The three doshas are called vata, pitta, and kapha. They describe the three most important patterns to heal which are deficiency, heat, and excess. Understanding the pattern or dosha helps us to understand what's happening from a broad or holistic point of view. Doshas are often a starting point for understanding imbalance.

	Vata
	Pitta
	Kapha

It all begins with Guna. The gunas are twenty simple qualities that describe the world around us from a therapeudic perspective. All of Ayurveda begins and ends with the gunas. The five elements and the doshas are simply common collections of gunas. To know Ayurveda, know the gunas. Gunas are organized into ten pairs of opposites.

	Clear
	Cold
	Difficult
	Dry
	Easy
	Gooey
	Heavy
	Hot
	Light
	Liquid
	Oily

Taste buds evolved because they are important for maintaining our health. Ayurveda uses six tastes to correct imbalance and heal food cravings. A balanced ayurvedic diet includes all of the six tastes in every meal. But every individual should adjust the quantity of the tastes for his or her body. For example, kapha uses less sweet taste. Vata and pitta use more sweet taste.

	Bitter
	Astringent
	Pungent
	Salty
	Sour
	Sweet