Tridosha -The Controller of Metabolic Actiivities

Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, the five basic elements manifest in the human body as three basic principles, or humors known as the tridosa.

The basic constitution of each individual is determined at conception. At the time of fertilization, the single male unit, the spermatozoon, unites with the single female element, the ovum. At the moment of this union, the constitution of the individual is determined by the permutations and combination of the bodily air, fire and water that manifest in the parents bodies.

The tridosha are responsible for the arising of natural urges and for individual preferences in foods: their flavors, temperatures, etc. They govern the creation, maintenance and destruction of bodily tissue and the elimination of waste products from the body. They are also responsible for psychological phenomena, including such emotions such as understanding, compassion and love. Thus the tridosha are the foundation of the psychosomatic existence of man.

Together, the tridosha governs all metabolic activities: anabolism (Kapha), catabolism (vata), and matabolism(pitta). When vata is out of balance, the metabolism will be disturbed, resulting in excess catatbolsim, which is the breakdown or deterioration process in the body. When anabolsim is greater than catabolism, there is an increased rate of growth and repair of the organs and tissues. Excess pitta disturbs metabolism, excess kapha increases the rate of anabolism and excess vata, creates emaciation (catabolism).

In childhood, anabolism and the kapha elements are predominant, since this is the time of greatest physical growth. In adulthood, metabolism and the element of pitta are most apparent, because at this stage the body is matured and stable. In old age catabolism and vata are most in evidence as the body begins to deteriorate.

Relation Of Five Elements With Five Senses

In the previous article we have seen the direct relation of five elements to man's ability to perceive the external environment in which he lives.

In this article we will discuss the manifestation of the five elements in the functioning of the five senses of man, as well as in certain functions of his physiology.

The five elements are related to man through the senses also, to five actions expressing the functions of the sensory organs.

Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth - are related to hearing, touch, vision, taste and smell, respectively.

Ether is the medium through which sound is transmitted thus, the ethereal element is related to the hearing function. The ear, the organ of hearing, expresses action through the organ of speech, which creates meaningful human sound.

Air is related to the sense of touch, the sensory organ of touch is the skin. The organ of action for the sense of touch is the hand. The skin of the is especially sensitive and the hand is responsible for the actions of holding, giving and receiving.

Fire manifests light, heat and color, is related to vision. The eye is the organ of sight, governs the action of walking and is thus related to the feet. For example a blind man can walk, but that walking has no definite direction. Eyes give direction to the action of walking.

Water is related to the organ of taste, without water the tongue cannot taste. The tongue is closely related in function to the action of the genitals.

The Earth element is related to the sense of smell. The nose is the sensory organ of smell, is related in function to the action of the anus, excretion. This relationship is demonstrated by the person who has constipation or an unclean colon: he experiences bad breath and his sense of smell becomes dull.

The ancient rishis perceived that these elements sprang from pure Cosmic Consciousness. Ayurveda aims to enable each individual to bring his body into a perfect harmonious relationship with that Consciousness.

Man And The Five Basic Elements

The five basic elements - Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth exists in all matter. According to our maharishis consciousness was energy manifested into the five basic principles or elements and this concept of the five elements lies at the heart of Ayurvedic science.

Man is a microcosm of nature and so the five basic elements present in all matter also exist within each individual.

In the human body there are many spaces which are manifestations of the Ether element. e.g. the spaces in the mouth, nose, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, abdomen, thorax, capillaries, lymphatics, tissues and cells.

Air is the second cosmic element, the element of movement. Within the human body, Air manifests in the larger movements of the muscles, the pulsations of the heart, the expansion and contraction of the lungs and the movements of the stomach wall and intestines. Response to a stimulus is the movement of afferent and efferent nerve impulses, which are sensory and motor movements. The entire movements of the central nervous system are governed by bodily Air.

The third element is Fire. The source of Fire and light in the solar system is the sun. In the human body, the source of Fire is the metabolism. Fire works in the digestive system. In the gray matter of the brain cells. Fire manifests as intelligence. Fire also activates the retina which perceives light. Thus, body temperature, digestion, the thinking processes and vision are all functions of bodily Fire. All metabolism and enzyme systems are controlled by this element.

Water is the fourth element in the body. It manifests in the secretions of the digestive juices and the salivary glands. In the mucus membranes and in plasma and cytoplasm. Water is absolutely vital for the functioning of the tissues, organs and various bodily systems. Water is called the Life.

Earth is the fifth and last element of the cosmos that is present in the microcosm . Life is possible on this plane because Earth holds all living and nonliving substances to its solid surface in the body, the solid structures - bones, cartilage, nails, muscles, tendons, skin and hair - are derived from Earth.

Thus, the five elements are directly related to man's ability to perceive the external environment in which he lives.