What Does
Tarpaka Kapha Mean?
According to Ayurveda, Tarpaka 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.
Tarpaka Kapha is responsible for governing stability in the nerve cells, as well as fostering nourishment and contentment. It resides primarily in the brain, but is also present in the cerebrospinal fluid. Tarpaka Kapha lubricates the sinuses and nasal cavity with a protective layer, and governs moisture for the nose, mouth and eyes.
Yogapedia Explains Tarpaka Kapha
Doshas are the functional energies that regulate all physiological and psychological characteristics within a person's body and mind. The three primary doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha, a unique ratio of which makes up an individual's constitution (Prakriti). Within each of these doshas are five sub-doshas, or sub-types.
Tarpaka Kapha is the first sub-dosha of Kapha. In Sanskrit, Tarpaka means satiation or nourishment, indicative that this sub-dosha is responsible for nourishing the entire nervous system. Tarpaka Kapha lubricates and sustains all tissues in the brain, in turn regulating the sensory organs. At a functional level, it records all memories and experiences, working with both the conscious and subconscious mind.
When Tarpaka Kapha is out of balance, it can cause impaired or slow learning, lack of clarity in the mind, poor memory and emotional issues such as irritability, anger or jealousy. Tarpaka Kapha imbalance can also lead to sinus congestion or a poor sense of smell. Spiritual practices, such as meditation, help to bring Tarpaka Kapha back to balance, as well as herbs that work on the nervous system, such as ginger and long pepper.
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.