In the classification of symptoms and thus in the diagnosis, the gunas (qualities) play the most important role. The qualities of the symptoms provide an indication of the under- or over-functioning, or imbalance, of one or more doshas. An excessively (pathologically) pronounced quality can be balanced through measures that counteract this quality in their therapeutic effect.
In this respect, Ayurveda, in contrast to homeopathy (Greek: treating like with like), is aligned with allopathic therapeutic systems. It is important to note in this context that the term “allopathy” is often mistakenly equated with modern conventional medicine. Here is an overview of the qualities of the doshas, as described in one of the fundamental texts of Ayurveda, the Charaka Samhita:
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha |
|---|
| Non-oily or greasy, dry, bleak, withered (ruksha) | Slightly oily or greasy (sasneha) | Oily, greasy, smooth, sticky, adhesive |
| Cold, cool, frosty (sita) | Warm, hot, burning (usna) | Cold, cool, frosty (sita) |
| Light, lightness (laghu) | Sharp, pointed, intense (tiksna) | Heavy, heavy in the stomach, significant, dense (guru) |
| Fine (material), small, thin, narrow (sukshma) | Liquid, flowing, purgative (sara) | Sweet, pleasant, charming (madhura) |
| Mobile, loose, trembling, variable, unstable, perishable (cala) | Sharp, cutting, foul-smelling (katu) | Solid, hard, compact, strong, calm, immobile, durable, steady, persistent (sthira) |
| Clear, open (evident), bright, shiny, pure, unstained (visada) | Slippery, slimy (pichilla) | Rough, coarse (khara) |
| Soft, delicate, fine, sensitive, flexible (mrdu) |
