We are all composed of varying proportions of the three doshas.
Between them the doshas are responsible for all activity in mind and body, including our digestion, the metabolism of all our cells and tissues, our thoughts and feelings and our predisposition to disease.
Part 1. First explore your NATURAL genetic body-type
This is known as Prakriti.
Prakriti is our constitution of primordial nature. This is unchangeable. It predetermines our body type, our temperament and the health problems to which we may be susceptible. Prakruti is our gift of life!
How to use this chart to explore your Prakruti
- Click on the answer that most describes your personal qualities in each row
- Avoid skipping answering any of the rows. You do have to select just one option per row.
- The total score for each category will appear at the bottom of each column once completed
- The dosha with the highest score gives your genetic body-type. The next highest score gives your sub-dosha (secondary dosha that also governs our constitution)
- Most of us will have either a clear predominant dosha or a dual dosha. A small percentage of people have equal proportions of all three, making them tri-dosha types.
- The selected bodily characteristics in this chart guide you on your Prakruti. A deeper more careful diagnosis will be carried out by a qualified practitioner to help with diagnosing and treating your Vikruti (the current balance or state of the three doshas at the present time)
Note: Your Prakriti (natural constitution) cannot change. Only the Vikruti is changeable. Dosha literally translates as fault. When dosha is at fault (unbalanced) we are not at our healthiest.
Ayurveda practitioners will assist in ways to help balance your Vikruti
| Personal Qualities | Vata | Score | Pitta | Score | Kapha | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BODY BUILD | Thin, small or tall | Medium, compact | Stocky, large frame | |||
| WEIGHT | Light (underweight) | Ideal, medium | Overweight, Obese | |||
| SKIN | Dry, rough, cool, brownish | Reddish, warm | Pale, fair, cold, oily, smooth, watery | |||
| HAIR | Brown, dusky, sparse, thin, dry | Red, blonde, oily or balding, greying | Dark, oily, smoothe, thick, plentiful | |||
| EYES | Small, active | Sharp, penetrating, green, red, grey | Big attractive, black, blue, thick eyelashes | |||
| FACE | Thin, sharp features pointed | Square, oval | Rounded, plump | |||
| TEETH | Irregular, protruding, fillings | Well set, bleeding gums | Strong, white, well formed | |||
| APPETITE | Variable, poor, irregular meals | Strong digestion, 'square' meals, irritable if skips a meal | Poor appetite, small meals, comfort eating | |||
| THIRST | Medium, variable | Always thirsty | Slight thirst | |||
| BOWEL MOVEMENT | Variable, dry, small, constipation | Loose, oily, soft, often frequent | Heavy thick slow bowel movement | |||
| SLEEP | Light, interrupted | Sound about 8 hours | Heavy, excessive, late riser | |||
| SPEECH | Fast broken | Sharp, precise, articulate powerful orator | Slow, sweet, few words | |||
| ACTITVITY | Hyperactive, irregular, erratic | Well organised, controlled | Slow, lethargic, graceful | |||
| ENERGY | Bursts, tires easily | Moderate endurance | Steady endurance, steady stamina | |||
| MENTAL STATE | Excitable, wavering, worrier. restless | Irritable, short tempered, under stress, intelligent, confident | Calm, unruffled, slow, tolerant | |||
| MEMORY | Good short term, poor long term | Intelligent, sharp | Slow to grasp but retains well | |||
| HABIT | Impulsive | Methodical, logical | Conservative | |||
| DREAMS | Fearful, pumping, flying objects | Fiery, colourful, passionate | Water, oceans, woods, romantic | |||
| EMOTIONS | Sentimental, loving, kind | Anger, egotism, jealous, joy, warmth when ok, passionate | Loving, forgiving, kind or possessive, greedy | |||
| WORK ATTITUDE | Enthusiastic, imaginative | Enterprising, leadership, aggressive | Indifferent, complacent, stubborn, dull | |||
| FUTURE | Unsure, insecure | Ambitious, determined goal | Not bothered take it as it comes | |||
| Total score | Vata | 0 | Pitta | 0 | Kapha | 0 |
Your Main Dosha : Vata / Pitta / Kapha
Part 2. Now explore the present state of any current Doshic imbalance (Vikruti)
Our Vikruti reflects our dynamic homeostatic mechanisms which are constantly adjusting to the influences of life inside and outside of us , and so is always changing.
Ideally our Vikruti should match our Prakruti
This second chart begins to help guide you through the different presentations of general dosha imbalance.
Read across each column in the row showing the ‘signs of increased dosha’ section first.
