If you have some Kapha in your constitution then the information presented in this article will be helpful in balancing your water and earth elements.
Due to your lifestyle, eating habits and external environments Kapha can easily be accumulated in excess which can affect your health and wellness in a negative way.
Kapha is most easily provoked by having too much water and earth elements in the body.
Balancing Kapha requires changing specific habits that tend to increase Kapha. Therefore, measures need to be taken so you can reduce the amount of Kapha you have.
Before you take the appropriate action to reduce the amount of your Kapha dosha, you should first know and understand the main causes of high Kapha.
Causes of high Kapha
Exposure to cold & wet weather
Eating a diet consisting of too many cooling foods, beverages and spices; not including enough hot or warm spices
Eating too many earthy and watery foods such as potatoes, yams, beets, turnips, carrots, celery, cabbage, lettuce and cucumber
Eating too many mucus producing foods such as milk, butter and dairy
Eating too many sweets including sweet fruit
Eating too much red meat, and fried foods
Eating to many grains including wheat, barley and oats
Drinking alcohol
Consuming too many heavy meals and too many meals throughout the day
Not enough exercise or physical activity
Being unmotivated, and not being goal – oriented
Lack of passion and working in an environment that is not self-satisfying
Too much sleep and resting throughout the day
Symptoms of high Kapha
Excess mucous
White coated tongue – indicating high mucous and toxins
Slow, sticky, sluggish bowel movements
High/Heavy body weight
Difficulty rising in the morning
Feeling slow, foggy, dull, lethargic or heavy
Being easily attached or possessive
Being overly emotional and sentimental
Being complacent or stubborn
Having a tendency for “emotional overeating”
When Kapha is high, one desires food, clothes and environments that are warm and dry in nature.
One is more prone to diseases and conditions such as mucus producing coughs, colds and flu.
One puts on weight easily and can develop high cholesterol, heart conditions and stomach diseases.
How to your Kapha dosha in Ayurveda
Reducing Kapha mainly involves adopting a Kapha diet – eating the right foods for Kapha constitution and avoiding those foods that increase Kapha.
Reducing Kapha requires changing ones attitude and actions for reducing Kapha, and staying dedicated towards your Kapha diet and treatment.
The main actions for decreasing high Kapha require doing the opposite of what cause high Kapha – mentioned above. This includes decreasing the main qualities of cool, moist, and heavy and adding more hot, dry and light qualities.
You would need to consume drier and warmer foods such as such as cooked vegetables, dal, and beans – lightly cooked with the appropriate spices and oils.
Due to the slow quality of Kapha you may be naturally inclined toward relaxing and calming activities. In excess, this quality may lead to stagnation.
Activities and environments should be warm in nature where you can sweat more and increase your heart rate. Fast walking, jogging, hiking, biking, vigorous yoga (power yoga) and martial arts are good activities for Kapha types.
You should also listen to stimulating music and use scents or aroma therapies that are refreshing, stimulating and invigorating.
Kapha types need to motivate themselves to take action and “just do it” instead of becoming lazy and slothful.
Kapha people should keep company and hang out with people who are motivated and inspiring and even perhaps take more trainings and courses that are inspiring, uplifting and motivating.
Practicing ayurvedic yoga therapy and registering in various ayurvedic courses & programs can also be extremely beneficial in finding complete balance.