Tridosha Theory: Physiological Understanding

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.

25. 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

26. 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.

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28. Time of administration of Medicines

29. Dosha Bioryhthms

30. AGE

31. DAY

32. NIGHT

33. DIGESTION

34. VATA

35. PITTA

36. KAPHA

37. 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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39. प्रकृति ( Prakriti )

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41. Thanks! 56