KAPHA DOSHA

EXPLORE ENLIVENING DAILY HABITS + HOW TO CREATE BALANCE FOR KAPHA ENERGY + STRESS

kapha dosha - balance congestion + sluggishness

BALANCING KAPHA DOSHA

WATER + EARTH

Signs of Imbalance: puffiness / fluid retention / excessive oiliness / acne / weight gain / joint swelling / sugar intolerance / depression / lethargy / respiratory disease / congestion / sinus infection / sleepiness / resistance to change / slow metabolism / allergies / indigestion / tension neck, chest, shoulders / sluggishness / lack of motivation / swollen ankles / fluid retention

Like Increases Like + Creates More Imbalance: lack of movement or physical activity / excess salt or water / eating too much / excess sweets, fried foods + processed foods / napping after meals / damp, moist climates

Season: late winter + spring

Elements: Water + Earth

Vata Qualities: cold, heavy, damp

To Bring Balance: warm, light, dry, airy, rough

Sense Organs: smell + taste

BALANCE YOUR KAPHA

MOVEMENT: exercise to increase circulation and move daily. Exercise in the morning, including vigorous exercises like cycling, jogging, and yoga.

DAILY RITUALS: water with lemon, use aromatherapy, lymphatic massage, slow diaphragmatic breathing, Vigorous self-abhyanga with sesame oil focusing on scalp, hands, arms, and feet. Warm sesame oil, nasya. Don’t nap during the day. Sleep early and wake up early with the sun. Meditation and journaling. Adventures, being spontaneous, music, and good company. Yogic breathing. Invigorating tea to reduce congestion stimulates digestion. Routine times for meals. Try primordial meditaiton.

SKINCARE:

AROMATHERAPY: bergamot, tea tree, eucalyptus, tangerine, peppermint, frankincense, rosemary, juniper, clary sage, ginger, grapefruit, orange

KAPHA PACIFYING DIET: favor foods that are light, dry, and warm and reduce salty, sour, and sweet tastes. Eat freshly cooked, warmed, and whole foods. Eat smaller, simple, easy-to-digest meals with fewer ingredients.

AVOID: sweets, iced beverages, frozen foods, fried foods, heavy and fatty foods, snacking between meals, dairy products, very sour fruits, and overeating.

Eating According to Your Dosha

VEGETABLES

  • Arugula

  • Asparagus

  • Beets

  • Bell Pepper

  • Bok Choy

  • Broccoli

  • Brussels Sprouts

  • Cabbage

  • Carrots

  • Cauliflower

  • Celery

  • Chili Peppers, hot

  • Collards

  • Corn, fresh

  • Eggplant

  • Endive

  • Green Beans

  • Jerusalem Artichoke

  • Jicama

  • Kale

  • Leeks

  • Lettuce

  • Mustard Greens

  • Okra

  • Onion

  • Parsley

  • Peas

  • Spinach

  • Sprouts

  • Turnips

  • Turnip Greens

  • Watercress

FRUITS

  • Apples

  • Apricots

  • Berries

  • herries

  • Dried Fruit

  • Figs, dried

  • Peaches

  • Pears

  • Persimmon

  • Pomegranate

  • Raisins

LEGUMES + BEANS

  • Aduki Beans

  • Black Beans

  • Chickpeas
    Lentils, red

  • Lima Beans

  • Navy Beans

  • Pinto Beans

  • Split Peas, green or yellow

NUTS + SEEDS

  • Coconut

  • Poppy Seeds

  • Pumpkin Seeds, roasted

  • Sesame Seeds

  • Sunflower Seeds, roasted

OILS

  • Corn

  • Safflower

  • Sunflower

DAIRY

  • Ghee

  • Goat’s Cheese, unsalted

  • Goat’s Milk

GRAINS

  • Barley

  • Buckwheat

  • Corn

  • Millet

  • Rye

MEATS + FISH

SWEETENERS

  • Honey, raw and uncooked

SPICES + HERBS

  • Allspice

  • Anise

  • Basil

  • Bay Leaf

  • Black Pepper

  • Caraway

  • Cardamom

  • Cayenne

  • Cinnamon

  • Cloves

  • Coriander

  • Cumin

  • Curry Leaves

  • Curry Powder

  • Dill

  • Ginger, dried

  • Garlic

  • Garam Masala

  • Horseradish

  • Marjoram

  • Mustard Seeds

  • Nutmeg

  • Onion

  • Orange Peel

  • Oregano

  • Paprika

  • Parsley

  • Peppermint

  • Pepper, hot

  • Rosemary

  • Saffron

  • Sage

  • Spearmint

  • Star anise

  • Tarragon

  • Thyme

  • Tumeric

Informational only. Not meant to diagnose or treat any condition or disease.