15.Your Body
WHAT TYPE ARE YOU ?
Here is a checklist of the main characteristics of each main dosha type from which it is possible to establish your dominant dosha. The most common disorders to which each type is particularly prone are also listed together with recommendations of diet, exercise, lifestyle and Ayurvedic treatments to counter the effects of excessive dosha.
Prakruti ( the physical constitution )
It is important for doctor and patient to understand the concept and functions of the doshas, so that no treatment is offered which works against a predominant dosha. The individual constitution is evaluated to form the basis of the Ayurvedic diagnosis. Until this is established, no effective treatment or regime can or should be recommended. Imbalance leads to ill health.
The ages of dosha dominance
Kapha – related problems are common from birth to the age of twenty
Pitta – related problems are common between the ages of twenty and fifty years.
Vata – related problems are common after the age of fifty years.
Characteristics of Kapha
A moderate to sluggish appetite: heavy sweating ; profuse but infrequent urination; large, soft stools: melodious speech; a businesslike approach: a good memory; careful decision making; thrift and care with money; a tendency to save and conserve; monogamy; lethargy and passivity; a love of Pease and quite and familiar places: a love of good food; a dislike of cold, damp conditions
Health problems associated with kapha :
Hypertension; heart disease: circulatory disorders; diabetes; gall bladder problems; eczema; asthma; sinusitis; bronchitis
How to live with kapha
Avoid eating foods high in kapha
Eat hot and spicy food
Avoid cold and raw food
Do not snack between meals
Avoid fatty and fried food. Meat and meat products and excess oil
Avoid alchohol consumption and control addictions to sweet food
Choose heating, bitter, pungent and astringent food
Take walks after meals
Avoid a cold environment
Take warm baths and wear warm clothing
Avoid excess sleep
Cleanse the body with panchakarma therapy regularly
Massage the body with kapha oils engage in daily physical activity
Characteristics of Pitta
A strong appetite; a tendency to sweat; frequent need to urinate; loose stools and a tendency to diarrhoea; loud speech; care with money: a tendency to jealousy , ambition and egotism; a passionate and dominating sex drive; a love of sport: an interest in politics; a love of luxury; a dislike of heat
How to live with pitta
Avoid eating foods high in pitta
Eat vata and kapha increasing food
Eat cooling food ( drinking cold water, eating ghee and
taking suitable oils are beneficial )
Eat a high proportion of raw foods, i.e. – salads, fruits and vegetables; avoid pickles,
fizzy and acidic drinks and reduce your intake of fruit juice
Avoid excess alcohol, salt, tea and coffee
Choose sweet, bitter and astringent food
Take yoghurt after meals
Drink plenty of liquids
Try to maintain a cool environment – bathe in cool water
Swimming in cold water, taking walks in moonlight and living near water are all
beneficial activities for pitta types
Massage the body with pitta oils
Do not expose the body to too much sun
Characteristics of Vata
A variable appetite; little perspiration; Frequent but sparse urine; hard, dark stools and a tendency to constipation; a highly original and creative mind; a poor to average memory; indecisiveness: rapid speech; wastefulness with money: nervousness and shyness; a tendency to anxiety and depression; a high sex drive ( or none at all ); a love of travel; high mobility: a dislike of cold weather and strong winds.
Health problems associated with vata :
Heart problems; disorders of the nervous system; anxiety; tension; hypertension; depression; migraine; irritable bowel syndrome.
How to live with vata
Avoid eating foods high in vata and eat pitta – and kapha increasing food.
Eat moderately warm food ( warm milk is a beneficial drink );
avoid cold or frozen food.
Choose sweet, acid and salty foods; avoid hot and spicy food,
and reduce your intakeof nuts and seeds.
Massage with vata oils.
Use steam baths with vata oil applications.
With the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner ,
cleanse the digestive system and body
with oils,salty liquids, Ayurvedic Preparations and panchakarma
methods regularly.
Avoid excessive physical activities.
Make sure to get plenty of rest and listen to relaxing music.
