Kapha Vikara / Diseases of the Kapha System

The disease processes listed here are the ones most commonly listed in the early texts. This
list is by no means exhaustive.
1. Drowsiness
2. Laziness, sluggishness or excess need for sleep
3. Watery mouth
4. Excess phlegm, urine or stool
5. Thickening of the artery walls
6. Goiter
7. Obesity
8. Weak digestive power
9. Urticaria
10. Heavy sensation in the heart
11. Sweet taste in the mouth

Symptoms of Kapha Dysfunction

Besides these illnesses connected with the overactive artery system, there are some typical
conditions and symptoms found in many different diseases that point to an overactive artery
system:
1. Diseases where symptoms develop very slowly with mild complications.
2. Appearance of white or pale color on the facial complexion or at the affected area.
3. Greasiness in any affected area of the body.
4. White or pale color of the nail, stool, urine, or in conjunctiva of the eyes or mucus
membrane of the mouth
5. Obesity
6. Patients with a dull or sluggish character.

Kapha in the Sense of Aggravating Agent

The artery system increases function with increases in the

Kapha substance or the activities of the physical properties of the mucus formula. Therefore,
it can become over-balanced by the following Kapha aggravating agents:
1. Excessive or daily use of any kind of food or drug which is either sweet or sour or
salty in taste, including greasy food, milk products except cheese, pork, beef, fish,
buffalo, mutton or new rice (right after harvesting).
2. Sleeping during the day, especially after meals.
3. Lack of exercise, over-eating or not bathing.
4. Cold climate, cold foods or foods or herbs which are cooling in effect.
5. Heavy food that is hard to digest.
6. Starchy foods with sticky properties.
7. Overconfidence or excess happiness.
8. The effect of spring and winter.
9. Activity right after meals affecting the stomach, such as exercise.
10. The natural effect of morning and night.
These Kapha aggravating agents during a Kapha type of disease cause natural over-activity in
the function of the artery system. This will worsen the symptoms of any disease related to
the Kapha substance. In this sense, Ayurveda presents them as fundamental causes of
diseases concerned with the Kapha substance.

Kapha in the Sense of Diagnosis

In order to diagnose those diseases that are classified as due to

Kapha, or to ascertain the presence of Kapha in any disease, there are certain unique
Ayurvedic tests. These tests have to be carried out one by one for final decision.
1. Pain test. Presence of itching or dull pain is positive for Kapha causation.
2. Touch Test. If a painful area or the area affected with disease gets no better or worse
from having gentle pressure applied, it is positive for Kapha causation.
3. Color Test. Pale or white color of the affected area, the complexion, the nail, the stool
or the urine is positive.
4. Stomach activity Test. If the symptoms of disease become worse while the stomach is
active digesting food (within two hours after food intake), it is positive for Kapha.
5. Time Test. If the symptoms of disease become worse in the morning and at night, it is
positive.
6. Pulse Test. If the pulse is felt to move around up and down with a strong sensation,
almost like double pulses, it is positive.
7. Seasonal test: If the symptoms of disease worsen in spring or winter, it is positive for
Kapha causation.
8. Taste Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen from the daily or excessive use of
foods, drugs or herbs that are either sweet or sour or salty in taste, it is positive for
Kapha causation. A sweet taste of the mouth is also positive.
9. Climate Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen in an alpine climate or a cold
climate, it is positive.
10. Constrictory Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen while using foods or herbs with
constrictory effects, it is positive for Kapha.
11. Nature Test. If the symptoms of disease are worse in a person with slow activity, or
one who is dull and fat (Kapha Prakriti), it is positive.
12. Mind Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen when the mind is over-confident or
overjoyed, it is positive for Kapha causation.
13. Skin test. If the affected area is greasy, it is positive.

14. Swelling Test. If a swollen area goes down when pressed and does not immediately
restore its shape, it is positive.
15. Fever Test. Mild temperature is positive for Kapha.
16. Preference Test. Desire for heat or preference for hot foods is positive.

Kapha in the Sense of Treatment

The fundamental theory of treatment concerning diseases or

the conditions of disease that are classified with the character of Kapha is based upon
restoring the balance of the over-balanced artery system, and/or to reduce the over-powerful
physical properties of the mucus formula. Ayurveda emphasizes that to restore the balance of
the artery system in any part of the body the stomach can be cleaned with emetic drugs. The
stomach in general, is the central source of mucus, the biological water of the entire body.
This mucus that becomes active as food is dissolved and mixed in the stomach, enters the
portal vein and lymphatic duct system together with the essence of food dissolved in it. As
more exudation of water-like mucus in the stomach occurs, it activates the function of the
artery system, the carrier of nutritive serum. Therefore, in addition to all other possible
treatments, emetic drugs have been found by Ayurvedic doctors to be extremely important to
stop the supply of mucus and to reduce the watery element within the arterial system (see list
of emetic drugs on page 145). Before using emetic drugs, it is important to have a
steambath. The main purpose of the steambath is to apply heat, causing sweating and a
resultant cleansing of the lymphatic duct system, and improved filtration and breakup of
blockages caused by excess exudation.
The bitter, pungent and astringent tastes (in the form of foods, drugs or herbs) stimulate the
activities of the nervous system, primarily because they result in dryness. These tastes are
counteractive to the sweet, sour and salty tastes that aggravate the function of the artery
system. Therefore, bitter or pungent or astringent tasting foods and drugs are prescribed as
medicines to restore the balance of the Kapha substance. To be effective in restoring balance
to the artery system, these tastes must have the physical property of being dry (Ruksa).
Otherwise, they cannot restore the balance. In the same way, any substance that has a
dilatory effect or a drying effect, no matter what its taste, can be prescribed as a medicine to
restore balance to the artery system.

Medicines for Kapha

Some common herbs used to treat Kapha are:
1. Vidanga seeds (Embelia ribes)

2. Guduchi stem (Tinospora cordifolia)

3. Chitraka root (Plumbago zeylanica)
4. Maricham (black pepper / Piper nigrum)
5. Pippali fruit (long pepper / Piper longum)
6. Gajapippali fruit (Piper chava)
7. Shatapuspa seed (anise / Pimpinella anisum)
8. Bibhitaki fruit (Terminalia belerica)
9. Yavani seed (wild omum / Trachyspermum ammi)
A reliable formula for treating Kapha to aid digestion and reduce mucus is Trikatu. For
Kapha with swelling and/or solid accumulations Kanchanara guggulu can be used.

Fasting, Nasal Snuff and Exercise

Fasting has medicinal value in the treatment of diseases or

condition of diseases with presence of Kapha. During periods of fasting there is less supply
of watery mucus from the stomach. This reduces the watery element in the arterial system.
The practice of cleaning the sinus with nasal snuff has particularly therapeutic value to
restore balance to the cerebral artery system, because the nose is the passageway to clean the
head sinuses. Medicated snuff causes dilation of the capillaries of the nose. The patient will
open their eyes wide and sneeze, causing removal of the mucus.
Physical exercise also has therapeutic value in the treatment of diseases with an overbalanced artery system. The main purpose of exercise is to increase blood circulation and
loosen and warm the body. The heat dilates the capillaries and increases lymphatic flow,
cleansing via filtration and perspiration.
Following the background and logic of Ayurveda, effective Kapha treatments will include:
1. Steambathing
2. Use of emetic drugs
3. Use of bitter, pungent and astringent tasting medicines or foods

4. Intake of foods or drugs that increase heat

5. Fasting
6. Medicated snuffs, and
7. Physical exercise.