How to Balance the Three Doshas

In ayurvedic medicine, the system of holistic health derived from Indian philosophy, all matter is organized into three main qualities, or doshas. Each person is made up of a unique blending of these three doshas. In most people, one dosha predominates, affecting personality and body type. Health lies in balancing all three. Follow these steps to balance the three doshas.

Instructions

1. Determine your predominant dosha (See the related eHow article, "How to Determine Your Ayurvedic Dosha"). Vata dosha is associated with coolness, dryness and activity; pitta dosha is sharp, hot and quick; kapha dosha has the qualities of heaviness, coolness and stability. Take an online quiz or see an ayurvedic practitioner to find out which dosha predominates in you, so you can tailor your balancing strategies.

2. Choose complementary foods to balance your doshas. Vata dosha people should choose sweet vegetables, nuts and cooked cereals, and cook foods in olive oil; they should limit salads or raw foods and dry foods like crackers or dry cereal. If your predominant dosha is pitta, balance the heat with sweet fruit juices, dairy products, bitter vegetables and dry foods; avoid salty and sour foods and hot spices. Balance kapha with bean soups and clear broths, broccoli, greens and crunchy foods like radishes and apples; watch grains, fats and salt, and limit sweets to a little honey.

3. Restore balance with herbs and essential oils. If your predominant dosha is vata, use ginger as a balancing spice and choose sweet orange or lavender for aromatherapy. Pitta people benefit from the cooling herb dandelion root, and should surround themselves with scents of sandalwood and rose. Clove is a good balancing spice for kapha people, who also benefit from the energizing scents of juniper and rosemary.

4. Balance your life. Vata people require regular schedules and lots of sleep to balance their active, sometimes restless nature; they should take care to keep warm in winter and to moisturize dry skin and hair. Pitta people need to stay cool by wearing natural fibers, and choose cooling exercise like swimming; if pitta is your dominant dosha, get to bed early, and balance your tendency to workaholism by scheduling time for play. Kapha people can jump start their slower metabolism with regular exercise, early rising and developing new interests and hobbies; if you are a kapha type, exfoliate regularly and drink warm water to cleanse your system.

5. See an ayurvedic practitioner. If your doshas are severely imbalanced, you may need to explore a prescribed diet, herbal treatments or other cleansing practices.

Tips & Warnings

• According to ayurvedic practice, all three doshas benefit from eating rice, lentils and ghee (a kind of butterfat used in Indian cooking), drinking lots of water and avoiding plants in the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, eggplant and tobacco.

• Staying regular is very important for balancing the three doshas.

• To maintain the three doshas in balance, don't skip meals, and avoid fasting unless you are under the supervision of your doctor or an ayurvedic practitioner.