Ayurveda Prakrithi and its Significance.

What is Prakriti 

The literary meaning of the word "Prakriti" is "natural condition or the state of  anything in its natural form'. It is opposite of 'Vikruti' which indicates  change or effect. 

Prakriti is an inherent nature of an individual formed at the time of conception,cemented at the time of birth and carried throughout the lifetime. In Ayurveda 'Prakriti' is indicated  as  one's constitution dependent on the prominent Doshas at the time of  conception.

Types of  "Doshas"

"Vata" is the energy entity in the "Thridoshas" that governs all the biological movements of body and mind. It derives from the combination of Air and Space among "Panchamahabhutas"

"Kapha" One of the three biological humors (tridoṣa) is translated as mucus or phlegm. The word Kapha has been defined as the product of water. "Kapha" is stated to be developed with a predominance of the Ap (water) and Prithvi (earth) bhutas. 

"Pitta" is the dosha of transformation. It is the energy that regulates all the metabolic activities, body temperature  and hormonal functions in the body. Pitta derives from the elements of Fire and Water.Pitta governs all processes related to conversion and transformation throughout the mind and body.

Prakrithi Determining Factors

According to Ayurveda ,the prakriti of the foetus (an unborn or unhatched offspring of a mammal) is determined  by the 4 factors,,

• Time and season during the conception.
• Healthy functioning of the uterus.
• Quality of the sperm and ovum.
• Maternal food and lifestyle.

Aspects of Prakriti 

There are two aspects of Prakriti,

 (1) Genotype and (2) Phenotype.  

 

The factors like diet and other environmental changes may have direct  effect on genotype Prakriti ; However, factors mentioned before may  have  very limited or no affect on ones phenotype.

When is "Prakriti" analysed

 

Prakriti analysis is not Disease diagnosis .Ideally Prakriti of a person is confirmed during optimal health. In case of illness, there are effects of the pathological process  on the body that will mask some of the characters for Prakriti analysis.It is always better to have record of one's Prakriti confirmed in one's healthy state.

Types of "Prakriti" 

1. Sharirika Prakriti (Body constitution)
2. Manasika Prakriti (Mind constitution)

There are seven types of Body constitution 

1. Vata Prakriti.
2. Pitta Prakriti.
3. Kapha Prakriti.
4. Vata-pitta Prakriti.
5. Pitta-Kapha Prakriti.
6. Kapha-vata Prakriti.
7. Tridosha- Vata pitta kapha Prakriti.

Three types of Mind constitution based on three "Gunas":

1. Satvika.
2. Rajasika.
3. Tamasika.

Body constitution 

According to Ayurveda, each individual is different. Hence identifying the Prakriti (normal constitution) and Vikriti (diseased stage) is very important prior to further treatment. 

A balanced "tridosha prakriti (Vata-Pitta-Kapha)" is considered as ideal. Individuals with tridosha ,prakriti will have exceptionally good health, mental functions, and longevity. 

Among "Eka dosha prakrithi" or single body constitution Vata persons are more prone to diseases, Pitta persons have moderate health and Kapha persons have good resistance power against diseases.

But,most people  have a combination of two "doshas" or "dwanda dosha". They can be two dosha combination with one dosha predominant.

Understanding the Prakriti is very important in the selection of Diet, Lifestyle, Medicines and Treatments.

Significance of prakriti analysis

 

Prakriti analysis is an important part of Ayurveda as there is no other  contemporary science that emphasises on "Prakriti" analysis. "Prakriti" analysis will help the individual to understand self constitution better, to have diet and lifestyle modifications in order to    prevent the diseases and to maintain optimum health.

1.Understanding the Genotypes     

                                                

World  have realised that classification of humans in major groups is not sufficient, and individual classification is required. Knowledge of Prakruti or genotypes will be useful in these experiments. Genetic mapping for predicting many dreadful diseases and managing them using genetic engineering is possible. 

                                                        

2.Power to predict future illnesses 

Prakriti indicates proneness of that individual for specific diseases by which his Prakriti is decided. That means an individual who belongs to Vata predominant Prakriti will get Vata vitiated diseases more frequently and easily than an individual of Pitta or Kapha Prakruti.The severity of diseases will  also be more, if the dosha Prakruti and vitiatiated dosha are the same.

3.Prevention of Diseases

        

Diagnosis of Prakriti helps for selecting Diet and Lifestyle modification that suits that Prakruti. This advice is accepted without  doubt and is  considered as something innovative in prevention of many dreadful diseases.

4.Selection of Medication 

Prakriti of a person is made use  for deciding the possible drug,       medication or methods of treatment.If the constitutional dosha & vitiated dosha are the  same, selected drugs has to be stronger as the disease will be intense.

Even if two individuals are suffering from vitiation of a  particular dosha, the selection of drugs will be different for each individual depending on their Prakriti.

If the constitutional dosha and vitiated doshas are different, a drug must  be such that it will pacify the vitiated dosha, at the same time,would not vitiate the constitutional dosha. This is particularly true in case of Vata & Kapha whose qualities are contrary to each other.