Ayurvedic physicians don't think in terms of one's "body type" (called prakriti in Sanskrit) when prescribing, but rather in terms of imbalances. They may keep the body type in the back of the mind, but the critical issue is the predominant disorders. If there is a major problem that needs attention, it will have precedence over all other factors when considering the therapy. Here, for the first time,
is a quiz that assesses your dosha imbalance based on signs and
symptoms of disorders, as opposed to your constitution. It asks, for example, not whether you are over- or underweight, but why you are, so that you can address the cause of the problems. The results can be used
to determine the best diet, exercise and lifestyle including the types of
music, aromas, leisure activities or even landscaping that may be therapeutic.
Mark a point for a positive response in the appropriate box. In some cases, a
positive response is weighted more heavily, even up to five points, because its
presence overrides other imbalances. You can have points in several boxes on
the same line or in no boxes. Add up the columns and write your scores:
Vata
Pitta
Kapha
Temperature
regulation
Uncomfortably
cold feet and hands
Uncomfortably
hot, hot flashes, sweats
I
often feel cold and clammy
Skin
Dry,
flaky skin or
ichthyosis
rosacea,
acne, easily sunburn, eczema, psoriasis
3 points
Oily,
waxy skin with large pores, edema
Mental
imbalances
Anxiety,
panic, distracted, forgetful
3
points
Anger,
frustration, irritability
3
points
Lethargy,
melancholy
Disordered
sleep
Sleep-onset
insomnia or light, fitful sleep-3 points
Sleep-maintenance
insomnia: I awake and can’t get back to sleep - 2 points
Excessive
sleep: I regularly need 9-10 hours per night
Joint
problems
Cracking,
rough aching, brittle
Inflamed,
hot, red
Effusion,
liquid, loose
Upper
digestion
Irregular
Heartburn,
acidity, ulcers, reflux
3
points
Sluggish:
food leaves stomach slowly
Lower
digestive symptoms
Cramps,
gas, bloating, esp. related to stress, anxiety
Loose
stools, related to anger and time pressures
-----
I
am underweight because I am:
Too
active and nervous to eat well (3 points)
Metabolism
is too fast. I eat a lot and burn it off
------
I
am overweight because:
I
overeat due to stress and anxiety
I
overeat due to an insatiable appetite (4 points)
I
am sedentary and lethargic, lonely (5 pts)
Cholesterol
Below
140
-----
Over
250 (4 points)
Constipation
with:
Dry,
small, hard stools
External
hemorrhoids
Pasty
stools.
Menopause
Insomnia,
spacey, vaginal dryness
Hot
flashes
Weight
gain
Blood
pressure
Elevated
due to anxiety
Elevated
due to anger
Elevated
due to obesity and lack of exercise
Eyes
Dry
Red,
inflamed
Excess
mucus
Fatigue
Due
to lack of sleep, anxiety, emaciation
Due
to autoimmune or inflammatory diseases
Due
to depression, obesity
Menstruation
Irregular
or with scant, dark clots
Heavy
flow lasting many days
Bloating,
lethargy, fluid retention, fibroids
PMS
Anxious,
edgy
Irritable,
angry
Depressed
Heart
Arrhythmias
------
Coronary
disease-5 points
Headache
Tension
Migraine
Sinus
Other
organs
Kidney
stones, bladder and prostate problems
Hepatitis,
gallstones
2
points each
Asthma
or bronchitis; sinusitis (2 points each)
My
totals
With
the results of this test, you can follow appropriate dietary and lifestyle
guidelines to help correct the problems. If there is one dosha that is clearly predominant, your job is simple. You only need to modify your diet and lifestyle based on that dosha. If there are two that are equally predominant, make your life simple by selecting the dosha underlying the most significant problem or the one that is most affected by diet (such as obesity -- that's why it gets extra points on this quiz). Consultation with an experienced physician trained in Ayurveda is often necessary to put these issues in their proper perspective.
To read an article that tells you how to use this knowledge in a practical way, The Tridosha Principle - Basis for a Balanced Body and Mind, click here...
More articles
This information on "Dosha Imbalance Self-Assessment" is in the "About Vedic Medicine" section of AyurvedaMed.com website. To return to the index page of this section, please click here.
{Contact Us}