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Kapha Dosha

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In my previous post, I explained the pitta dosha, its types, their 
Photo by Heather Barnes on Unsplash
functions alongwith their locations in
 our body.

In this post, I'm gonna explain about what the third shaaririk dosha, the kapha dosha is, what are its functions, its types, their functions alongwith their locations in our body.

For most of the readers, I want it to clear that it is KAPHA and not COUGH.

Kapha can be correlated to the immunity of our body. It does other functions as well. It has dominance of water and earth elements, which gives it the properties of heaviness, coldness, softness, sweetness, etc.



Locations of Kapha Dosha*

Urah (Chest)
Shiro (Head)
Griva (Neck)
Parvanya (Joints)
Amashaya (Stomach)
Meda (Fat)

These are all the general sites of kapha dosha. Among them Urah (Chest) is the specific location of kapha dosha.


Functions of Kapha Dosha*

Sneha (Unctuousness)
Bandha (Binding)
Sthirtavam (Firmness/Stability)
Gaurvam (Heaviness)
Vrishta (Virility)
Bala (Strength)
Kshama (Forbearance)
Dhriti (Restraint)
Lobha (Absence of greed)

These are all the functions of normal kapha dosha. It deviates from these, if get vitiated or decrease or just get imbalanced from normal.


Types of Kapha Dosha**
It is divided into five types, the same as vata and pitta dosha, namely Avalambaka, Tarpaka, Shleshmaka, Bodhaka, and Kledaka.

Avalambaka Kapha
It is located in chest region, thoracic cavity and function as pericardial, pleural fluid for lubrication and easy movements in chest cavity.

Tarpaka Kapha
It is present in head region and functions as cerebrospinal fluid.

Shleshmaka Kapha
It is located in joints and helps in lubrication and easy movements of joints.

Bodhaka Kapha
It is present in mouth and helps in taste perception, easy swallowing of food, and moistening of food.

Kledaka Kapha
It is located in stomach and helps in moistening the ingested food, forms the mucous lining that protects stomach, and HCl secreted provides innate immunity.


Effects of Increased Kapha Dosha

An increase in kapha dosha from its balanced state causes white colouration, nausea, decreased appetite, cough, dyspnoea, looseness of joints and other symptoms.


*   References from Charak Sutrasthana
** References from Charak Chikitsasthana

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