The Kapha type in Ayurveda

Kapha is the combination of water and earth elements. This bio-energy is the structure-forming principle for the organism and is particularly associated with cohesion, stability and energy storage: it gives people substance and strength. Kapha is involved in the material development of different types of tissue.

At a spiritual level, it is primarily associated with terms such as love, courage, stamina, dedication, forgiveness and stability. In Indian culture this bio-energy is regarded as the promise of strength in people. Kapha is based in the chest area.

The three doshas

DOSHA OVERVIEW

In Ayurvedic teaching the world is clearly regulated: it consists of the five elements space/ether (Akasha), air (Vayu), fire (Agni), water (Jala) and earth (Prithivi). These forms of energy join together in holistic functional principles and determine everything: from the characteristics of a rock to those of plants, animals and humans. A dynamic equilibrium prevails between the elements. This adapts to the body's needs and functions, which are constantly changing. It is also dependent on external influences: the seasons affect the human state, as does the time of day and a person's age. The five elements combine in pairs to form the three bodily humours (doshas): Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (water and earth). The doshas are types of energy: they are present in every cell of the body and are responsible for the processes which take place there. Doshas form the foundation for all life.

THE QUINTESSENTIAL BON VIVANT:

The Kapha type and their characteristics

People who are characterised by Kapha energy operate in a manner that is well-considered and thorough. They can sometimes appear rather slow and ponderous to other people, but they have exceptional endurance and strength. Once a Kapha type has a new objective in their sights, they pursue this with patience and tenacity until they have achieved a successful outcome. Eating is their great passion: consequently Kapha people have a lifelong tendency to be overweight. Above all else, Kapha personalities value inner tranquillity, peace and harmony. They are also able to enjoy the little things in life; they are easily pleased and love things that are tried and tested. Private joy in a stable partnership, healthy kids and loyal friendships are the things they prioritise and that give them inner satisfaction, security and personal happiness.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE EVENT OF KAPHA DISORDERS?

If Kapha gets the upper hand, people become inflexible and increasingly cut back the radius of their existence. They perceive the intense movements and changes of everyday life as exhausting. The result is that they increasingly withdraw from life, shutting themselves off and becoming emotionally and spiritually isolated from their surroundings. It does not take long for boredom to set in. And this is accompanied by food cravings and an uncontrollable desire to consume sweet things, fatty foods, cheese, sausage products. The result is obvious: weight gain and excessive fat in the tissues. Every Kapha type will recognise the phases of internal withdrawal, the desire to be alone and to laze about, the instinctive need to wait out periods of conflict. But once this natural regeneration phase has mutated into a typical Kapha depression, the individual can feel that life is too much for them and they immerse themselves completely in their own fantasy world. In this situation, people with disordered Kapha dosha refuse any kind of emotional exchanges with others, they curl up in a ball and become numb to events around them.

BENEFICIAL FOR EXCESS KAPHA:

To restore Kapha to its healthy form, a plan needs to be put in place to encourage regular exercise both in the physical and spiritual sense. A consciously active lifestyle with good social contacts will be helpful. Don't sleep for too long, especially during the day.

THEY KAPHA TYPE AND THEIR BODY:THEY KAPHA TYPE AND THEIR METABOLISM:THEY KAPHA TYPE AND THEIR PSYCHE:THEY KAPHA TYPE IMBALANCED:

Heavy, robust physical build, well-proportioned, puts on weight quickly, often overweight, smooth skin, few wrinkles, strong hair, deep, pleasant voice, membranes and joints remain supple

rather poor and sluggish digestion, little thirst, enjoys eating pungent, bitter, sweet flavours, very strong immune system

Tranquil, stable personality, good long-term memory, works carefully, albeit slowly, tenacious, courageous, tolerant and generous, romantic, prefers to stay home, finds it hard to display negative emotions such as anger, lethargic, does not like change, requires pressure to change anything, Positive: tranquil, stable personality, very patient, sympathetic, affectionate, steadfast, Negative: lacks 'get up and go', lethargy, ignorance, inertia. Mentally bogged down and inflexible. Becomes greedy.

Respiratory tract and bronchial system congested, feels limp and subdued, often sleeps excessively, struggles with nausea and cold

Pungent spices such as

cayenne, chilli and ginger are considered
particularly beneficial for the Kapha type.

