Shades of Tridoshas – (Kapha Dosha)

Characteristics of the Pitta Individual

The word Kapha comes from two Sanskrit roots: “ka”, meaning water, and “pha”, meaning to flourish. Kapha is also associated with the element Earth, so the combination of Earth and Water gives Kapha its distinctive qualities. Kapha comprises all our cells, tissues and organs. Kapha molecules tend to bind together to form compact masses, giving the body a fuller or chubby shape. Lubrication of the joints and organs, strong muscles and bones, cellular secretions, and memory retention are all associated with Kapha’s watery functions.

Earth and Water give Kapha the qualities of heavy, slow, cool, oily, damp, smooth, dense, soft, static, viscous and cloudy. Kapha is described as white in colour, with sweet and salty tastes. The expression of these qualities in a Kapha constitution is presented in the table below.

These qualities contribute to a strong and healthy body, large and beautiful eyes, healthy teeth, and thick, curly hair in people of Kapha constitution. They tend to have thick, smooth, oily and hairy skin. Kaphas generally have a steady appetite and thirst, but slower digestion and metabolism. This may contribute to weight gain, which can be difficult to reduce. At times, cravings for sweet and salty foods may lead to water retention. They may enjoy eating, sitting, doing nothing and sleeping for long periods.

Kapha individuals are blessed with deep and stable faith, love, compassion and a calm, steady mind. They tend to have a good memory, a deep and melodious voice, and a measured, monotonous pattern of speech. A Kapha person tends to earn and save money. Their extravagances may include spending small amounts on cheese, sweets and cakes. When Kapha becomes unbalanced, qualities such as greed, attachment, ignorance and laziness may become prominent. Overall, the Kapha individual is traditionally described as being endowed with excellent strength, knowledge, peace, love and longevity, supported by a strong constitution.

The Attributes of the Kapha Individual

Attribute	Manifestations in the Body
Heavy	Heavy bones and muscles; large body frame; tendency toward excess weight; grounded nature; deep, heavy voice
Slow / Dull	Slow walking and speech; slow digestion and metabolism; sluggish gestures
Cool (Cold)	Cold, clammy skin; steady appetite and thirst with slower metabolism and digestion; tendency toward repeated colds, congestion and cough; desire for sweets
Oily	Oily skin, hair and feces; lubricated and unctuous joints and organs
Liquid	Excessive salivation; congestion in the chest, sinuses, throat and head
Slimy / Smooth	Smooth skin; smoothness of the organs; smooth, gentle mind; calm nature
Dense	Dense layer of fat; thick skin, hair, nails and feces; plump, rounded organs; firm muscles; compact, condensed tissues
Soft	Soft, pleasing appearance; love, care, compassion, kindness and forgiveness
Static	Enjoys sitting, sleeping and doing nothing
Sticky	Viscous and cohesive quality contributes to compactness and firmness of joints and organs; enjoys hugging; deeply attached in love and relationships
Cloudy	Mind may feel cloudy or foggy in the early morning; often desires coffee as a stimulant to begin the day
Hard	Firm muscles; strength; rigid attitude
Gross	May cause obstruction; tendency toward obesity
Sweet	The anabolic action of sweet taste is traditionally associated with sperm formation and increased semen quantity; an abnormal expression may create cravings for sweets
Salty	Supports digestion and growth, provides energy and helps maintain osmotic balance; an abnormal expression may create cravings for salt and water retention
White	Pale complexion; white mucus; white coating on the tongue; colour associated with Kapha Āma

The Normal Functions of Kapha

When Kapha is in a state of equilibrium, it supports the following functions:

Stability and strength of the body
Lubrication and unctuousness
Proper nourishment and cohesion of body tissues
Strength of the muscles and joints
Forgiveness and emotional stability
Heaviness and groundedness
Reproductive and aphrodisiac functions
Patience and endurance
Freedom from excessive greed
Immunity and resistance