Ayurveda basics - the Dosha test Do I have to study vocabulary before I do a course of Ayurveda?
Anyone who becomes aware of Ayurveda can easily become fainthearted in the face of the many foreign vocabulary and terms: There’s talk of doshas, of vata, pitta and kapha, of ama, agni and ojas, panchakarma and rasayana – the list is almost endless. Do I need to know all this?
No. You don’t need to know all of this. There are just a few terms and principles of Ayurveda that you will come across again and again, and knowing them is extremely helpful.
Directly to the Dosha Test
The goal, the path, the tools
The goal is holistic health: prevention, rejuvenation, revitalization, healing.
The path is consciousness development – by this is meant that we enliven the awareness of our mental-bodily functions that already exists in each of us. Then we can recognize what makes us sick and what we need to do to get well.
The tools are cleansing treatments, dietary recommendations, herbal preparations, teas, herbal oils, yoga, Transcendental Meditation, aromatherapy, music therapy, recommendations for sports and exercise, and an orderly daily routine.
Constitutional theory: The three doshas
Our body functions in the interaction of three basic processes:
- Vata – movement (e.g., in the nervous system; of the muscles; in the transport of substances).
- Pitta – transformation (e.g. metabolism; digestion)
- Kapha – stability (e.g. shaping; mucus formation)
The three doshas are individually combined differently in each person from birth – our constitution. We can find out which of the doshas we are determined by a first self-test. The Ayurvedically trained doctors in our clinic can go far beyond this to localize and treat the most subtle imbalances.
Digestion and Nutrition: Agni – Ama – Ojas
- Agni is the “digestive fire”. It breaks down our food and transforms it into the different body tissues. With Ayurvedic measures we can strengthen Agni. The ideal case is that everything is digested without residue.
- Ama occurs when the transformation processes of our body are disturbed for some reason and do not proceed completely. The Sanskrit word actually means “undigested.” We translate ama as “metabolic residues”. They accumulate at weak points of the organism and lead to symptoms of disease. The cleansing treatments in our clinic aim to break down Ama.
- Ojas is the finest metabolic product. It is also defined as the “radiance of the organism”. It is therefore considered a key indicator of our state of health and says something about the self-healing power of our body. Our doctors can determine your ojas level in the pulse.
Ayurveda Dosha Test
I am lively and enthusiastic.
I am talkative.
I get excited quickly.
I am slightly anxious and worried.
I find it difficult to make decisions.
I act quickly.
Cold weather makes me uncomfortable.
I am going fast.
I can pick up new things quickly.
I have a hard time memorizing and retaining something new.
I have trouble falling asleep and often wake up at night.
I often have dry skin, cold hands and feet.
I tend to have bloating or constipation.
I have a light build and gain weight heavily.
I have a sharp mind.
I tend towards perfectionism.
I work precisely and methodically.
I like to follow my own ideas and I am headstrong.
I am easily impatient.
I get irritated pretty quickly and get angry.
I flare up slightly, but quickly calm down again.
My hair has the following characteristics: thin, silky, blonde, reddish, premature graying or hair loss.
I have good digestion and can tolerate any food.
I can eat more than most people of my size.
Delaying or missing a meal makes me feel uncomfortable or irritable.
I have very regular bowel movements and rarely have constipation.
I feel uncomfortable in hot weather.
I love cold food and cool drinks.
Other people find my character pleasant.
It takes a long time for me to get angry or irritated.
I work leisurely and comfortably.
My gait is slow, firm and sure.
I have an excellent long-term memory.
Cool, damp weather and fog say the least to me.
My skin is soft and smooth.
I am a peaceful person and difficult to upset.
My sleep is deep and sound.
With less than eight hours of sleep, I feel unwell during the day.
I tend to get mucus in my airways and bloating.
I tend to be chubby. I gain weight very quickly.
When I’m very busy, I can easily go without a meal.
My physique is rather strong, heavy.
VATA
Vata is responsible for every movement, breathing, transport of substances and all excretions. It regulates the heartbeat and nerve impulses. Vata-dominated people have a light bone structure and low weight. They gain weight with difficulty, have irregular appetites, are sensitive to noise and react violently to sounds. Since Vata people freeze easily, they are comfortable in heat and like to eat and drink hot things. They are flexible, enthusiastic, imaginative and talkative. If Vata gets out of balance, nervousness, anxiety, worry and sleep disturbances are often the result. Dry skin, constipation, and cold hands and feet are also signs of disturbed Vata. The Vata dosha is easily unbalanced even in people with only a small amount of Vata.
If you have similar results with two or all three doshas, you are like most people a mixed type. In this case, please also read the explanations of the other doshas.
PITTA
Pitta controls all metabolic processes. It is responsible for digestion, nutrient absorption in the intestines, and regulation of body heat, visual acuity, and the mind. People with a dominance of Pitta have an average build, eat a lot, can usually tolerate any food, and have two or three bowel movements daily. If they have to postpone a meal, they are easily irritated. Their physique is average. Pitta people are good talkers, can structure well, are orderly and resourceful, as well as ambitious and decisive. If Pitta gets out of balance, they tend to be perfectionistic, angry, irritable, have skin rashes and inflammation.
If you have similar results with two or all three doshas, you are like most people a mixed type. In this case, please also read the explanations of the other doshas.
KAPHA
Kapha holds the various body structures together, it promotes mass, resistance and fertility. People with a dominance of Kapha have a strong physique, pronounced musculature and a tendency to be overweight. Their immune system works well, they rarely get sick. Kapha people are persevering, physical work and exercise are good for them. Patience, strength of mind and gentleness characterize them. If Kapha is out of balance, the person tends to be overweight, dull or depressed, as well as nausea, bloating and colds.
If you have similar results with two or all three doshas, you are like most people a mixed type. In this case, please also read the explanations of the other doshas.
Dosha test guide
Answer all questions of the three test sections. The number 0 means “No, not true at all”, the number 6 means “Yes, true exactly”. When answering the test questions, take into account your general state of health during the last six months, not only that of the past week.
Tick the number that most closely corresponds to your level of agreement with each statement. Then add up the ticked numbers for each test section separately to determine which dosha you have the highest total for. Then compare the final totals of the three test sections with each other. In this way, you will determine which dosha (highest score) is dominant in you and which is less pronounced.
Few people are “pure constitution types.” Most are “mixed types” of two, or more rarely, all three doshas. So don’t be confused if you find yourself with both Vata, Pitta and Kapha parts.
During the consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor in our clinic, we clarify far more questions and more comprehensive assessment criteria than in our test.
