Ayurvedic Wheels & Bio Rhythms

Introduction to Ayurvedic Wheels & Bio-Rhythms

DISEASE RISK TIMES

The Doshas and their primary & secondary organs (more on this below) are most active during a specific time cycle. Over the course of a specific four hours in a 24hr cycle, prana accumulates in said organ, increases, reaches a peak of pranic concentration and then decreases. Consequently, during these hours various parts of the body (according to its dosha timings) undergo more stress, i.e., Vata can cause insomnia between the hours of 3-4am, and then find it difficult to go back to sleep. Symptoms will worsen during those four hours in patients with dosha imbalances. This cycle is referenced in Ayurveda as ‘bio-rhythms’.

ORGAN ENERGY PEAK

Each organ is understood to have two hours of concentrated pranic activity. After it has reached its peak and decreased, Prana then travels to the next organ in line following the same cycle of increasing, peaking, and decreasing. It is the point of increased pranic energy in the organ that can unbalance its related dosha. The below diagram of the Pranic Mandala (Bio-Energy Clock) outlines this in more detail:

As illustrated above, each dosha can be unbalanced twice in a daily 24hr cycle, in the morning and again in the evening. If a patient’s dominant dosha subtype is the same as the dosha imbalance, the symptoms can be more prominent. i.e., a Vata person with a Vata imbalance will be more impacted during a Vata related time.

In the case of Vata, the large intestine and lung appear (for Wind), while the kidney and urinary bladder appear for Vata but under the Water element. In the case of Pitta, the liver and gallbladder appear via the Ether element, while the heart and small intestine appear under fire. And for Kapha, the spleen and stomach appear under the Earth element. 

This order connects to the Wheel of Control (see below for more information).

PRIMARY & SECONDARY HUMORAL ORGANS

Each Dosha is linked to two primary and two secondary organs. This is due to the Dosha’s unique relationship with said organs. The peaks of the primary organs’ energy occur in the daytime (after 3 am and before 3pm). Conversely, the secondary organs appear after 3pm until 3.am. Much like the creation of the humors or the locations and flows of the nadis, this cycle follows a set logical pattern that is permanent and does not change. For each dosha, the two primary organs must follow an order of opposite duality (one hollow & one solid). When the dosha’s energy has increased, peaked, and decreased and prana moves to the next dosha in sequence, the next organ which is in line to receive prana first must relate to the previous organ. For example, prana moves from Kapha’s solid spleen organ via there nadis to Pitta’s solid heart organ. Another rule that follows the concept of opposites and duality is that if an organ’s nadis flow through the arms, the next organ to receive prana must flow through the legs. This process continues for a 24hr cycle. 

The below table details this:

THE AYURVEDIC ENERGY WHEELS

According to Ayurveda’s ‘The Wheel of Creation’ as discussed earlier, we understand that the Five Elements follow a specific order that ultimately results in the creation of life. Similarly, there is also a wheel of destruction, whereby through the process of gradual decay we die, and the elements and prana can return to their original source. This process varies in length, from birth to 100+ years of age. This primordial cycle is the basis on which all cycles within the body are based. The cycles are:

· The Wheel of Creation: Describes how an embryo is formed by the Five Elements and serves as a receptacle of consciousness and later, prana. This cycle/wheel is related to the anabolic dosha Kapha.

· The Supporting Wheel: Offers protection and describes how processes continue to function, how one element supports and engenders the next, transferring its panic energy. This is how we continue to survive. This wheel concerns the organs so that they appear according to the order of the three humors.

· The Controlling Wheel: Also offers protection and describes the mechanism by which the body keeps itself from ‘going over the top’. Represents a damper or brake on the element’s action so that all elements maintain a state of equilibrium. V important for dosha balancing. Related to Pitta, it follows as so; Ether controls Earth; Earth controls Water; Water controls Fire; Fire controls Wind; Wind controls Ether. See table below.

· The Destruction Wheel: describes the method by which diseases occur and how we finally die. This cycle is analogous to Vata, the catabolic humor.

THE WHEEL OF DESTRUCTION

Ayurveda recognises that humans transition through three stages of life, each which connects with the three humors/doshas;

1. Kapha stage – childhood to adolescence (1-14yrs). Usually involves respiratory dysfunctions like congestion and kappa type syndromes.

2. Pitta stage – adolescence to adulthood (15-45yrs). Digestive disorders typically occur as it is synonymous with Pitta.

3. Vata stage – Middle age to old age (45yrs+). Wrinkles, dry skin, and bones and other Vata type issues.
The wheel of destruction can be utilised as another form of diagnosis, determining which organs are affected according to its cycle.

THE WHEEL OF CONTROL

WHEELS INTERACTIONS

When a health issue arises, several of the wheels will become involved. If an element became in excess, it would over control its related element (wheel of control) and destroy the other (wheel of destruction). This concept is applicable to all the Elements as follows:

Examples of doshas in excess:

· Fire (High Pitta): Kapha is reduced (destroys Water) and over-controls Vata (Wind)

· Earth (High Kapha): Water is restricted (over-controlled Water) and destroys Ether (Pitta Heat) as the cold effect of Earth cools down the heat.

· Wind (high Vata): Destroys Fire (RaktaVata – where Vata attacks blood). Cold effect of Wind lowers fire of Pitta via Ether (over control)

· Water (high kapha): reduced Pitta (drowns fire) and destroys Earth (causing looseness of joints for example)

· Ether (high pitta): reduces Kapha (cold) by over controlling Earth. During effect of ether (dry heat) combined with excess heat attacks Wind/Vata. Excess dry heat over stimulates Vata.

In the case of Dosha deficiencies, the other elements attack the weakened element:
· Low Pitta (Fire) = high Kapha (Water) + high Vata (Wind)
· Low Ether (Fire) = high Kapha (Earth) + high Vata (Wind)
· Low Kapha (Earth) = high Pitta (Ether fire) + high Vata (water low)

WHEEL OF TISSUES

Ayurveda states that there are seven types of tissues in the human body, referred to as Dhatus. These are the physical spheres in which the humors/doshas develop and are the physical site for their imbalance. This means that every organ and system is made upon at least one of these tissues and consequently, develops into a disease in the organ through the elements, humors, and tissues.

The modern understanding of the mutual connection of these seven tissues related to communication between tissues via hormones or enzymes that trigger a reaction. In Ayurveda, we understand this concept as one tissue nourishing another, communicating via Prana. This links to the way each element supports and engenders the next as per the Wheel of Support. 

The tissues’ relationship with the Elements are as follows:

The seven tissues following a descending order are:

1. Plasma: watery substance in blood containing food nutrients absorbed via small intestine, linked to Fire
2. Blood: pumped via the heart carrying oxygen to the body, linked to Fire
3. Muscle: linked to Earth via spleen & stomach
4. Fat: linked to Earth via spleen & stomach
5. Bone: linked to large intestine and lungs and so Vata
6. Marrow & nerves: Linked to Water via Kidneys & urinary bladder, and so Vata
7. Reproductive tissue: linked to Ether via liver and gallbladder, and so Pitta (+Vata + Kapha)

Categorised by their Element/humor, this list of tissues can be reduced to 5 which is referred to as the Wheel of Support, a sequence of the tissues nourishing one another via their respective channels (DhatuChakra).