AYURVEDIC PRAKRITI (CONSTITUTION):

 

Please try to remember any occasion when you enjoyed the food with your

f riend. Next day you found that you are not feeling wel l, as your stomach

is ‘not in order’ but your f riend is happy even next day with the taste of

food enjoyed with you last night . You get puzzled, what happens to you?

Why the same food reacted in a dif ferent way to you and your f riend? In

your daily l ife there may be so many occasions l ike this. I t is real ly

strange to observe such things. Yu may wonder that why under similar

condit ions, people react in a dif ferent way.

Ayurveda has answer of al l these curiosit ies. The concept of Prakriti is

unique and has explanat ion for this. Every person is born with a def inite

genet ic const itut ion, depending upon Doshas, there are three major types

of Prakrit i, and these ref lect predominance of that part icular Dosha. Our

body behaves according to the status of Dosha Prakrit i . For example, a

person is born wi th Vata Prakr it i and his or her diet is r ich in Vata

promot ing substances then he or she is likely to develop a problems like

Const ipat ion etc. whi le the same diet is consumed by a person of Pit ta

const itut ion that wi l l keep him or her in order.

 

There are seven possible Prakriti (constitution) types –

 

a) Vata Prakri ti

b) Pitta Prakri ti

c) Kapha Prakri ti

d) Vata – Pi tta Prakri ti

e) Vata – Kapha Prakriti

f) Pitta – Kapha Prakriti

g) Tridosha Prakriti

 

These are only broad categories. But by var iat ion in proport ion it may be

of innumerable types. We f ind that most people around us have a dual

personal ity. You are requi red to develop a good concept of Prakrit i

analysis, without knowledge of one’s Prakrit i, it is pract ically impossible to

apply Ayurvedic fundamentals in prevent ion, promot ion and cure of

disease.

 

Have a look of some important features of different Prakritis

 

1. Vata Prakrit i – These persons are either short or long but are

most of ten with a thin body f rame. Most ly towards lower side of

weight range, somet imes under weight . Skin is dark, dry with

cracks. Nails are hard and brit t le, Appet ite is variable, most ly

suf fer f rom const ipat ion. Sleep is l ight but varies f rom night to

night . They remember easily and forget easi ly. Find great

dif f iculty in developing a rout ine, but are very act ive.

 

2. Pitta prakriti – They are of medium body f rame. Skin is usual ly

delicate, l ight in color and more prone to sunburn. Sweat ing is

excessive. Nails are sof t , strong and wel l formed. Endowed with

good appet ite and rarely const ipated. Have capacity to perform

vigorous exercise. Go to sleep easily but is light . These persons

are more pract ical in life. Memory is good. More organized in

work.

 

3. Kapha Prakri ti – Body frame is most ly medium to broad. Weight

gain is varying easy. Skin of these people is smooth, thick and

slight ly oily. Sweat ing is moderate. Nai ls are st rong, large and

symmetrical. Appet ite is moderate and bowel habit is regular.

They enjoy sleep, which is usually heavy. Appear calm and quiet .

They are of stable nature. From them it takes t ime to memorize

but once happen, it is forever. Most of the t ime they are relaxed.

Persons having predominance of two types of Doshas have mixed type

of features.