Last updated: December 21, 2023
What Does
Bodhaka Kapha Mean?
According to Ayurveda, Bodhaka Kapha is one of the five sub-doshas (sub-types) of Kapha dosha. Sub-doshas are responsible for overseeing specific actions, organs or emotions, and relative imbalance in these energetic sub-categories tends to be the root cause of illness, disease and ill-health.
The word Bodhaka means 'knowledge', and this sub-dosha is responsible for the subtle intelligence required to identify tastes. Bodhaka Kapha resides primarily in the mouth and tongue, and it is responsible for the sense of taste, speech, swallowing and secretions of saliva. It also regulates oral bacteria, initiates the first stage of digestion and maintains oral temperature.
Yogapedia Explains Bodhaka Kapha
Bodhaka Kapha is the second sub-dosha of Kapha. Although it is located in the mouth, it is also connected to the parietal lobe of the brain, which processes tastes. Bodhaka Kapha, therefore, operates not only on a physical level, but on the level of consciousness and intelligence as well.
Imbalance in Bodhaka Kapha tends to disrupt the entire digestive process, since it is responsible for the initial stage of digestion. Saliva and enzyme production may be reduced, and the perception of taste and the quality of voice can be affected. Licorice helps to increase Bodhaka Kapha by lubricating the throat. Ginger, black pepper and long pepper help to reduce Bodhaka Kapha when it is overactive.
During These Times of Stress and Uncertainty Your Doshas May Be Unbalanced.
To help you bring attention to your doshas and to identify what your predominant dosha is, we created the following quiz.
Try not to stress over every question, but simply answer based off your intuition. After all, you know yourself better than anyone else.