Meditate every day.
Here is a checklist of the main characteristics of each main dosha type from which it is possible to establish your dominant dosha. The most common disorders to which each type is particularly prone are also listed together with recommendations of diet, exercise, lifestyle and Ayurvedic treatments to counter the effects of excessive dosha.
Prakruti ( the physical constitution )
It is important for doctor and patient to understand the concept and functions of the doshas, so that no treatment is offered which works against a predominant dosha. The individual constitution is evaluated to form the basis of the Ayurvedic diagnosis. Until this is established, no effective treatment or regime can or should be recommended. Imbalance leads to ill health.
The ages of dosha dominance
Kapha – related problems are common from birth to the age of twenty
Pitta – related problems are common between the ages of twenty and fifty years.
Vata – related problems are common after the age of fifty years.
Characteristics of Kapha
A moderate to sluggish appetite: heavy sweating ; profuse but infrequent urination; large, soft stools: melodious speech; a businesslike approach: a good memory; careful decision making; thrift and care with money; a tendency to save and conserve; monogamy; lethargy and passivity; a love of Pease and quite and familiar places: a love of good food; a dislike of cold, damp conditions
Health problems associated with kapha :
Hypertension; heart disease: circulatory disorders; diabetes; gall bladder problems; eczema; asthma; sinusitis; bronchitis
How to live with kapha
Avoid eating foods high in kapha
Eat hot and spicy food
Avoid cold and raw food
Do not snack between meals
Avoid fatty and fried food. Meat and meat products and excess oil
Avoid alchohol consumption and control addictions to sweet food
Choose heating, bitter, pungent and astringent food
Take walks after meals
Avoid a cold environment
Take warm baths and wear warm clothing
Avoid excess sleep
Cleanse the body with panchakarma therapy regularly
Massage the body with kapha oils engage in daily physical activity
Characteristics of Pitta
A strong appetite; a tendency to sweat; frequent need to urinate; loose stools and a tendency to diarrhoea; loud speech; care with money: a tendency to jealousy , ambition and egotism; a passionate and dominating sex drive; a love of sport: an interest in politics; a love of luxury; a dislike of heat
How to live with pitta
Avoid eating foods high in pitta
Eat vata and kapha increasing food
Eat cooling food ( drinking cold water, eating ghee and
taking suitable oils are beneficial )
Eat a high proportion of raw foods, i.e. – salads, fruits and vegetables; avoid pickles,
fizzy and acidic drinks and reduce your intake of fruit juice
Avoid excess alcohol, salt, tea and coffee
Choose sweet, bitter and astringent food
Take yoghurt after meals
Drink plenty of liquids
Try to maintain a cool environment – bathe in cool water
Swimming in cold water, taking walks in moonlight and living near water are all
beneficial activities for pitta types
Massage the body with pitta oils
Do not expose the body to too much sun
Characteristics of Vata
A variable appetite; little perspiration; Frequent but sparse urine; hard, dark stools and a tendency to constipation; a highly original and creative mind; a poor to average memory; indecisiveness: rapid speech; wastefulness with money: nervousness and shyness; a tendency to anxiety and depression; a high sex drive ( or none at all ); a love of travel; high mobility: a dislike of cold weather and strong winds.
Health problems associated with vata :
Heart problems; disorders of the nervous system; anxiety; tension; hypertension; depression; migraine; irritable bowel syndrome.
How to live with vata
Avoid eating foods high in vata and eat pitta – and kapha increasing food.
Eat moderately warm food ( warm milk is a beneficial drink );
avoid cold or frozen food.
Choose sweet, acid and salty foods; avoid hot and spicy food,
and reduce your intakeof nuts and seeds.
Massage with vata oils.
Use steam baths with vata oil applications.
With the supervision of an Ayurvedic practitioner ,
cleanse the digestive system and body
with oils,salty liquids, Ayurvedic Preparations and panchakarma
methods regularly.
Avoid excessive physical activities.
Make sure to get plenty of rest and listen to relaxing music.
Meditate every day.
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