prakruthi your body type

PRAKRUTI is defined as the group of characters inherited by an individual from the SUKRA (Spermatozoon) and SONITA (Ovum) of the parents depending upon the predominance of Dosha or Doshas prevailing at the time of sexual intercourse and influenced by the acquired causes like Environment, Age and Sex. 

Prakruti will be formed in the zygote depending upon the doshic dominance at the time of fertilisation. The following are the four factors which determines the nature of a person: 

1) SUKRA SONITA PRAKRUTI:

Prakruti determined in accordance to the condition of the Sperm and Ovum: Characters inherited from Sukra (sperm) of the father and from Sonita (Ovum) of mother in accordance to dominance of doshas at the time of conception. In other words this is determined by hereditary factors in the sperm and ovum. 

2)   KAALA GARBHASAYA PRAKRUTI:

Prakruti determined by the condition of the Uterus: Characters will be formed during the intrauterine life (Life in the Womb) and this will be influenced by the (Kala) doshik predominance during the pregnancy period and condition of the Uterus (Garbhasaya). 

3)   MATURAHARA VIHARA PRAKRUTI:

Prakruti determined by the Diet Habits of the Mother: The diet taken by the mother and her behaviour during pregnancy can increase or decrease a particular dosha. Therefore, some changes are possible after the influence of the uterine dosha at the time of conception. 

4)   PANCHA MAHABHUTA VIKARA PRAKRUTI:

Prakruti determined by the Five Elements: The five basic elements (Pancha Mahabhutas) namely the air, fire, water, earth and sky, also influence Prakruti. These combine with the influence of mother and father, nutritional element (Rasa) and self (Atman) to form the constitutional structure or Prakruti in every individual. 

Prakruti is of two types:  

• Physical (Deha) Prakruti
• Psychic (Manasika) Prakruti

PHYSICAL (DEHA) PRAKRUTI: 

Prakruti (Deha) is divided into seven (7) types depending on the predominance of dosha. 

Vata Prakruti: 

The dry quality of Vata is manifested in the body as dry skin and thin structure i.e. lean body. The hair, nails, teeth and eyes appear dry. The voice is weak, low, crackling and hoarse. These individuals require little sleep and are hyperactive. The movements of the individuals - especially of the eyebrows, chin, lips, tongue and limbs are quick and unsteady. The expansive nature is manifest in prominent blood vessels. Due to quick action, the individual shows early initiative in work but because of the dry quality he loses strength and becomes tired. Their memory is weak but they have a quick grasp. Due to the cold nature, the body temperature is low and body stiff. The natural desires and craving for food and environment are opposite to the qualities of vata. They have meager seminal fluid and have only a few children. They tend to have a short life span. 

Pitta Prakruti: 

Due to the inherent hot quality of Pitta, these individuals have a high metabolic rate, a tendency to eat and drink a lot and are often thirsty. They develop moles and skin eruptions. They possess soft and scanty hair and tend to be prematurely grey and bald. They are unable to bear even minimum heat. They are brave and courageous but cannot tolerate exertion. They get easily provoked and upset. The fluid quality makes the body parts, muscles and joints soft and flabby. The high metabolic rate leads to excessive perspiration and excretion. The foul smell of the pitta tends to give them a strong body odour. The quality of heat and pungent taste leads to limited sexual urge, scanty semen and limited progeny. Due to the sharp and quick action, they have a very good intellect, grasping power, memory and are of moderate strength and the life span is medium. 

Kapha Prakruti: 

Due to the unctuous nature of kapha, the individuals of kapha prakriti possess unctuous and oily skin. The soft quality of kapha makes the face soft, the looks gentle and clear. The sweet quality gives them a large quantity of semen and they have a strong sexual urge. The stable and steady quality endows them with a well-built and steady body. The dense nature provides fullness to the body and organs. The slow quality of kapha makes the individuals slow in their activities but they have strong perseverance and are emotionally very mild. They have steady and slow body movements. The cold quality results in poor appetite (their agni or digestion is poor) and low body temperature. The steady and dense quality gives them steady joints and ligaments. The clear quality gives rise to a pleasant appearance, colour and voice. All the qualities of kapha endow the individual with strength, wealth and energy and also a long life. 

Most people are a combination of two doshas i.e. Dwandvaja Prakruti. They possess characteristics of both doshas involved depending on the percentage of the combination. A balanced constitution is ideal and extremely rare in which the balanced state of all the three doshas neutralizes the bad or unwanted qualities, support and bring out good qualities of the other. 

PRAKRUTI AND DIET: 

Dietary requirement should be modified according to the Prakruti (constitution) of the individual. In general, an individual with Vata Prakruti should take unctuous, warm, and sweet substances. One with Pitta Prakruti should take cool, heavy, sweet, bitter and astringent food articles and Kapha Prakruti person should consume food in which dry, warm, light, pungent, bitter and astringent tastes predominate. The diet chart gives the beneficial and non-beneficial food articles. 

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISEASES: 

Vata Prakruti individuals are prone to diseases of the neurological system especially motor functions. The disease mostly affects the lower limbs since they are the predominant seat of Vata dosha. Also, these diseases are pronounced during the old age, which is the period of Vata. Some of these diseases are Tetanus, Wasting disorders (Muscular Atrophy), Spasms, Hemiplegia, Convulsions, Headache, Insomnia, Angina (Hridgraha), Dysuria, Rheumatism (Amavata), Osteoporosis, Fissures on palm and soles (vipaadika), Swelling and Stiffness of the Thighs (Urushthambha), Brachial palsy (Apabahuka) etc. 

Those with Pitta Prakruti are prone to diseases of the Digestive and Metabolic systems. The diseases mostly affect the abdomen ie. the area between the breast and umbilicus. Also, Pitta disorders are pronounced in the middle aged which is the period of Pitta like intense localised Burning Sensation, Stomatitis, Acid Regurgitation, Jaundice, Bleeding Disorders, Bluish discoloration of the skin etc. 

Individuals with Kapha Prakruti are prone to disorders of the Respiratory system especially Phlegmatic disorders. The diseases affect the upper parts of the body ie. chest and above. Also, the disorders are pronounced during the early ages (childhood), which is the period of kapha. For example: Drowsiness, Excessive Sleep, Obesity, Swelling of the neck (Galaganda), Skin eruptions, Congestion of the Chest with Phlegm, Polyuira etc. 

PSYCHIC (MANASIKA) PRAKRUTI:

Satva, Rajas, Tamas are the three basic qualities of Mind (Manas). Psychological Prakruti is classified according to these three qualities. 

Knowledge about the body constitution will be useful to prevent and treat diseases. Health, according to Ayurveda is the state of equilibrium of the Tridosha. So once you have knowledge about your constitution, you can choose your diet, living style and activities, which will not create an imbalance of doshas. 

The Tridosha controls all the body activities. These three doshas cannot be visualised, but can be perceived by their activities. For the gross understanding of this concept, it may be stated that the entire solid structure of the body including body cells, fibres, and the biological fluids constitute the Kapha system of the body. The entire hormones, enzymes, co-enzymes and other agencies responsible for the physiochemical activities constitute the Pitta system of the body.  

The entire spectrum of actions, reactions and responses, including the mechanics of neurotransmission (impulse travelling through nerves) form Vata system - a co-ordinated and balanced functioning of all these three elements, maintain the life of an organism and keeps it healthy. Any loss of these three basic biological constituents, which may occur due to a variety of reasons leads to ill health. 

Knowledge of Prakruti helps to Diagnose and Treat diseases.