FAQs

Vata, Pitta kapha are three different ‘doshas’ or energy pathways which work in synergy to carry out the functions of the human body. Let’s start with the role of Vata Dosha.

Vata relates to processes for movement and motion. When Vata is disturbed there can be diseases of difficulty in physical movement and even mental disorders. Large Intestines are the special house for Vata .

Pitta relates to processes of metabolism or catabolism. One of the functions of liver is to maintain temperature of body. In Ayurveda, this is considered as one of the prime effects of food intake. Temperature is a key factor in many diseases, not just fever. Eyes and skin are special house of Pitta.

Kapha relates to processes of structure and integrity of tissues or anabolism. This represents water and earth in the body. Kapha originates from left side of body and controlled by the heart and the arteries. Too much rise in Kapha will block arteries. It maintains  integrity and structure of body tissues. Tongue, nose and throat are the special house for kapha.

Patients are treated according to doshas like if pitta is aggravated then it is pacified by pitta shaman.In the same way other aggravated doshas are treated.

The working of two or more herbs in a combination to enhance each other’s individual effect is known as Herbal Synergy. Such a herbal formulation is much more effective and safer on the body than consuming one herb alone. E.G. Combination of ‘Harad’ and ‘Amla’ is more powerful than consuming only one of the two. Though if ‘baheda’ is also added it becomes a ‘Tri-dosha shamak’ combination which is even more effective. Herbal synergy is also a very prominent and popular concept in modern herbal studies and chinese herbology.

If we see closely, a herb is like nature’s symphony. It contains many active substances called phytochemicals; like alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids etc just to name a few. But the whole herb works in one direction or, to address one dosha holistically in unison.

If we see closely, a herb is like nature’s symphony. It contains many active substances called phytochemicals; like alkaloids, phenols, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids etc just to name a few. But the whole herb works in one direction or, to address one dosha holistically in unison.

You must have heard that herbs don’t have side effects but when we are using a single herb it works on a single dosha. If Pitta dosha is worked upon for a long term then there are chances that the other doshas, Vata and Kapha, will get negatively affected.

No, when too many herbs are used there is lack of active principle in it and herbs ‘antagonize’ each others effect rather than complementing each other.

In medical literature there are few reports which point out that like herbal synergy, there also exists herbal antagonism that means incompatibility of two or more herbs. One example is- Clove (laung) and Curcumin (a phytochemical in turmeric)  don’t go well together.

As we have seen in introduction of the doshas,  they represent pathways or processes which have different roles. When pacifying one dosha for long the other may react negatively. When one decreases the other increases. A medically superior approach would be to take care of all doshas every time. When we give due importance to each dosha then they renew themselves quickly. At Botany Bay Herbs three herb-combinations are used for correcting processes of all three doshas- Vata, Pitta and Kapha simultaneously.