Dividing our life into three stages of Kapha, Pitta and Vata stages comes from the concept of the three doshas of those names. The doshas concept is special to Ayurveda. Doshas can be described as the operational intelligences that drive our body’s physiology and chemistry. The proportion of the three doshas in the body also determine our physical appearance and mind to some extent. These doshas are influenced by the five elements in the nature outside- the Sky or space, the Sun or fire, water (rain) air, and earth. As our body is also made up of these elements, there is constant interaction with the elements outside.
Kapha can be roughly defined as water. Childhood when the body is predominantly full of water, is the Kapha stage. The body is soft, skin smooth and moist, mind is clear and full of sattva. Digestion is slow and weak. The digestive system, even as all other systems are still developing. Behavior is unhurried.
From adolescence to about 50 or 60 years of age is the Pitta stage. The person can (or thinks he can) digest or handle anything. All the digestive enzymes, hormones, acids and alkalis are produced as needed. The behavior could be aggressive, enterprising , active, facing challenges, may be impatient too.
The third, old age, is Vata stage. The skin begins to show wrinkles, the Kapha and Pitta in the body begin to decline. Digestion goes down. Restlessness and anxiety could set in.
Why do we need to know these details? There is a saying that our body undergoes a significant change every seven years. So, our habits of eating, sleeping and exercising have all to be modified as needed. We need to learn to listen to our body to avoid harmful stress.
The medicines, including home remedies, will work well only if we take into account the changes that the body’s doshas undergo according to weather and age. What works for one body-mind type (Prakriti) will not work for another, very different type. What works for you in summer may be unsuitable in the rainy season or winter.
In Ayurveda, deciding on medication, dosage and treatment, the following have to be factored in: the age of the person, her body type (prakriti), the weather and the geographical climate where the person lives, the degree of disturbance- the balance of disease and vitality in the person, the likely cause of the symptoms the person is experiencing.
If all these are assessed properly, the treatment can be very appropriate, soothing and sure cure.
