Kapha
dosha consists of water and earth as the elements. Composed of these two
elements, kapha is responsible for managing the structure and
lubrication of mind-body physiology. The main function of the kapha is to bring
stability and structure to the body. Kapha is mainly present in heart, lungs,
throat, lymphs, ligaments and tissues. Kapha is present in the chest, throat,
head, sinuses, nose, mouth, stomach, joints, cytoplasm, plasma, and in the
liquid secretions of the body such as mucus Kapha also maintainsvata andpita in
the body.
Kapha lubricates the joints; provides moisture to the skin; helps in
healing wounds; gives biological strength, stability; supports memory
retention; gives energy to the heart and lungs, and maintains immunity. Kapha helps
in exchange of gases in lungs, kapha is responsible for the emotions of
attachment, greed, and long-standing envy.
When Kapha
becomes aggravated or excessive, then problems like sinus, weight gain,
diabetes, excessive sleepiness, and fluid retention, are other symptoms.
The functions of kapha in our body
include:
Lubrication
Growth
Strength, stamina,
energy
Production of mucous
Sense of Support,
stability
Gaseous exchange in
lungs
Sleep
Repair
& regeneration
Remedies for Kapha dosha
Symptoms
of kapha dosha
Signs
of feeling of generalized heaviness, laziness tend to oversleep, depression. If
unchecked, severe kapha imbalance may lead to depression and loss of
consciousness.
Sweet
taste in the tongue, pale skin, itching sensation and increased mucus secretion
from mouth and nose are some physical causes for kapha imbalance.
Fullness
of stomach, nausea, indigestion is few others for kapha imbalance. Excess kapha may lead to diabetes,
hyperglycemia.
Kapha imbalance can also lead to foul smell, swelling and stiffness in the
joints, a sense of heaviness in the eyes, whiteness in the urine, eyes,
impacted wisdom teeth, tumors, goiter, an enlarged spleen, an enlarged liver,
glaucoma, protruded eyes, gangrene, fibroid tumors, gall stones, bone spurs,
cystic ovaries.
Excessive kapha made lead to cold, cough, fever and
congestion in throat and chest.
Remedies for kapha dosha
Try
to avoid damp weather or work places. Stay physically and mentally active. Try
to wake up early in the morning to feel fresh
Eat
food that is pungent, bitter and astringent in taste. Don’t eat too spicy food.
Take
warm water with lemon and honey in the morning is good for health.
Doing
regular exercise is good for health. Indulge in exercises like running, biking,
yoga is good. Pranayama is a good exercise.
It
is good to avoid high processed food or heavy oily foods like cheese, pudding
etc.
Some
natural herbs are turmeric which is an important detoxifying agent. The taste of
turmeric is bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes and is mildly heating; hence
it is useful in balancing excess Kapha in the mind-body system. It is also
natural anti biotic can inhibit the growth of yeast, bacteria and virus.
Ginger has a pungent, aromatic
taste that is used as a traditional
healing systems to improve digestion and alleviate nausea, intestinal gas, and
menstrual cramps from a very long time. Modern scientific studies have found
that ginger contains powerful anti-inflammatory phytonutrients known as
gingerols and strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Ginger is
effective in preventing the symptoms of motion sickness, including nausea,
dizziness, and vomiting and also good for gastric problems.
Ganga basin or Ganges basin is the part of the Ganga Brahmaputra basin draining around 1,086,000 square Kilometres in Tibet, Nepal, India and Bangladesh.