PRAKRITI

Prakriti is defined as the state of an individual in its natural form. Ayurveda classifies people on the basis of Prakriti as every person is supposed to have a fixed Prakriti that is formulated by the condition of Tridosha at the time of union of sperm and ovum inside the uterus.  Ayurveda broadly classifies human nature in two types – Mental and Physical Nature.

DEFINITION OF PRAKRITI IN AYURVEDA RELATED TO ALLOPATHIC MEDICINE

Ayurveda, the Indian traditional system of medicine describes a unique concept “prakriti”, genetically determined, categorising the population into several subgroups based on phenotypic characters like appearance, temperament and habits.

PHYSICAL CONSTITUTION

Depending upon the relative preponderance of the three doshas. physical constitution is of seven types

There are 7 types of Sharirika Prakriti:

• Vata Prakriti
• Pitta Prakriti
• Kapha Prakriti
• Vata Pitta Prakriti
• Pitta Kapha Prakriti
• Kapha Vata Prakriti
• Tridosha

Each Prakriti has different characteristic features.The concept of Prakriti makes Ayurveda unique from other medical systems.

Selection of treatment, medicine is different for each individual depending upon their Prakriti.

Ayurveda also suggest about food which is conductive, foods which need to be avoided according to Prakriti.

Assessment of Prakriti analysis will not only help in understanding the physical and mental constitution of patient, but also plays a vital role in prognosis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of many diseases.

Vata prakriti

• Very sensitive and react quickly to changes in their environment.
• Exceptionally changeable life style.
• Sometimes demand companionship but other times demands solitude.
• Love to travel for fun.
• Find difficult to concentrate on one thing
• Recognise the need of self development but are rarely consistent with any one programme

Pitta prakriti

• Courageous
• Practical in life.
• believe in fair play
• make friends easily considering their utility.
• dedicated to their own self-development.
• Well organised  life style.
• Good in financial  management.
• Enjoy the cold winter and  dislike the summer.
• Fond of sleeping
• Prefer to take sweets.

Kapha prakriti

• Usually slow and never in hurry to get anywhere.
• Never take rapid fire decision.
• Laissiez-fair about everything in life.
• Very loyal friends.
• Good listener.
• Have attachment, possessiveness & greed.
• Prefer warmth.

Combination of basic elements mainly Space and Air results in the formation of Vata dosha, Fire and Water elements form Pitta dosha, Water and Earth elements form Kapha dosha in the living body.

There are distinct properties of each dosha. The main properties of Vata dosha are – dry, cold, light, subtle, clear, rough, astringent taste, responsible for movements and catabolic in nature.

Pitta dosha possesses properties of hot, unctuous, sharp, liquid,  spreading, sour-pungent-bitter taste, responsible for digestion and metabolism.

Kapha dosha possesses the qualities of cold, heavy, soft, oily, stable, slimy, sweet taste and anabolic in nature.

To summarize, Prakriti, thus refers to genetically determined physical and mental constitution of an individual. Every person has his/her own unique constitution which determines the biological functions, response to environmental factors, drugs and also susceptibility to diseases making it one of the earliest known concepts of preventive and personalized medicine.  The knowledge of prakriti and the ability to subgroup individuals based on their predominant prakriti, in Ayurveda system of health care, thus, is one of its important and unique specialties and essential tools. This not only helps to understand the mental and physical nature of a person in health but also to know the susceptibility to diseases which assists in promotion of health, prevention and cure of diseases. It may also be mentioned that Ayurveda system primarily aims at treating the cause of the disease (and not just the symptoms) by identifying the imbalance of the Tridoshas.

Pavithra Perera – 4^th year

Gampaha wikkramarachchi university of indiginous medicine.

Faculty of indiginous medicine.

4th year.