Select which column resonates with you the most. You may find you are showing signs of an imbalance in different dosha than your prakruti. This is perfectly normal. You may currently not have any general presentations. You may find you could select all three. Just select the descriptions that you feel are the most prominent right now. You can come back to this chart time and time again to check in 
Each column provides information on causes, typical disease tendency, suggestions on how to help to pacify the imbalance as well as suggested herbs, oils and food tastes that will all
aid pacifying the Doshic in-balance. An Ayurveda practitioner will advise further on a specific protocol to follow to aid health management.
| Vata | Pitta | Kapha | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIGNS OF INCREASED DOSHA | Restlessness, anxiety, insomnia. wavering mind, twitching of muscles, hard stools and constipation, impaired sense of function, giddiness, dry skin, fatigue, fear, grief, palpitations. | Short-temper, anger, thirst, burning sensation in skin, urine, eyes, insomnia, fever. acid indigestion, yellow discolouration of urine, bitter taste and excessive sweating, craving for cold foods and drinks. | Heavy feeling in body, lethargy, slowness of mental faculties, pallor of skin, water retention in body, nausea, loss of appetite, water catarrh from nose and mouth, feelings of importance possessiveness, and greed. |
| CAUSES OF INCREASED DOSHA | Dry, cold, pungent, bitter diet, travelling, excessive exercise (aerobics), irregular habits, late nights, mental shock, cigarette smoking, addicting drugs, alcohol, excessive tea and coffee. | Exposure to sun, hot spicy foods and drinks, alcohol, excessive tea and coffee, anger, too much intellectual activity. Excessive sports and exercise. | Cold damp weather, heavy meals, too much dairy and fatty foods, foods with sweet, sour, saline tastes, lack of exercise, sleeping in daytime, indifference. |
| DISEASE TENDENCY | Stress, anxiety, headaches, arthritis, myalgia, ME, MS, epilepsy, mental disorder, irritable bowel/ bladder, anorexia, stroke, blood pressure, angina, sciatica and back problems, osteoporosis, accidents. | Acid indigestion, stomach ulcers, gall stones, migraine, allergies, asthma, heart disease, heart attacks, blood disorders, colitis, piles, rheumatoid arthritis, eye problems. | Water retention, premenstrual tension, oedema of feet, catarrh, depression (heavy type), heart disease / high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, some cancers, cysts. |
| How to balance |
Organise and 'ground' yourself regularly, relaxation breathing and meditation, ample rest / sleep, plenty of fluid / water / vitamin C, nourishing foods: milk, cheese, butter, green vegetables, fruits, regular daily massage with sesame seed oil. Teas: Organic Tulsi, Organic Chai, Organic Good Night Tea, Organic Ginger, Mint & Lemongrass Tea Supplements: Chyawanprash, Ashwagandha Brahmi Shativari, Trifala Detox Tablets, Organically Grown Tumeric Massage oils: Mahanarayan, Vata Balance, Yoga Move, TriDosha |
Reduce workload, take more frequent breaks (in nature. sea-side. mountains), meditation, reduce demands and expectations on self and others, learn anger management, foods with sweet and astringent tastes, cold drinks, milk. water, pulses, green vegetables, massage with coconut oil or almond oil. Teas: Organic Digestive Tea, Organic Detox Tea, Organic Mint & Cinnamon Tea, Organic Woman's Wellbeing Tea, Organic Tulsi Tea Supplements: Ashwagandha Brahmi Shatavari, Guduchi Tinospora Cordifolia, Chyawanprash, Trifala Detox Tablets, Organically Grown Tumeric Massage oils: Pitta Balance Oil, TriDosha, Yoga Move |
Need stimulation and motivation, increase activity, vigorous exercise gradually graded. Beneficial foods: tea and coffee, spice teas, black pepper, cardamom, basil, camomile, cinnamon, ginger, lemon, eat garlic in food. Control weight, regular fasting, regular deep tissue massage with sesame seed oil, warm environment, eat small meals. Teas: Organic Basil & Lemongrass Tea, Organic Tulsi Tea, Organic Woman's Wellbeing Tea, Organic Detox Tea Supplements: Chyawanprash, Trifala Detox Tablets, Organically Grown Tumeric Massage oils: Kapha Balance Oil, TriDosha, Yoga Move, Mahanarayan |
| Pacifying herbs | Rose hips, ginseng, ginger. caraway, coriander, oregano, parsley, sage | Fennel, licorice, mint, basil, camomile, coriander | Ginger, cloves, black pepper, calendula, caraway, coriander, oregano, parsley, sage |
| Aromatherapy oils | Basil, orange, rose-geranium, lavender, neroli, patchouli, frankincense | Sandalwood, mint, lavender, jasmine, cinnamon, ylang-ylang | Eucalyptus, clove, mustard oil, camphor, marjoram, juniper, bergamot |
| Pacifying tastes | Sweet. sour, salt | Sweet, bitter, astringent | Bitter, pungent, astringent |
