There are clear benefits to having a dual-doshic constitution and these become apparent when we consider the different qualities inherent in the three doshas. Let us begin by consulting one of the key authorities on Ayurvedic Medicine, the Ashtanga Hrydayam, a text written around 550-600 AC by Vagbhata.
This is what the text tells us about the qualities of the three doshas:
Vata
“Tatra ruksho laghu sheetah, khara sukshmaschalo nilah”
The qualities of Vata are:
“dry, light, cool, rough, subtle and mobile”
(Ashtanga Hrdayam; Sutrasthana; Chapter 1;10.5)
Pitta
“Pittam sasneha tikshnoshnam laghu visram saram dravam”
“Pitta is slightly oily, sharp, hot, light, fleshy smelling, spreading and liquid”
(Ashtanga Hrdayam; Sutrasthana Chapter 1;11)
Kapha
“Snigdhah sheeta gururmandah shlakshno mritsnah sthirah kaphah”
“Kapha is unctuous, cool, heavy, slow, smooth, soft and static”
(Ashtanga Hrdayam; Sutrasthana 1;12)
A quick look at these descriptions reveals that certain qualities of one dosha oppose qualities of another dosha. Take for instance Vata’s dry, light and mobile qualities. These are opposed by Kapha’s unctuous, heavy and static qualities. Pitta’s hot and sharp qualities are balanced by Kapha’s cool, smooth and soft qualities and so on. This explains, why having a dual-doshic constitution can be beneficial: opposing qualities have the potential and ability to balance each other out.