Prakriti (Individual Constitution)
Your unique, unchanging Ayurvedic body-mind constitution — the genetic fingerprint that determines which foods, seasons, and practices suit you.
— Definition
Prakriti is the individual's unique combination of the three Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) as determined at conception. Unlike Vikruti (current imbalance), Prakriti is permanent — the constitutional baseline to which treatment always aims to return.
— In Detail
Assessment of Prakriti involves pulse diagnosis (Nadi Pariksha), physical characteristics (body frame, skin, hair, eyes), physiological tendencies (digestion speed, sleep patterns, hunger intensity), and psychological traits (memory type, emotional tendencies, speech pace). There are seven Prakriti types: Vata-dominant, Pitta-dominant, Kapha-dominant, and four dual-dominant combinations. No constitution is superior — each has inherent strengths and vulnerabilities. Modern research correlates Prakriti types with differences in gene expression, metabolic profiles, gut microbiome composition, and disease susceptibility — providing a molecular basis for what was purely empirical for 5,000 years.
— Why It Matters
Prakriti-based nutrition personalises dietary advice beyond one-size-fits-all guidelines. A Vata-dominant person thrives on warm, oily, grounding foods (ghee, sesame, root vegetables) but suffers on raw salads and cold smoothies. A Pitta-dominant person requires cooling, bitter foods (coconut, coriander, millets) but worsens on the spicy, sour, and fermented foods that are ideal for Kapha types. Understanding your Prakriti transforms generic nutritional advice into a precise personal protocol.
— Related Terms
— See in Field Guide
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