Written by Katey Davidson, MScFN, RD — Medically reviewed by Grant Tinsley, PhD
August 5, 2020
Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest forms of holistic medicine and still widely used today.
Combining physical, psychological, and spiritual health, Ayurveda focuses on whole-body healing and states that a person’s dosha, a type of bodily humor, determines their personality and health.
Though Ayurveda translates to “the science of life” in English, many health professionals question the belief of personal doshas due to a lack of scientific proof.
Meanwhile, proponents of Ayurveda claim that adopting dosha-specific health practices leads to balance and well-being.
This article tells you all you need to know about the Ayurvedic doshas and whether science backs them up.
Ayurveda and doshas
Ayurvedic medicine is based on the idea that the world is made up of five elements — aakash (space), jala (water), prithvi (earth), teja (fire), and vayu (air).
A combination of each element results in three humors, or doshas, known as vata, kapha, and pitta. These doshas are believed to be responsible for a person’s physiological, mental, and emotional health.
Every person is said to have a unique ratio of each dosha, usually with one standing out more than the others. For example, a person may be mostly pitta while another may be mostly vata. An Ayurvedic practitioner can help you determine your dosha.
A person’s unique ratio of vata, kapha, and pitta is said to define their Ayurvedic constitution, a blueprint to achieve optimal health.
Though there’s little evidence to prove the legitimacy of doshas, many proponents of Ayurveda point to a lack of studies and funding on the subject. Rather than discrediting the practice, they believe more research should be done to support its efficacy.
