A Test of the Systems Analysis Underlying the Scientific Theory of Ayurveda's Tridosha

Abstract

A previous paper hypothesized that the tridosha of Ayurveda--vata, pitta, and kapha--constitute regulatory systems respectively controlling input/output, turnover, and storage; functions systems analysis identifies as fundamental to all open systems. This would make them universal properties of all living organisms, as Ayurveda itself maintains. This paper proposes independent scientific evidence for the proposed identification of the doshas and for the systems analysis on which it is based. In particular, it points to coenzyme A, a key component of fatty acid metabolism. Its universal presence in all cells implies that it is an evolutionary invariant ant that the biochemical pathway on which it lies must be exceptionally significant. The systems analysis shows that the pathway connects the cellular functions of energy turnover and energy storage, fundamental to the overall strategy of cell regulation. This, combined with the requirement for the pathway's close regulation, makes it effectively impossible to replace coenzyme A by a combination of simultaneous mutations or sequence of mutations and it should indeed remain invariant during evolution. The universality of coenzyme A is therefore consistent with its identified role, and supports the systems analysis identifying the doshas. Their systems functions survive developmental transformations of evolution with recognizable continuity. By virtue of that, vata, pitta, and kapha can be identified with them in all species.

Ayurvedic Psychology: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

“…Hankey (2001) similarly maintained that since Ayurveda classifies the whole human population into three primary constitutional types, the possible relationship of doshic theory to human genetic structure should be studied. Hankey (2005a) further suggested that the ubiquity of coenzyme A-a key component of fatty acid metabolism-in all living organisms is congruent with the tridoshic theory that doshas serve the purposes of regulatory control in all organisms.…”

If Systems Approach is the Way Forward, What can the Ayurvedic Theory of <i>Tridosha</i> Teach Us?

“…twenty factors (Vimśati guna) 15 : (1,2) heavy (guru) and light (laghu); (3,4) cold (sheeta) and hot (ushna); (5,6) oiliness (snigdha), dryness (ruksha); (7,8) slow/dull (manda), sharp (tikshna); (9,10) immobility (sthira), mobility (sara); (11,12) soft (mrudu), hard (kathina); (13,14) adhesive/sticky (pichchila), non-slimy/non-adhesive (vishada); (15,16) smooth (shlakshna), rough (khara); (17,18) minuteness (sukshma), gross (sthula); (19,20) viscidity (sandra), diffusivity/fluidity (drava). These properties at the opposite ends of a continuum are inherent to material bodies and used in ayurveda to understand the human system.…”

“…The explanation sheds contemporary light on the theory of tridosha and its relevance in systems medicine that ayurveda is. Though theoretical interpretations of tridosha have been put forth [10][11][12] , the one presented here is unique since it is based on information from classical ayurvedic texts reflecting the clinical use of tridosha. The explanation given has not been reported till date and more importantly does not digress from the essentials of ayurvedic principles.…”

Critical Analysis of Concept of Prakriti and Challenges in Its Assessment: A Review

“…Such a classification of individuals based on body temperament by deciphering specific phenotypic characters for health management is not confined up to Ayurveda only.Such traditional classification systems for personalized medicine are widely used in many countries in the form of naturopathic medical systems of body type in the America and Europe, constitutional medicine in China,Ikkando medicine in Japan and Sasang typology in Korea also. 2,3,4,5,6 These contemporary traditional systems of medical classification consider the person as a whole, rather than focusing on particular organ or biological systems as done in allopathic medicine in the west.…”