over-competitiveness, addictions
Remember - if you have any symptoms that are unusual for you or that you are concerned about please visit your GP as this guide is not a replacement for professional advice.

Treatment of Pitta aggravation;
Relaxation and rest, going to bed early (ideally 10pm)
Avoiding overwork and burning the candle at both ends
Avoiding inflammatory situations and stressful people
Avoiding excessive exercise, especially when it’s hot
Drinking plenty of cool water
Relaxing in cool areas, such as by the water, swimming or walking by the sea
When hot, taking cool baths
Counselling, talking, meditation to release suppressed emotions/anger
Soothing or pleasant music, uncompetitive activities
Reduction of pungent, spicy, fried, sour and salty food
Avoiding alcohol
Sit down for your meals (and not at your desk!), eat in a calm environment
Snack if you feel hungry but opt for crackers and oat cakes with cottage cheese or hummus, organic cereal bars, crudites, fresh fruit or dried fruit
Avoid caffeine and hot drinks in the summer, go for water, warm herbal teas and fruit juices such as pomegranate
Kapha
Kapha's essence is growth and protection and it controls nourishment. It is reflected in the bones, muscles, tissues, cells and body fluids.

Kapha traits;
Biggest and strongest builds of the three doshas
Large bones, broad shoulders, big muscles and put on weight easily
Hair is thick and lustrous
Skin is usually cool and rather clammy to touch
Appetite is stable, though they are not often hungry first thing, when they tend to feel sleepy
Love food, tend to comfort eat
Digestion is slow and sluggish, as is metabolism
Grounded, emotionally and physically strong and resilient
Good immunity
Energy is steady and enduring
Placid, kind and thoughtful, slow paced and deliberate, mild and gentle
Sweet-natured, loyal, affectionate and avoids confrontation
Slow to learn but slow to forget
Good at earning money and saving
Don’t like change or unpredictable aspects of life and do anything to maintain the status quo
May have a tendency to be lazy (the couch potato who loves nothing more than sitting around relaxing and doing very little!)
Exerting themselves does not come naturally, although vigorous exercise can make them feel very good and healthy
Sleep heavily and love to lie in
Don’t mind extremes of weather but symptoms are often worse in cold, damp winter weather
Emotionally may feel complacent, greedy, materialistic and passive
May be a tendency to be stubborn, obstinate and narrow-minded and block out anything that might upset their equilibrium
Reluctant to delve into emotional life in counselling or therapy
Can suffer from depression and SAD
Excess kapha causes stagnation in tissues, congestion, cellulite, breathing problems, feeling cold, sleepiness
Prone to colds, catarrh, asthma, allergies, high cholesterol and diabetes

Causes of Kapha aggravation;
Sleeping in the daytime, excessive sleep, getting up late
Lack of exercise and change, laziness
Cold, damp winter weather
Not eating regularly, overeating
Excess sweet, sour and salty foods
Excess heavy, cold and damp foods
Signs of Kapha aggravation;
Colds, catarrh, coughs, bronchial congestion, hay fever, asthma
Slow digestion and metabolism, nausea and heaviness after eating, constipation
Overweight
Fluid retention
Lethargy, laziness, poor motivation, foggy-mindedness
Poor circulation
Possessiveness, acquisitiveness, greed, stubbornness, aversion to change, blocking out emotions
Low thyroid function, high cholesterol
Remember - if you have any symptoms that are unusual for you or that you are concerned about please visit your GP as this guide is not a replacement for professional advice.

Treatment of Kapha aggravation;
More exercise, vigorous activity, doing different things, trying to be open-minded
Reduction of sleep if excessive, getting up well before 8am
Eating a light diet with hot foods and regular meals
Drinking plenty of warming drinks
Adding hot spices to cooking
Your diet should lean towards vegetarian as meat can be a little heavy for you
Eat freshly cooked, warm and light meals that are a little dry so cooked with only a little fat
Avoid raw salads as they are hard for you to digest and eat them only in the summer and at lunchtime
Dairy products are heavy so use alternatives such as almond or goat's milk. Cottage cheese and goat’s cheese may be OK occasionally but they may make your sinuses flair up
Eat small portions and avoid snacking, make lunch your biggest meal
Avoid cold and fizzy drinks, spiced teas are good for you
Find a way to stop yourself turning to food when stressed!
Next blog... Agni - looking after your digestive fire