Overview of Body is full of brains
Have you ever wondered, why do we take our hands off when we touch the heating pan? The most usual answer could be, we do so because of our reflexes. But do we actually know how these reflexes work?
Let’s take another example, when you are asked to choose between the two options A and B. You choose to go with B. But how did you figure out that you have to go with B? Maybe it’s justa choice. But before making a decision, you did give a thought to it, right? Did that thought help you anyway?
Our body is filled with receptors that accept information, undergo some transcriptions and give an output in the form of our actions. According to Ayurveda, our body is governed by some energies called Doshas which are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. So can these Doshas have a role in our actions? If yes, then how?
Let’s have a view on it.
Everybody is different and thus has different blood chemistry, genetic expression, physiological states and chronic diseases. These all are dependent on Doshas. So as the entire Metabolic process is governed by the nervous system, each Dosha type has to be associated with the functionality of the nervous system. The nervous system has six major areas, namely, the prefrontal cortex, the reticular activating system, the autonomic nervous system, the limbic nervous system and Hypothalamus.
In Ayurveda, Vata Dosha is responsible for cell division and signalling, movement at all levels of physiology, excretion of waste and cognition. Vata also stimulates activities of Kapha and Pitta.
Kapha Dosha is responsible for anabolism, growth and integrity of structure, stability and storage.
Pitta Dosha is responsible for metabolism, energy homeostasis, vision, pigmentation, thermoregulation and attentional processes.
Thus, Doshas have different functions with each part of the brain. For instance if we consider Pitta Dosha which is dynamic in nature, can be associated with passionate responses of the brain and nervous system.
Similarly, Kapha Dosha viz. Steady nature can be associated with stable activities of the brain.
Vata Dosha is highly variable in nature and can be associated with reflexes in the brain.
Let’s now take a view on the functionality of each brain part with respect to Tridoshas.
1.Frontal Executive System of Brain:
This comprises anterior cingulate gyrus, ventral medial, and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The Vata Brain type performs varied functions with regards to the Prefrontal cortex. They bring in instant activities, learn quickly and forget quickly. Multitasking is their USP, and they are dynamic. The Kapha brain type is opposite to the Vata Brain type. It’s slow and steady, and ‘think before action’- is what it does.
2.Reticular activating system (RAS):
This is responsible for arousals, determining whether we are alert, at sleep or relaxed. The Vata Brain type is responsible for overreacting to a situation. The Pitta brain type becomes highly focused and gets tasks done. The Kapha brain type is at its rest, easy going and very slow in getting excited.
3.Autonomic Nervous System:
This comprises sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Maximum percentile of responses are moderated by the autonomic nervous system. The Vata Brain type to its fullest potential turns on fight and fight response. This indeed turns on fight and fight response in Pitta brain type, and later back to resting level. The Kapha brain type generally induces parasympathetic responses and stays calm and steady.
4.Enteric nervous system:
This is responsible for digestion. This system interacts with the microbiome of the gut to look over the immune function of parasympathetic systems. Vata Brain type exhibits very high digesting capacity leading to irregular appetite and bowel movements. The Pitta brain type has good digestion, is always hungry and can eat at any time. The Kapha brain type is not affected and can skip a meal easily.
5.Limbic system:
It is entirely responsible for emotions. It comprises of many nuclei around the centre of the brain: The amygdala for survival and fear response, the hippocampus for anger and spatial awareness, the nucleus accumbens for pleasure, the insula for silence of experience and tie bodily states to emotions and Hypothalamus that Integrates the activity of autonomic nervous system. In Vata Brain type, the emotions are in excess and in fluctuation. The Pitta brain type is dynamic and competitive to the world. The Kapha brain is always happy and seldom as if nothing can make it angry.
6.Hypothalamus:
It comprises varied feelings of hunger, thirst, arousal levels, etc. The Vata Brain type changes its state of mind more frequently. The Pitta brain type is dynamic and gets the work done in excitement. The Kapha brain type is slow in responding and may lead to gain in weight.
So here, we get our answers as to why we perform certain tasks, what’s our mentality and moreover which feelings are induced by which part of the brain.
According to Ayurveda, our body is composed of energies which are, Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Every cell of our body is composed of these Doshas. Whenever a signal is transported to the brain, all these entities are affected and get activated. Later, during a response a particular Dosha is predominant- which also tells us about a person’s personality. Thus, it won’t be false to say that “Body is full of Brains”.
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