In this blog, we will comprehensively learn everything about Prakriti in Ayurveda.
Prakriti Meaning
In Ayurveda, the Prakriti’s literal meaning in English is “Body Nature,” “Unique Body Constitution,” or “inherent nature of an individual.”
It is a unique percentage of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha in the human body decided at the time of the union of sperm and ovum.
Prakriti is the key determinant of how one individual is different from another. Compared to other medical systems, the concept of Prakriti is peculiar in Ayurveda.
The concept of Prakriti allows Ayurveda not only personalised treatment and medication but also personalised prevention. [1]
Prakriti formation in Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, at the time of the union of the sperm and ovum, the dominance of the two elements out of the 5 basic elements decides the body constitution or body nature of every individual. This basic prakriti formed at birth doesn’t change throughout life. [2]
For example, at the union of ovum and sperm, the Air and Ether elements are dominant, then the person will have a Vata Prakriti. Fire and Water element dominance results in Pitta Prakriti. Earth and Water dominance create Kapha Prakriti in a person.
Importance of Prakriti in Ayurveda
- Generally, knowing your body’s nature or body type can help you maintain optimal health as per Ayurveda.
- It helps in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
- It also helps an individual to decide on a particular dietary regimen, and herbs to avoid and prefer.
- Knowledge of Prakriti is important to understand the Vikriti, which means the diseased state of an individual.
Types of Prakriti in Ayurveda
There are seven main types of Prakriti in Ayurveda.
1. Vata Prakriti
2. Pitta Prakriti
3. Kapha Prakriti
4. Vata-Pitta Prakriti
5. Pitta-Kapha Prakriti
6. Kapha-Vata Prakriti
7. Tridosha Prakriti (very rare for a person to have)
Types of Prakriti in Ayurveda in detail
1. Vata Prakriti
As the name suggests, Vata Prakriti is the dominance of qualities of Vata dosha in the human body over the qualities of Pitta and Kapha dosha. Vata Prakriti people are slim, active, enthusiastic, and creative.
Best diet for vata prakriti
- Vata people should eat more naturally sweet, salty, and sour foods.
- Warm milk, butter, and herbal tea suit the vata prakriti
- Having boiled milk (with cardamom) before bed soothes the system of a vata person.
- Cook with a generous amount of oils and ghee.
- Vata people should eat in small quantities at fixed times every day.
Best foods for Vata people
List of some of the best foods for Vata people-
Asparagus
Sweet Potatoes
Carrots
Beets
Cucumber
Garlic
Green Beans
Oats
Radishes
Lemon
Grapes
Pineapple
Cooked Rice
What should Vata Prakriti People avoid
- Avoid Alcohol, cold drinks, chocolates, basically foods and drinks with artificial sweeteners.
- Say no to junk food, excessive salt, and processed sugars
- Avoid raw vegetables and salads
- Vata people should refrain from using caffeine
- Unripe fruits should not be consumed
- Vata personalities should avoid bitter, pungent, and astringent foods. These foods increase dryness and hence increase the vata.
- Vata people should also avoid fasting. Fasting increases lightness in the body, resulting in increased vata in the body.
General health tips for Vata Prakriti People
- Vata people should go to bed before 10 pm.
- Maintain a regular daily routine.
- Do moderate exercise. Vata people must avoid excessive exercise. Excessive exercise increases the lightness in the body, increasing vata in the body.
- Do meditation.
- Wake up at the same time every day.
- Drink a glass of warm water when you get up.
- Massage with warm oil.
- Take a short nap in the afternoon.
- Stay warm.
2. Pitta Prakriti
When the Pitta dominates the human system over the other two doshas or bio-energies, you get a pitta prakriti.
Pitta Prakriti people are athletic, hot-tempered, good leaders, and usually have attractive personalities.
Best Diet for Pitta Prakriti
- Generally, Pitta people should eat sweet, bitter, and astringent foods. These tastes pacify the Pitta.
- A Pitta person must have cooling foods such as cucumber, melon, and coconut water.
- No, ice cream is not a cooling food; it must be avoided.
- Ripped and sweet fruits are of great value to the Pitta Prakriti people.
- Include milk, butter, and ghee in the diet.
- Pitta people should eat a heavy lunch because they have a strong digestive fire.
- The best Oils are olive, coconut, and sunflower.
Best foods for Pitta Prakriti People
Ginger
Cabbage
Coriander
Cauliflower
Fennel
Sprouts
Turmeric
Green Beans
Black Pepper
Celery
Mint
Lettuce
What should Pitta People Avoid
- Pitta Prakriti People should minimise eating spicy, sour, and salty foods.
- Avoid exposure to excessive heat.
- They must also reduce the intake of sour fruits such as grapefruit, apricot, and berries.
General Health Tips for Pitta Prakriti People
- Pitta people should balance rest and activity.
- Do not skip meals because they have a strong digestive fire.
- Spend time in nature. The cool and well-ventilated environments are suitable.
3. Kapha Prakriti
Again, as the name suggests, people with Kapha Prakriti have kapha dosha dominant over Vata and Pitta. Kapha Prakriti people often tend to have a higher weight. They are calm, loving, lazy, and loyal.
The best diet for Kapha Prakriti People
- Pungent and bitter-flavoured foods are best for the kapha personality.
