Understanding Constitutions Ayurveda recognizes seven basic constitutional types: Vata-Type: A greater amount of vata, lesser amounts of pitta and kapha. Pitta-Type: A greater amount of pitta, lesser amounts of vata and kapha. Kapha-Type: A greater amount of kapha, lesser amounts of vata and pitta. Vata-Pitta-Type (or Pitta-Vata): Greater amounts of both vata and pitta, a lesser amount of kapha. Pitta-Kapha (or Kapha-Pitta): Greater amounts of both pitta and kapha, a lesser amount of vata. Kapha-Vata (or Vata-Kapha): Greater amounts of both vata and kapha, a lesser amount of pitta. Tridoshic (or Vata-Pitta-Kapha-Type): Equal amounts of all three doshas within the body.

1. Ayurveda

2. Understanding Constitutions
Ayurveda recognizes seven basic constitutional types:
Vata-Type: A greater amount of vata, lesser amounts of pitta and kapha.
Pitta-Type: A greater amount of pitta, lesser amounts of vata and kapha.
Kapha-Type: A greater amount of kapha, lesser amounts of vata and pitta.
Vata-Pitta-Type (or Pitta-Vata): Greater amounts of both vata and pitta, a lesser
amount of kapha.
Pitta-Kapha (or Kapha-Pitta): Greater amounts of both pitta and kapha, a lesser
amount of vata.
Kapha-Vata (or Vata-Kapha): Greater amounts of both vata and kapha, a lesser
amount of pitta.
Tridoshic (or Vata-Pitta-Kapha-Type): Equal amounts of all three doshas within the
body.

3. Understanding Imbalances
Discovering your current state of balance will show you the present level of the doshas in
your system. In contrast to one’s constitution, the current state of
balance can and does change over time as we move through different climates, different
seasons, and the various stages of life.
1. A vata imbalance occurs when vata is in excess. This can cause fear, anxiety, physical
and emotional constriction, ungroundedness, poor circulation, constipation, dry skin,
cracking joints, emaciation, insomnia, twitches, tremors, and other abnormal
movements.
2. A pitta imbalance occurs when pitta is in excess. This can cause anger, jealousy,
inflammation, excessive heat, heartburn, loose stools, migraines, rashes, bruising,
bleeding disorders, sharp hunger, an overactive metabolism, and difficulty sleeping.
3. A kapha imbalance occurs when kapha is in excess. This can cause attachment,
greed, resistance to change, lack of motivation, heaviness in the mind and body,
excessive sleep, depression, a sluggish metabolism, congestion, water retention,
hardening of the arteries, and the formation of masses and tumors.
4. It is also possible for more than one dosha to be out of balance at a given time, or for
all three doshas to be imbalanced.

4. Balancing Vata
Signs and Symptoms of Vata Imbalance
1. Nervousness, anxiety, panic, fear
2. Twitches, tics, tremors, spasms
3. Dry or chapped skin
4. Constipation, gas, bloating
5. Low body weight
6. Dislike of cold and wind
7. Difficulty tolerating loud noises
8. Light, interrupted sleep
9. Excess thinking or worrying

5. To decrease vata, Ayurveda has given us dietary, lifestyle and herbal treatment strategies.
Here are a few underlying concepts that these strategies are based on:
1. Routine
2. Warmth
3. Serenity
4. Nourishment

6. General Guidelines for a Vata-Pacifying Diet
1. Foods that are naturally sweet, sour, and salty in taste.
2. Warm foods, both energetically and in temperature. Whole, freshly cooked foods.
3. A limited selection of legumes, including mung dahl, tofu or tempeh that is
well-cooked and warm soy milk spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.
4. Warming spices like ginger, black pepper, cinnamon and cumin, but not extremely hot
spices like cayenne pepper.
5. Plenty of room temperature or warm drinks.
6. Dairy, as long as it is not very cold. Avoid drinking milk with your meals. It is best to
have it warm and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, at least an hour before or after
other food.
7. A generous amount of high-quality oils or ghee in your daily diet.
8. Routine times for your meals.
9. Taking a deep breath after swallowing your last bite and heading off for your next
activity.
10. Eating your meal in a peaceful environment.

