Concept of Tridosha in Ayurveda

Ayurveda adopts the physics of the five elements viz. Prithvi(earth), Jala(water), Agni (fire), Vayu(air) and Akasha (ether)). It notes that these five elements compose the Universe as well as human body. The Ayurveda divides the human body in SaptaDhatu or 7 constituent elements viz.

• Rasa dhatu (Chyle, Lymph, Plasma)
• Rakta dhatu (Haemoglobin fraction in blood)
• Mamsa dhatu (Muscle tissue)
• Medas dhatu (Fat or Adipose tissue)
• Asthi dhatu (Bone-tissue including cartilage)
• Majja dhatu (Bone Marrow)
• Sukra dhatu (Semen, Sperm, Ovum).

Then, Ayurveda talks about the balance of three elemental energies called:

• Vata: Air
• Pitta : Bile and
• Kapha: Phlegm

Unbalance in any of the above three causes illness and this is called Tridosha. Plato in Greek medicine has also described the same 3 issues and it appears to be derived from the earlier tridosha theory of Ayurveda.