What is Tridosha theory? How is it applied in Ayurveda? What are the recent trends in research pertaining to Tridosha? How is this theory still relevant?

1. Understanding the theory of Tridosha
Kishor Patwardhan
Professor, Department of Kriya Sharir, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical
Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

2. Tridosha Theory is used in all domains
Ayurveda deals with
 Biology
 Constitution
 Nutrition
 Materiamedica
 Pathology
 Diagnostics
 Therapeutics

3. Examples for the role of Tridosha in Biology
 Vata is located in Asthi; Pitta is located in Sveda and Rakta
 Vata regulates respiratory functions, food intake
 Kapha provides immunity

4. Examples for the role of Tridosha in Constitution (Prakriti)
 Individual with Vata prakriti looks lean and thin
 Individual with Pitta prakriti is prone to get digestive disorders
 Individual with Kapha prakriti has good long-term memory
 Individual with Vata prakriti has cold intolerance

5. Examples for the role of Tridosha in Nutrition
 Black gram is Guru, hence aggravates Kapha
 Shashtika Shali alleviates Vata
 Individual with Vata prakriti must consume
adequate quantities of milk

6. Examples for the role of Tridosha in Pathology
 Kamala results when Vayu takes Pitta from its actual site
to other peripheral sites
 Sthaulya results when there is aggravation of Kapha that
leads to accumulation of excess of Meda

7. Examples for the role of Tridosha in Materia-medica
 Guggulu is effective in Vata and Kapha disorders
 Katuki is effective in Pitta disorders
 Haritaki acts on all three Doshas

8. Diagnostics
 If there is itching, the role of Kapha must be inferred
 If there is pain, the role of Vata must be inferred
 If there is inflammation, the involvement of Pitta must be
inferred

9. Examples for the role of Tridosha in Therapeutics
 Vammana-Virechana-Basti are the ideal treatment options
for Kapha-Pitta-Vata disorders respectively
 Taila-Ghrita-Madhu are the ideal treatment options for
Vata-Pitta-Kapha disorders respectively

10. Life on earth
 Kapha = Moon = Stability = Soma
 Pitta = Sun = Energy = Surya
 Vata = Atmosphere = Movement = Anila

11. Atmospheric circulation

12. Sun
 The energy of sunlight supports almost all life on
Earth by photosynthesis, and drives
Earth's climate and weather.

13. ‘Moon’ is vital for life:

14. Tridosha
• Basically a theory.
• No Dosha can be represented by any single
substance or structure in the body
• Represent different homeostatic mechanisms at
different levels of organization
Examples:
• Blood Pressure Homeostasis
• Blood glucose

15. Equal and opposite
forces can produce a
state of equilibrium

16. Dosha functions can be taken as templates to
interpret what could Tridoshas represent at
different levels of organization

17. Vata
• Initiator
• Motive force
• Controller
• Divider
• Sensor
• Movements

18. Pitta
• Production of heat
• Energy
• Digestion
• Metabolism

19. Kapha
• Strength
• Resistance
• Protection
• Immunity
• Growth

20. Example: Single Cell
Nucleus : Vata
• Controller
• Contains genetic material
Mitochondrial / Cytoplasmic Enzymes : Pitta
• Cellular metabolism
• Production of energy and heat
Plasma Membrane / ER / Golgi Apparatus : Kapha
• Protection
• Protein / Lipid synthesis

21. Example: Neuron
Ionic influxes and effluxes : Vata
• Movement of action potential
• Conduction of motor/ sensory impulses
Neurotransmitters and enzymes : Pitta
• Chemical transmission
• Metabolism
Neuronal membranes : Kapha
• Protection
• Support

22. Example: Human Being
Nervous system : Vata
• Movements
• Equilibrium
• Sensation
Endocrine system : Pitta
• Digestion
• Metabolism
Immune system : Kapha
• Protection
• Resistance

23. Tridosha theory and its relevance
 Neuro-Immune-Endocrine regulation
 Chronobiology
 Person-centered medicine

24. Neuro-endocrino-immunology
 The recent trend is of recognising the interactions between neuro-
endocrine and immune mechanisms to be vital in the regulation of
homeostasis.
 Theory of Tridosha represents the basic ‘homeostatic mechanisms’ as
perceived in biomedicine.
 The three Doshas —Vata, Pitta and Kapha—can be paralleled with the
nervous, endocrine, and immune mechanisms respectively.

30. Piyush Kumar Tripathi, Kishor Patwardhan, and Girish Singh, “The Basic Cardiovascular
Responses to Postural Changes, Exercise, and Cold Pressor Test: Do They Vary in
Accordance with the Dual Constitutional Types of Ayurveda?,” Evidence-Based
Complementary and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2011, Article ID 251850, 10 pages,
2011. doi:10.1155/2011/251850

31. Chronobiology
 Circadian and other biorhythms have been recognised to have
important roles in understanding physiology and in planning
pharmacological interventions.
 This approach is highly beneficial in the management of
major chronotherapeutic conditions such as asthma, allergic
rhinitis, cardiovascular disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and
cancer.

34. 34

37. Time of administration of Medicines

38. Dosha
Bioryhthms
वयोऽहोरात्रिभुक्तानाां
तेऽन्तमध्यादिगााः क्रमात् ।
चयप्रकोपप्रशमााः वायोाः ग्रीष्मादिषु
त्रिषु ।
•वषाादिषु तु पपत्तस्य स्लेष्मणाः िशिशरादिषु ।

39. Childhood Adult Old Age
Vata
Pitta
Kapha
AGE

40. DAY

41. NIGHT

42. DIGESTION

43. VATA

44. PITTA

45. KAPHA

46. Person-centered healthcare
 Genomic research can now serve as the basis for many
medical decisions in the form of ‘individualised medicine’.
 Precise prediction and treatment of certain diseases has
now become possible because of the various genomic tools.

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51. प्रकृ ति (Prakriti)

52. 52

56. Thanks!
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