Ayurveda is based on principles which are inherent in the natural world, unchanging and universal. Ayurveda is eternal. According to Ayurveda, everything in this universe is composed of five elements. The human body is also made up of the same five elements. These five elements are the basic constituents of everything on Earth.
Air provides movement - such as in the joints, intestine or heart.
Earth is represented in any solid, heavy part of the body like fat muscles, skin and nails. The Ayurvedic term for these forces is dosa. The names of the three dosas are vata, pitta and kapha. Like any other object each dosa is also made of the five elements. The dosas can be understood from their qualities and actions in the body.