Prakriti: Body Constitution

When sperm and ovum fuse (as the magic happens) during fertilization one, two or all three of the doshas develops in excess. The surplus dosha is then primarily responsible for guiding your body constitution. Superfluous dosha thus mandates your body type. Thus in counting, Prakriti are 7 in numbers, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Vata-Kapha, Pitta-Kapha, and Samadosha (all three doshas in equivalent amount) Prakriti.

After knowing your Prakriti (body constitution), you can apply it in maintaining the health and counteracting the disease, as it plays an important role in health planning. Knowing the natural constitution of your body helps you in knowing what kind of disease you acquire according to changing seasons and know how to prevent them before they occur. It is possible to perceive about the prognosis of disease with respect to Prakriti.

A Vata Prakriti person may suffer from Vata diseases (eighty in number – diseases of nerves and bones) if the personnel indulges more in a cold, dry, rough, bitter, pungent and astringent diet, does intensive exercise, have erratic food habits, live in cold and dry environment. Cold seasons, pre-rainy season and cloudy dry windy climates are not good for the Vata personnel. Any type of sickness may become heightened during the Vata period – evening, late in the night and third hours after a meal. Vata diseases become particularly predominant with increasing age. However, if the personnel follow a proper diet habit, it helps in preventing the Vata diseases.

A general guideline for balancing Vata would involve keeping yourself warm and calm, avoiding raw foods, avoiding cold foods, avoiding extreme cold temperatures, eating warm foods and spices and keeping a regular routine.

A pitta Prakriti being, have a tendency to suffer from pitta diseases (forty in number, mostly metabolic disorders), particularly if the individual indulges in hot, sharp, pungent, sour, salty diet. Summer and autumn seasons in principle are bad for pitta personnel as pitta tends to get aggravated in these seasons. The sickness of pitta personnel tends to get heightened during second hours after meals and midday (noon). Medicine thus taken during this time of pitta aggravation tends to speed up recovery.

For balancing pitta avoid excessive heat, avoid excessive oil, avoid excessive steam, limit salt intake, eat cooling and non-spicy foods, drink cool (but not iced) drinks, exercise during the cooler part of the day.

A Kapha being, tends to suffer from Kapha diseases (twenty in number – diseases of structure), principally if the individual coddles unctuous, oily, heavy, dull, slimy, sweet, sour, salty food along with a leisurely lifestyle where physical exercise is shunned. These activities tend to inculpate Kapha in the body. Kapha people have the propensity to fall sick in the spring, in cold and damp climates. Sickness gets heightened in the climate mentioned, also at Kapha time, as in early in the morning. Medicine provides more vitality to Kapha people taken during the morning.

A general guideline for balancing Kapha involves getting plenty of exercises, avoiding heavy foods, keeping active, vary your routine, avoiding dairy foods, avoiding iced food and drinks, avoid fatty or oily foods and eating light, dry foods.

1. No. Rasa/ Taste Suitable for (Body type) Unsuitable for (Body type) 1. Sweet (Madhura) Vata, Pitta Kapha 2. Sour (Amla) Vata Pitta, Kapha 3. Salty (Lavana) Vata Pitta, Kapha 4. Pungent / Hot (Katu) Kapha Vata, Pitta 5. Bitter (Tikta) Pitta, Kapha Vata 6. Astringent (Kashaya) Pitta, Kapha Vata

A general method for finding out you Prakriti is by filling up the form that you can download here: Assessment of Prakriti