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.