Vata, Pitta, Kapha

Ayurvedic recipes for Dosha-balancing tea

Dhanvantari, physician of the gods

My Kali Shrine

Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I've been fascinated with everything India (culture, history, religion, food, clothing, and music) for quite some time. At any given moment, I can be found wearing a bindi, listening to a sitar, ingesting turmeric, or popping off a couple down-dogs. I even have a small Kali altar built around a figurine my little sister Cirrus brought back for me from India. Unsurprisingly, Ayurveda, the ancient system of traditional Hindu medicine, has taken its turn as the focal point of an "Arhia geeky obsesssion." To be honest, I am a little hesitant to write anything about Ayurveda because it is impossible to simplify and easy to misinterpret. I myself have only a vague whiff of understanding when it comes to the subject. After all, Ayurveda arose thousands of years ago and half a world away. Sources of education on the topic seem to fall into two categories: vapid, ridiculous online drivel, and unimaginably dense tomes that beginners like me just can't access. Anyhow, keep in mind the above disclaimer as you read this post!

In the context of Ayurveda, the Sanskrit prakriti means a person's unique physical and psychological nature. Dosha can be translated roughly as "constitution" or "biological type." Doshas make up the physical aspect of one's prakriti. There are three doshas, or biological energies: vata, pitta, and kapha, which relate to the five elements as defined by Ayurvedic philosophy (see chart at right). Vata is made up of ether and air, pitta of fire and water, and kapha of water and earth. Every person displays characteristics of vata, pitta, and kapha, but usually one or two doshas are dominant above the others within an individual's prakriti. Rarely are the doshas distributed evenly in a single human being, but it does happen. To ascertain an accurate evaluation of your personal doshic balance, you should seek out a professional Ayurvedic practitioner. However, there are many "online quizes" and such that one can partake in *just for the fun of it*.... and it is sort of fun. Simply keep in mind the mega-hokey factor. The dosha quiz I took was in Deepak Chopra's Perfect Health. Unfortunately, the book was heartily new-agey and not authentic in terms of traditional Indian medicine... but it seemed like an acceptable place to begin. Anyhow, according to Chopra's book, I am very vata with a decent dose of kapha and only a pinch of pitta.

During my research on Ayurveda, I came across recipes for herbal teas intended to balance the respective doshas. Tea being another of my geeky obsessions (one that will doubtless star in a post all its own here one of these days), I took note. I've seen many variations on each recipe, with differing combinations and proportions of herbs, so there is no "one way" of brewing these teas. The recipes here are simpler than many, involving only four ingredients per mixture, and include my personal favorite herbs/spices from among the vast array. Feel free to do your own research and experiment with different amounts to suit your own needs and tastes. After all, that is the fun part! 

                 Vata Balancing Tea              Pitta Balancing Tea                Kapha Balancing Tea                       

 

In case you can't tell from the pictures, I'll also list the ingredients in words. Vata: ginger, licorice, cinnamon, cardamom. Pitta: peppermint, chamomile, fennel, rose. Kapha: ginger, pepper, saffron, cloves. Vata is the only one I've actually made, since I often tend toward an overabundance of that dosha. I intend to try the others, however, because they all look AMAZING. When I make a batch of tea, I use a large handful of each ingredient per two quarts of water. I simmer everything together for about an hour at very low heat, then pour into jars and store in the fridge to be enjoyed all week. I like to add a shot of apple cider vinegar to my cup before I drink it, and I'm sure raw honey would also be a lovely addition. 

Each tea balances the dosha of its name. Therefore, vata tea is grounding and stabilizing, pitta tea is cooling and calming, and kapha tea is energizing and uplifting. So for example, if you feel a cold coming on, vata tea would be a good choice, since a cold indicates an excess of vata. If you have digestion issues, either vata or kapha could help. If you are frustrated or worked-up, pitta might be of use. 

Enjoy!

Sapta Chakra, from a Yoga manuscipt in Braj Bhasa lanaguage, 1899.