7. Avoid:
1. Foods that are bitter, astringent, and pungent.
2. Foods that are cooling, both energetically and in temperature.
3. Dry and light foods (e.g. popcorn and crackers).
4. Too much raw food, especially in the mornings and evenings (salads, carrot sticks, raw
fruit, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, etc.)
5. Most beans, including cold soy products.
6. Highly processed foods (like canned or frozen foods, "TV" dinners or pastries).
7. Cold or carbonated drinks.
8. Caffeine, nicotine and other stimulants.
9. Overeating or eating very heavy meals.
10. Eating fresh fruit or drinking fruit juice within ½ hour of any other food.
11. Foods or drinks that contain refined sugar or corn syrup.
12. Deep fried foods.
13. Hard alcohol.

8. Balancing Pitta
Signs and Symptoms of Pitta Imbalance
1. Red, inflamed rash, acne, cold sores
2. Acute inflammation in body or joints
3. Acid reflux, gastric or peptic ulcers, heartburn
4. Nausea or discomfort upon missing meals
5. Loose stools
6. Uncomfortable feeling of heat in the body
7. Frustration, anger, irritability
8. Judgment, impatience, criticism, intolerance
9. Red, inflamed or light-sensitive eyes
10. Excessive perfectionist tendencies

9. To decrease pitta, Ayurveda has given us dietary, lifestyle and herbal treatment
strategies. Here are a few underlying concepts that these strategies are based on:
1. Cooling
2. Surrendering
3. Moderation

10. General Guidelines for a Pitta-Pacifying Diet
1. Foods that are naturally sweet, bitter, and astringent.
2. Cooling foods, both energetically and in temperature.
3. A balance of whole, freshly cooked foods and fresh, raw foods.
4. Most beans.
5. Cooling herbs and spices like coriander, cilantro, fennel and cardamom.
6. Dairy, if you digest it well, but avoid drinking milk with your meals. It is best to have
it at least an hour before or after other food.
7. A moderate amount of high-quality olive, sunflower and coconut oils or ghee in your
daily diet.
8. Routine times for your meals.
9. Taking a deep breath after swallowing your last bite and heading off for your next
activity.
10. Eating your meal in a peaceful environment.

11. Avoid:
1. Foods that are pungent, sour, and salty.
2. Warming foods, both energetically and in temperature.
3. Chili and cayenne peppers.
4. Highly processed foods (like canned or frozen foods, “TV” dinners or pastries).
5. Eating fresh fruit or drinking fruit juice within ½ hour of any other food.
6. Caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants.
7. Red meat.
8. Deep fried foods.
9. Alcohol, except for an occasional beer or white wine.

12. Balancing Kapha
Signs and Symptoms of Kapha Imbalance
1. Excess mucous
2. Thick, white tongue coat
3. Slow, sticky, sluggish bowel movements
4. High body weight
5. Difficulty rising in the morning
6. Feeling slow, foggy, dull, lethargic or heavy
7. Easily attached or possessive
8. Overly sentimental
9. Complacent or stubborn
10. Tendency for “emotional overeating”

13. To reduce or pacify kapha, Ayurveda has given us dietary, lifestyle and herbal
treatment strategies. Here are a few underlying concepts that these strategies are
based on:
1. Stimulation
2. Exercise
3. Lightening
4. Warming
5. Drying

14. General Guidelines for a Kapha-Pacifying Diet
1. Foods that are pungent, bitter, or astringent in taste.
2. Warm foods, both energetically and in temperature.
3. Heating spices—like chili, black or cayenne pepper, ginger, cinnamon,
and cumin.
4. Whole, freshly cooked foods.
5. Light, dry, and warm foods.
6. Honey.
7. Only room temperature or warm drinks.
8. Most beans. Mung dahl, well-cooked tofu or tempeh, or warm soy milk are all
okay.
9. Lots of veggies.
10. A minimal amount of high-quality corn, canola, sesame, sunflower oil,
or ghee in your daily diet.
11. Routine times for your meals.
12. Taking a deep breath after swallowing your last bite and heading off for your
next activity.
13. Eating your meal in a peaceful environment.

15. Avoid:
1. Foods that are sweet, sour, and/or salty.
2. Cooling foods, both energetically and in temperature.
3. Heavy and oily foods (e.g. cheese, pudding, nuts, cake).
4. Highly processed foods (e.g. canned or frozen foods, “TV” dinners or pastries).
5. Cold or carbonated drinks.
6. Overeating or eating heavy meals.
7. Eating fresh fruit or drinking fruit juice within ½ hour of any other food.
8. Red meat.
9. Foods or drinks that contain refined sugar or corn syrup.
10. Deep fried foods.
11. Alcohol, except for an occasional glass of dry red or white wine.