Correct nutrition for the Kapha type:

People with a Kapha dosha need to stimulate their metabolism, consequently they require mainly warm, cooked meals that are particularly easy to digest. Pungent and bitter flavours also have a stimulating effect on the digestion and help reduce Kapha.

Many Kapha types do not have any appetite in the morning and can easily skip breakfast. A warm drink of lemon and honey water is perfect to stimulate the digestion first thing, preparing it for subsequent mealtimes. As a rule you should not eat more than three meals per day, with the main meal of the day being eaten at lunchtime because that is when the highest quantity of digestive enzymes are produced.

The golden rule for Kapha types when eating is to consume less than you think you need to satisfy your hunger or appetite. Snacking between meals should be avoided save from the odd exception.
Kapha types do not need to drink too much water. However, drinks should be warm and can be sweetened with honey if desired.

Implement the dietary adjustments gradually to allow a better adaptation to the changes. Feel free to use more spices such as chilli, mustard seeds and turmeric in your cooking.

FOODS TO BALANCE KAPHA:

ALL FOODS WITH THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS:

dry, light, warming, pungent and bitter flavours help combat the sluggish nature of the Kapha type thanks to their stimulating properties.

STAY AWAY FROM FOODS THAT INCREASE KAPHA: These are foods that are sour, salty, sweet, oily or very high in protein.
FRUITS: pineapple, bananas, dates, generally very sweet and sour fruits
VEGETABLES: sweet and juicy varieties of vegetable, cucumbers, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, courgettes
GRAINS: cooked oats, white and brown rice, wheat
OILS AND FATS: butter, coconut oil, all kinds of sugar

MEAT

chicken or turkey (the dark meat in each case), eggs (not fried), prawns, game

FRUITS

apples, apricots, berries, pears, dried fruit, pomegranates, cherries, mangos, peaches, cranberries, raisins

VEGETABLES

artichokes, aubergines, lettuce, broccoli, chicory, peas, fennel, carrots, garlic, cabbage, peppers, mushrooms, radishes, beetroot, celeriac, asparagus, bean sprouts, onions

GRAINS

quinoa, millet, buckwheat, barley, oats, couscous

MILK PRODUCTS

buttermilk, soya milk, goat's milk, sheep's milk

HERBS & SPICES

cayenne pepper, pepper, horseradish, garlic, ginger, turmeric, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, caraway, fenugreek, nutmeg, fennel, mint

DRINKS

herbal teas, teas with cinnamon, ginger and bitter substances

Nutmeg

Apples

Pepper, turmeric and cumin

Buckwheat

Aubergine, artichoke, onion and asparagus

Cayenne pepper

Recipes & tips for the Kapha type

Here you will find Ayurvedic recipes that have been specially designed for the Kapha type.
The recipes take into account the needs of the Kapha type in terms of their composition, ingredients and mode of preparation.

Preparation Time:
Ayurv. Properties:

1/2

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How are the doshas determined?

Diagnosing an individual's dosha constitution forms the basis for working out their personalised nutrition and treatment plan. Ayurvedic doctors have various tools available to assist with diagnosing the dominant constellation. An initial indication can be gleaned simply from the patient's external appearance and from the discussion with their doctor. Ayurvedic pulse diagnosis (Nadi Vigyan) can be used by the doctor to glean further information about the dosha constellation. The condition of the patient's organs and any potential disorders can also aid diagnosis. Ayurvedic tongue diagnosis helps the doctor diagnose any dosha imbalance and digestive complaints. Only an in-depth diagnosis from an experienced Ayurvedic doctor can identify the dosha constitution and enable the correct course of treatment.

Restoring balance to the doshas

The aim of our body purification treatment is always to bring the doshas back into equilibrium (functional principles). Amongst other things, this is achieved by implementing the most thorough method for restoring dynamic balance: Panchakarma therapy. This offers healthy individuals plenty of opportunity for regeneration and, for those who are unwell, it provides relief and clears the way to recovery.

Recommended Package: Body Purification Package

Body Purification Package

This Ayurveda package cleanses the body and mind. Among other things, the focus is on cleansing procedures (Panchakarma), oil applications (Snehana), herbal steam baths (Swendanam), pouring of warm oils onto the forehead (Shirodhara) and - as a climax - the royal oil bath treatment (Pizhichil). In their treatments, doctors and therapists draw on the effectiveness of traditional remedies - such as Ayurvedic oils, herbs and ghee.