- A warm drink of lemon and honey water.
- Barley, oats, and millet are the best grains for Kapha Prakriti people.
- Pungent spices such as chilli, mustard seeds, turmeric, and ginger are beneficial. They speed up the metabolism and prevent the accumulation of fats.
- Low-fat milk
- Consumption of honey is best to pacify Kapha
- Ginger tea with meals helps in digestion.
Best foods for Kapha Prakriti People
Beans
Spinach
Eggs
Jaggery
Sprouts
Apples
Pears
Pomegranate
Broccoli
Artichoke
Plum
Dried figs
Walnut and corn oil
What to Avoid for Kapha Prakriti People
- Reduce the intake of dairy
- Avoid Suger
- Reduce intake of all nuts and seeds
- Use small amounts of fats and oils
- Avoid cold and heavy foods
- Avoid large quantities of food, especially at night
- Limit the intake of salt.
- Avoid egg yolk, pork, and seafood.
General health tips for Kapha Prakriti People
- Warm and cooked meals
- Do not eat more than three meals per day
- Eat less than you feel hungry for.
- Sweeten foods with natural sweeteners like honey.
- The use of oils and ghee must be in small quantities.
- Kapha people should avoid snacking between meals.
4. Vata-Pitta Prakriti
When Vata and Pitta dosha have a significant percentage over Kapha dosha, you get the Vata-pitta Prakriti. They have the physical and mental qualities of vata and pitta together.
For example, Vata is 45 per cent dominant, Pitta is 35 per cent, and Kapha is 20 per cent. This type of body nature will be called Vata-pitta Prakriti.
Best diet for Vata-Pitta Prakriti People
- The dual dosha prakriti should be managed with seasons:
- In fall and winter, follow the Vata Prakriti Pacifying Regimen
- During Spring and Summer, follow the Pitta Prakriti Pacifying Regimen
Best Foods for Vata Pitta Prakriti People
Avocado
Ripe Bananas
Black Berries
Coconut
Dates
Cooked vegetables
Raw Salad (only in summer if digestion is strong and there is no constipation)
Cracked wheat
Cooked oats
Use oil abundantly if the skin is dry
General health tips for Vata Pitta Prakriti
- The dominant Dosha must be balanced first in case of Dosha imbalance
- Coconut oil massage is best for vata-pitta types
- Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine
- Consume herbal tea after meals
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid dry foods if the vata is dominant
- Generally, consume foods that are cooling in nature
5. Pitta-Kapha Prakriti
When Pitta and Kapha dosha dominate over the vata dosha, you get a Pitta-Kapha Prakriti. They have the physical and mental characteristics of Pitta and Kapha body types together.
Diet for Pitta Kapha Prakriti
Late Summer and Spring- Follow the Pitta Prakriti pacifying regimen
Winter and Early Spring- Follow Kapha Prakriti Pacifying regimen
Foods best for Pitta-Kapha Prakriti
- Eat fruits in moderation
- Cooked vegetables
- Use spices in small amounts
- Cooked grains
- Use oil abundantly if the skin is dry
General Health Tips for Pitta-Kapha Prakriti
- Lunch has to be the largest meal
- Early dinner
- Almond milk is of great benefit to the Pitta Kapha Prakriti people
- Use vegetable protein in place of animal protein
- Water is the best beverage for this Prakriti-type
6. Kapha-Vata Prakriti
Similarly, when a body has a significantly larger number of qualities of Vata and Kapha bio energies than Pitta energy, you call it Kapha-Vata body nature or Prakriti.
Diet for Kapha vata prakriti
- A light dinner is preferable for this Prakriti
- Sour fruits are favourable for this Prakriti
- Must avoid chilled or frozen foods
Foods best for Kapha-Vata Prakriti
- Ripe fruits
- Cooked vegetables
- Raw Salad only with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Use oil and hot spices moderately
General health tips for the Kapha vata prakriti
- Stop making sudden changes to the schedule
- Eat dinner within one hour after sunset
- Eat only after the previous meal is digested
7. Tridosha Prakriti (very rare for a person to have)
This is equal proportions of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha in a body. It’s rare for a person to have all three doshas in a balanced state.
This Prakriti’s diet, food, and lifestyle should be all vata, pitta, and kapha pacifying.
Conclusion
Prakriti is the foundation of personalised health in Ayurveda. Any Ayurveda doctor will first know your prakriti and then treat you accordingly with a treatment specific to your individual needs.[3] Similarly, if we know our prakriti and follow a schedule and diet according to it, we can holistically keep ourselves in great health.
Reference
[1] Dey S, Pahwa P. Prakriti and its associations with metabolism, chronic diseases, and genotypes: Possibilities of newborn screening and a lifetime of personalised prevention. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2021 Apr 14];5(1):15–24. Available from: Link to Study. Go To Citation
[2] Bhalerao S, Deshpande T, Thatte U. Prakriti (Ayurvedic concept of constitution) and variations in platelet aggregation. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012 Dec;12(1). Available from: Link to Study. Go to Citation
[3] Ayurveda & PRAKRUTI (the Constitution) and VIKRUTI (the Nature of the Imbalance) · California College of Ayurveda [Internet]. California College of Ayurveda. 2017. Available from: Link to Study. Go to Citation
