There are correspondences between the chakras and doshas on several levels are indicated by the ruling elements and organs.
Kapha is ruled by Water, and the carrying element is Earth, therefore the Root and Sacral, Earth and Water element chakras correspond to kapha.
Pitta is Fire element and carrying element is Water - Ruled by the Solar Chakra and Sacral to a certain extent.
Vata is of the Element of Air while the carrying element is Ether - Heart and Throat Chakras.
The Three upper Chakras:
Throat, Ajna and Crown rule over the highest form of each dosha:
-The Throat rules Udana, the upward flowing life force of expression, clear thinking, memory, nervous strength, will and self control.
-The 6th rules Sadhaka Pitta, the power of insight and the abillity to see Truth, or see through lies. It rules over intellect and mental power. Sucessful people have highly developed Sadhaka Pitta, which is why they have clear goals in their head and an action oriented mind.
-Tarpaka Kapha, ruled by the Crown is the form of Water that grants you the feeling of happiness and content, feeling good in your body. It’s the grosser form of Amrita.
The practice of Yoga and meditation increases these high forms of doshas in general. Ajurvedic text mention that the three highest forms all relate to the heart, but I believe this is not the Heart Chakra, but the Ajna, the point where the nadis meet and form the heart shape. It makes sense as the control center.
The Foundation of doshas and their location
Each dosha has a form, that serves as a foundation and support, controling all the other forms. Problems relating to a given dosha most likely originate from the disturbance of this foundation and can be healed by reastablishing balance.
-The Foundation of Vata is Apana, the downward/ouwtward flowing force of elimination. Primary location is the anus and colon. The latter is the point of accumulation of Vata, and the main organ relating to it. Both are ruled by the Root Chakra
-Foundation of Pitta is called Pachaka the fire of elimination. Location is the small intenstine which is the point of accumulation and the main organ of Pitta, ruled by the Solar Chakra.
-Foundation of Kapha is Avalambaka supporting Water that resides in the Heart and Lungs. Plasm is distributed from the Heart. However the main point of accumulation is not here, but in the stomach ruled by the Solar Chakra.
How to heal doshic problems
The main point of Ayurvedic healing is that you have to go back to source of the problem, do the healing work there which will lead to deep healing and long lasting health. The other important point is to avoid diseases by eliminating their sources before manifesting. If a problem is left unhandeled it will manifest and become more and more complex. First it accumulates in the main organ, then it overflows into different organs and becomes mixed with other doshas and even ama. This state is much harder to handle, since the cure has to be complex.
How would you heal a disease that is the product of the mixture of Vata and Pitta?
If you try to simply cool down pitta, the cold can aggrevate Vata. If you try to lubricate vata, it will give more room for Pitta to expand, as water is the carrying element.
Thinking in terms of qualities will help to find the actual source.
-Vata: Dry, Cold and Light/Mutable
-Pitta: Hot, Liquid and Mutable
-Kapha: Heavy, Cold and Sluggish/Liquid
Think about the quality you lack or a quality that is too strong/out of balance. -Am I feeling dry, cold and ungrounded? Or Do I feel irritable and burnt out? Am I lazy? Do I feel like I’m too heavy to move?
This way of thinking will help to pinpoint the origin of the problem.
If you feel your brain is frying and feel agression, unable to let go, that is certainly a pitta problem. A spiritual remedy could be to work on releasing the accumulated fire from the Solar Chakra with Asanas such as Cobra pose, with deep, relaxing breathing. Breathing exercises like Sithali and Sitkari are great. Driking some Green tea with Mint will aid in cooling down and relaxing, before or afterward.
Am I feeling anxious, clumsy and cold? -Definetly a Vata problem.
Doing slow series of Sun Salutations will help with grounded, developing heat which will remove blocks and reduce anxiety as well. Drinking a tea of fresh ginger is a great choice to aid in the process.
Are you feeling so lazy and heavy I don’t want to move at all? - Kapha
Starting with some intense Breath of Fire takes care of the problem. It creates heat, which removes the coldness of Kapha. It gets the energy going and this dynamism will take care of heaviness. The pranic heat helps in drying out your comfortable ass. Some intense Yoga and exercise can follow. Note that we are working on the Solar Chakra (ruling the stomach) and the lungs and heart are also involved, all relating to kapha.
Dealing with Ama
Ama has the same qualities as kapha: Heavy, slugghish, dark, damp and cold.
It can be removed by drying it first, then bruning it out. With the elements of air and fire. Prana and heat energy. Ama is the byproduct of weak digestion, no elimination and the imbalance of doshas.
Working on digestion and elimination helps the most along with other forms of purificarion such as sweating.
Solar and Root Chakras are important here.
The best and most simple outer remedy is trikatu: combine one tea spoon of grinded black pepper, ginger and cayanne with a large spoon of honey and eat it. You will feel the ama being burnt out in your whole body.
