What is Kapha Dosha? What are the qualities and functions of Kapha Dosha? What happens when Kapha gets imbalanced?

Are you trying to lose weight? Wanting to be skinny? But even just starring at your favourite dish already adds a few pounds! And whatever you do those wobbly bits just wont go away!

Then you wonder how is it so easy for others to lose that much weight???

Well, I hate to say this but it might be that you are never meant to be skinny. But don’t get me wrong because you are never meant to be obese either. What I mean by that is, some people are just genetically built chunky.

Having that big buttocks is how your body wants it to be. Some people accumulate body fat faster than others because by nature their bodies are just a bit too slow processing energy.

And these people are mostly of Kapha dosha constitution.

In Ayurveda, there is a tool called the Tri-Dosha Concept. This is a tool used to gather information about a person. This concept involves the three doshas Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Accordingly, these three doshas determines who we are and it also maintain and sustain our bodily processes.

Dosha is a Sanskrit word that means “subtle elements” or it can also mean “subtle energy”. There are three doshas namely, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. All of the doshas have certain qualities that correspond from their elemental make up.

And the quantity of each dosha varies inside the body. This combination determines our unique constitution. And the dominant dosha highlights your identity. Although, all three have specific functions, they collectively sustain and maintain life process.

What is Kapha Dosha?

Kapha carries the elements earth and water. Water is the dominant element, from that we can look at the qualities of Kapha being heavy, slow, sticky, soft but firm.

Have you ever wondered why mother earth is called mother earth? Because the element earth makes life blossom. It is the giving element, it is what gives life substance and stability.

Similarly, a Kapha dosha constitution do just that. They are the most caring kind. They have that motherly nature in them.

When it comes to appearance, a Kapha person appears to be chunky, with large rounded face and nose. Thick black hair and bushy eye browse. Most features of a Kapha person is just normally large.

Physiologically, Kapha people have strong appetite with slow metabolism. Which is why it is extra harder for them to lose weight!

For Kapha women, menstrual periods tend to be long and heavy.

Mentally, Kapha people are slow in processing information, their memory is also slow. But they are patient, they may be slow but they are steady, once they have taken something in it stays.

Kapha is the lazy dosha, they like to be calm and relaxed.

Emotionally, Kapha people hardly gets stressed but they hold emotions. They are the sentimental type. They never forget what’s dear in their heart. Although, they are forgiving they also don’t forget.

Functions of Kapha Dosha

The primary function of Kapha dosha is to give substance and stability to the body. It fills the spaces and provides strength. It is also responsible for maintaining immunity.

When Kapha becomes imbalanced these signs and symptoms may occur;

• Heavy body
• Greasy skin and hair
• Sticky or oily bodily fluids
• Feeling cool
• Craving warmth
• Feeling like wearing wet clothes
• Lack of coordination
• Edema
• Drowsiness
• Halitosis
• Sweet, sour, salty taste in the mouth
• Pale colour skin
• Slow in doing things

When imbalanced, because of the nature of the Kapha dosha toxins can easily build up over time. Treating this can be a slow lengthy process.

Balancing agni or digestion and eliminating toxins are the main aim to bring Kapha dosha to balance.