- VATA
- PITTA
- KAPHA
- VATA-PITTA
- PITTA-KAPHA
- VATA-KAPHA
- SAMA
Knowing the prakruti is very important in ayurvedic diagnosis, because for example, a vata person will tend to have vata disorders, the other type of sicknesses are rare for him or easy to dislodge. In order to prevent vata sicknesses, such person will avoid food, drinks and factors aggravating vata. In the same way a pitta (fire) person should be given remedies that are refreshing and kapha (cold) type medicines that are heating. The prakruti are SATWIKA, RAJA and TAMAS. The concept of the spirit is very important because ayurveda considers that a sickness is physical and mental. Mental has a dominant role in the cause of the disease.
Psychological factors have a control on the physiological functions in the body and also the contrary. Then the physical body is treated with psychic treatments.

THE PRAKRUTI:
VATA: air + ether, dry light cold rough subtle mobile clear
PITTA: fire + water, oily penetrating hot light mobile liquid unpleasant smell
KAPHA: earth + water, heavy steady slow cold oily viscous dense static

THE CONSTITUTIONS:
VATA: generally underdeveloped, their chests are flat and their veins, muscle tendons are visible. The complexion is brown, the skin is cold, rough, dry and cracked, There usually are a few moles present, often dark. Vata people are either too tall or too short with thin frames, the hair is curly the eyes may be small, dry, active, the nails are rough and brittle. The shape of the nose is bent and turned up. The appetite and digestion is variable. They crave for sweet, sour and salty tastes and like hot drinks. They perspire less and their sleep is disturbed, their hand and feet are cold.
These people are creative, active, alert and restless; they talk fast and walk fast but are easily tired. Psychologically, Vata people have short memory but quick mental understanding. They have little will power suffer from instability and possess little tolerance. They are nervous, fearful, and even anxious. Vata tends to earn money quickly also spend it quickly, thus they remain poor.

PITTA: They are of medium height, are slender and body frame may be delicate. Their chests are not flat. They have many moles or freckles. Muscle development is moderate. The pitta complexion is yellowish or reddish, the skin is soft, warm and not much wrinkled. The hair is thin, silky, and red and they have a tendency toward premature graying or hair loss. The eyes may be gray, green or cooper brown and sharp. Nails are soft and the nose is also sharp and the tips tend to be red.
These people have a strong metabolism, good digestion and strong appetite and drink very much. They have a natural craving for sweet, bitter and astringent tastes and enjoy cold drinks. Their sleep is of medium duration, they perspire a lot, the body temperature is high and hands and feet are hot. Pitta people do not tolerate sunlight, heat.
Pitta people have a good power of comprehension, are intelligent, sharp and are good orators. They have emotional tendencies toward hate, anger and jealousy. They are ambitious, they like to lead. They enjoy exhibiting their wealth and luxurious possessions.

KAPHA: People of Kapha constitution have well-developed bodies. They have tendency to carry excess weight. Their chest is expanded; the veins and tendons are not obvious because of their thick skin. Their complexion is fair and bright, the hair thick, dark and soft, the eyes are dense; the white of the eyes is generally very white, large and attractive. Kapha people have regular appetite, the digestive functions are slow, they tend to move slowly, they crave for pungent, bitter and astringent food. Sleep is sound and prolonged. They have a good health, are happy and peaceful. Psychologically, they tend to be tolerant, calm and loving, however when unbalanced they can show tendencies to greed, attachment, envy and possessiveness. Their comprehension is slow but definitive. Kapha people tend to be wealthy, they earn money and are good at holding to it.

MENTAL CONSTITUTION:
On the mental and astral plane 3 attributes or GUNAS correspond to the 3 humors that make up the physical constitution. In the ayurvedic system of medicine, these 3 attributes provide the basis for distinctions in human temperament and individual differences in psychological and moral dispositions.
The 3 basic Gunas are:
- SATVA (adj : satvic) expresses essence, understanding, purity, clarity, compassion and
love. People of satvic temperament have healthy bodies and their behavior and consciousness is pure, they are religious and attain self-realization without much effort while rajas and tamasic people must make much more effort to attain this state.
- RAJAS (adj : rajasic) Rajas implies movement, aggressiveness and extroversion. The raja mind operates on a sensual level. They are interested in business, prosperity, power, prestige and position. they can be religious but very political.
- TAMAS (adj : tamasic) manifests in ignorance, inertia, heaviness and dullness. Tamasic
people are lazy, selfish and capable of destroying others. They have usually little respect for others and are not religious, all their activities are egoistical.
These 3 subtle mental energies are responsible for behavioral patterns, which may be altered and improved through the practice of spiritual disciplines such as yoga.

THE 5 ELEMENTS, THE ORGANS OF SENSES AND THEIR ACTIONS:

Ether: Hearing Ear Speech Organs of speech tongue vocal cord mouth
Air: Touch Skin Holding Hand
Fire: Seeing Eyes Walking Feet
Water: Taste Tongue Procreation Genitals
Earth: Smell Nose Excretion Anus

THE 7 DHATHUS:
The human body consists of seven basic and vital tissues called Dhathus meaning in Sanskrit constructing element. These seven dhathus are responsible for the entire structure of the body.
The dhathus maintain the functions of the different organs, systems and vital parts of the
body. They play a very important role in the development and nourishment of the body. They are also part of the biological protective mechanism. With the help of AGNI, the principle of fire and assimilation, they are responsible for the immune mechanism. When one dhathu is defective, it affects the successive dhathus, as each dhathu receives its nourishment from the previous dhathus in serial order:
1) RASA or plasma contains nutrients from digested food and nourish all the tissues, organ and systems, it is kapha.
2) RAKTA or blood governs oxygenation in all tissues and vital organs and maintains life, it is pitta.
3) MAMSA or muscle covers the delicate vital organs, performs the movements of the joints and maintains the physical strength of the body, it is kapha.
4) MEDA or fat maintains the lubrication and oiliness of all the tissues, it is kapha.
5) ASTHI or bone gives support to the body structure, it is vata.
6) MAJJA or marrow and nerves fills up the bony spaces and carries motor and sensory
impulses, it is kapha.
7) SHUKRA or reproductive tissues contains the ingredients of all tissues and is responsible for reproduction, it is kapha.
When there is a disorder in the balance of vata-pitta-kapha, the dhathus are directly affected. The disturbed dosha (vata, pitta, kapha) and defective dhathus are always directly involved in the disease process. Health of the dhathus can be maintained by taking steps to keep vata-pitta- kapha in balance through a proper diet, exercise and rejuvenation program.