Dosha and Subdosha Theory

The five elements are the building blocks for all matter, and the doshas organize the elements for their functions in the human body. The doshas can be understood as organizational principles that govern the elements in their physiological functions. Each dosha has two predominant elements according to the nature of that dosha's functions.

For example, pitta organizes fire and water for the functions of metabolism and digestion. The fire element integrates with the water element in the body and becomes a biochemical fire, taking the form of chemicals like hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes, using the water element as a medium to contact food particles during digestion. Everywhere that there is pitta, digestion is taking place — whether in the stomach, intestines, liver, brain, heart, eyes, or skin.

The subdoshas describe the different locations and specializations of each dosha's primary functions. Although each dosha is comprised of two main elements, its specialized functions in specific locations may require that the dosha make use of the other elements as well. Hence some subdoshas are governed by an element other than the two primary elements associated with the parent dosha. Subdosha theory helps us understand the more specific functional relationships between the doshas and the elements, revealing how the doshas clothe themselves in the five elements to perform their functions in the human body.