Know Your Dosha: Vata, Pitta & Kapha

What Is a Dosha?

Ayurveda teaches that the entire universe — including the human body — is composed of five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space. These five elements combine to form three fundamental bio-energies called doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Every person is born with a unique combination of all three, with one or two typically dominant. This combination is called your prakriti (constitution).

Understanding your prakriti allows you to make food, lifestyle, and treatment choices that maintain your natural balance and prevent disease.

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Vata (Air + Space)

Qualities: Light, dry, cold, mobile, subtle, rough

Physical traits: Slender frame, dry skin and hair, cold hands and feet, irregular appetite and digestion, tendency toward constipation.

Mental traits: Creative, enthusiastic, quick to learn but also quick to forget, prone to anxiety and worry when out of balance.

In balance: Energetic, joyful, creative, flexible.

Out of balance: Anxiety, insomnia, dry skin, constipation, joint pain, fatigue.

Balancing foods: Warm, oily, grounding foods — ghee, sesame oil, root vegetables, warm soups, whole grains.

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Pitta (Fire + Water)

Qualities: Hot, sharp, light, oily, liquid, spreading

Physical traits: Medium build, warm body temperature, sharp appetite, tendency toward inflammation, sensitive skin prone to rashes.

Mental traits: Intelligent, focused, ambitious, natural leaders — but prone to irritability, impatience, and perfectionism when out of balance.

In balance: Confident, sharp intellect, good digestion, strong leadership.

Out of balance: Anger, acid reflux, skin inflammation, excessive heat, burnout.

Balancing foods: Cool, sweet, bitter, and astringent foods — coconut water, cucumber, coriander, leafy greens, sweet fruits.

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Kapha (Earth + Water)

Qualities: Heavy, slow, cool, oily, smooth, dense, stable

Physical traits: Larger, well-built frame, thick hair and skin, slow but steady digestion, tendency toward weight gain.

Mental traits: Calm, patient, loyal, nurturing — but prone to lethargy, attachment, and depression when out of balance.

In balance: Grounded, compassionate, strong immunity, excellent stamina.

Out of balance: Weight gain, congestion, sluggishness, depression, excessive sleep.

Balancing foods: Light, dry, spicy, and bitter foods — legumes, leafy greens, ginger, turmeric, light grains like barley.

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Discovering Your Prakriti

The most accurate way to determine your dosha is through a consultation with an Ayurvedic practitioner who will assess your pulse (nadi pariksha), physical characteristics, and lifestyle patterns. Book an online consultation with the Ayur Well team to receive a personalised dosha assessment and treatment recommendations.