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The concept of Guṇa (qualities) is central to Ayurvedic understanding of the behavior and effects of substances (dravya).
Guṇas are inherent qualities that influence the action (karma) of substances on the body.
The group of 20 guṇas is known as Gurvādiguṇa, divided into 10 pairs of opposites.
These guṇas influence doṣa, dhātu, and mala through their inherent actions (karma).
Guru (heavy) – Laghu (light)
Manda (slow/dull) – Tikṣṇa (sharp/pungent)
Śīta (cold) – Uṣṇa (hot)
Snigdha (unctuous) – Rūkṣa (dry)
Ślakṣṇa (smooth) – Khara (rough)
Sandra (dense) – Drava (liquid)
Mrdu (soft) – Kathina (hard)
Sthira (stable) – Cala (mobile)
Sthūla (gross) – Sūkṣma (subtle)
Picchila (slimy/sticky) – Viśada (clear/non-slimy)
Doṣas are vāta, pitta, and kapha, which get increased or decreased by opposite or similar guṇas.
The action of guṇas on doṣas is governed by the principle of sāmānya (similarity) and viśeṣa (opposition).
GURU (HEAVY) GUṆA
Increases kapha doṣa, as kapha is naturally guru.
Decreases vāta and pitta due to opposite qualities.
Example: Milk – Guru guṇa – Increases kapha.
LAGHU (LIGHT) GUṆA
Increases vāta and pitta.
Decreases kapha.
Example: Laghupāk food – Useful in kapha disorders.
UṢṆA (HOT) GUṆA
Increases pitta and vāta.
Decreases kapha.
Example: Dry ginger – Uṣṇa – Balances kapha and increases pitta.
ŚĪTA (COLD) GUṆA
Increases kapha.
Decreases pitta.
Example: Sandalwood – Śīta – Reduces pitta, increases kapha.
SNIGDHA (UNCTUOUS) GUṆA
Increases kapha.
Decreases vāta.
Example: Ghee – Snigdha – Pacifies vāta, increases kapha.
RŪKṢA (DRY) GUṆA
Increases vāta.
Decreases kapha and pitta.
Example: Barley – Rūkṣa – Useful in kapha-pitta disorders.
TIKṢṆA (SHARP) GUṆA
Increases pitta and vāta.
Decreases kapha.
Example: Chitraka – Tikṣṇa – Reduces kapha.
MANDA (DULL) GUṆA
Increases kapha.
Decreases pitta and vāta.
Example: Milk – Manda – Calming and nourishing.
REFERENCE:
गुणाः स्वभावतो द्रव्ये नित्यं तिष्ठन्ति ते पृथक्।
तेषां कार्यविशेषेण समाख्यानि प्रचक्षते॥
Dhātus are seven structural entities – rasa, rakta, māṃsa, meda, asthi, majjā, śukra.
Guṇas affect dhātu formation, nutrition, and quality.
GURU GUṆA
Promotes dhātu-puṣṭi (nourishment).
Increases meda, māṃsa dhātu.
Excess may cause dhātu srotorodha (blockage).
LAGHU GUṆA
Helps in dhātu kṣaya cikitsā (used when excess tissue present).
Depletes or lightens heavy dhātus, useful in obesity.
SNIGDHA GUṆA
Increases sāra (essence) of rasa, māṃsa, and śukra dhātu.
Useful in dhātukṣaya (tissue depletion conditions).
RŪKṢA GUṆA
Reduces unctuousness in meda and māṃsa dhātu.
Induces dryness, can cause weakness if overused.
UṢṆA GUṆA
Promotes agni dīpti, better dhātu digestion.
Excess can cause dhātu daha (burning), pitta increase.
ŚĪTA GUṆA
Calms pitta, useful in raktapitta and other pittaja disorders.
Slows dhātu metabolism, causes srotorodha if excessive.
Malas: mutra (urine), purīṣa (stool), sveda (sweat).
Guṇas influence quantity, quality, and flow of malas.
RŪKṢA GUṆA
Reduces sveda, causes dryness.
May cause constipation (vibandha) due to dry stool.
SNIGDHA GUṆA
Promotes sveda, softens stool, useful in constipation.
Maintains smooth flow of malas.
UṢṆA GUṆA
Increases sveda and mutra pravṛtti.
Stimulates digestive and metabolic processes.
ŚĪTA GUṆA
Reduces sveda and causes malastambha (retention).
May lead to urinary retention and cold stools.
LAGHU GUṆA
Promotes easy mala elimination.
Useful in kapha-related mala obstruction.
GURU GUṆA
Causes malastambha, especially in kapha prakopa.
REFERENCE:
गुणा गुण्यनुसारस्य दोषधातुमलाश्रयाः।
स्वं स्वं कर्म प्रकुर्वन्ति यथास्वं चोपशान्तये॥
In treatment, drugs and diet are selected based on their guṇa to balance doṣas.
Example:
For vāta vyādhi (due to laghu, rūkṣa, śīta guṇa), use snigdha, guru, uṣṇa dravyas.
In pitta disorders, avoid uṣṇa, tikṣṇa, prefer śīta, snigdha.
For kapha, choose tikṣṇa, uṣṇa, rūkṣa, avoid guru, manda, snigdha.
