Understanding Dosha Imbalances:
What to Do When Symptoms Overlap
By Dr. Puja Shah
Your body is speaking. But are you listening clearly?
Sometimes we feel off, tired, irritable, foggy, bloated and try to “fix” the symptom before understanding its root. In Ayurveda, this is where the Doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) offer us a powerful roadmap.
But what happens when your symptoms don’t clearly point to just one dosha?
What if your anxiety feels like Vata, but your irritability screams Pitta? Or your lethargy says Kapha, while your agitation says otherwise?
You’re not broken, you’re simply layered.
And this week, we’re diving into how to recognize and navigate overlapping Dosha imbalances with clarity, compassion, and the guidance of Ayurvedic wisdom.
Understanding Doshas (in case you need a quick refresher)
Vata = air + ether → movement, creativity, sensitivity
Pitta = fire + water → transformation, focus, digestion
Kapha = earth + water → stability, nourishment, calm
Each of us has a unique prakriti (doshic constitution), but our vikruti (current state or imbalance) can shift day to day, season to season.
Especially in times of stress, transition, or climate change, multiple doshas can go out of balance at once – and when that happens, it’s easy to feel confused or frustrated.
Why symptoms overlap (and what that means for your healing)
Ayurveda reminds us: You are not just a set of symptoms, you are a whole ecosystem.
Here are a few examples of how overlapping symptoms might show up:
Symptom | Dosha possibility |
Irritability + dry skin + insomnia | Vata + Pitta |
Bloating + fogginess + sluggish digestion | Vata + Kapha |
Acne + tiredness + emotional eating | Pitta + Kapha |
Instead of trying to pin everything down to “just Vata” or “just Pitta,” consider:
- What’s most dominant right now?
- Which symptoms are chronic vs. recent?
- What triggered this shift – food, stress, season, or lifestyle?
Ayurveda is not about labeling – it’s about listening and adjusting.
What you can do when Doshas overlap
1. Anchor Your Mind Daily
A scattered mind can make the healing process murky. Start your day with 5 minutes of stillness, deep breathing, journaling, or mantra, to connect with your inner state before reacting externally.
2. Eat Simply, Eat Warm
A simple, warm, cooked diet soothes all three doshas. Think kitchari, soupy dals, or lightly spiced veggie stews. Avoid extremes: no ice-cold smoothies and no fiery chilies.
3. Oil is Your Ally
Whether you’re dry (Vata), inflamed (Pitta), or sluggish (Kapha), abhyanga (self-oil massage) helps regulate the nervous system and balance doshic extremes.
4. Track Your Inner Weather
Just as you check the forecast, create a ritual of checking your internal state.
Ask: “How’s my energy? My digestion? My emotions?”
Use this awareness to adjust your food, movement, and pace.
You don’t have to know everything. You just have to pay attention.
Ayurveda teaches that healing isn’t linear and that’s okay.
As you grow in self-awareness, you’ll get better at catching these overlapping signals and gently nudging yourself back to balance.
Sometimes we feel off, tired, irritable, foggy, bloated and try to “fix” the symptom before understanding its root. In Ayurveda, this is where the doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) offer us a powerful roadmap.
But what happens when your symptoms don’t clearly point to just one dosha?
What if your anxiety feels like Vata, but your irritability screams Pitta? Or your lethargy says Kapha, while your agitation says otherwise?
You’re not broken, you’re simply layered.
And this week, we’re diving into how to recognize and navigate overlapping dosha imbalances with clarity, compassion, and the guidance of Ayurvedic wisdom.
About Dr. Puja Shah, Editor-in-Chief of The Natural Law
Dr. Puja Shah is an award-winning author whose 93 year old grandmother swore by Ayurvedic remedies and practiced yoga into her last days. And so while her education includes 9 years of medical training as a dentist, 3 teaching qualifications in yoga, and dozens of courses in meditation, it’s no wonder that she always goes back to Ayurveda. Puja harnesses Ayurveda regularly with her children and husband Amish Shah, Founder of The Natural Law.
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