Dosha Quiz
Find Out Where You Are Out Of Balance & How To Get Back In Balance.
Dosha Quiz
Restoring your Health by determining Which Dosha is Out of Balance
Introduction
The most important factor that determines your healthiest choices (diet, lifestyle) is an understanding of which of the three are out of balance in your body and mind. This is called your vikruti in Ayurveda. When your vikruti has been restored to a state of balance, you will return to your natural constitution. This is called your prakruti.
Your constitution (prakruti) establishes your tendencies. While it is important to understand your constitution, it is even more important that you understanding your vikruti (current state). In Ayurveda, the choices a person makes is always based on vikruti first and prakruti second.
Instructions
The worksheet /quiz below will help you to determine the state of your doshas. Note each symptom that you experience. Give the symptom 1 point if it is mild, 2 points if it is moderate and 3 points if it is severe. Then add up the numbers in each column. The dosha with the highest number indicates your primary doshic imbalance. If the number in two columns are close, you have a dual dosha imbalance. If all three numbers are close, you have a tridosha imbalance.
Please note that any online dosha quiz has limitations. Nothing can replace an evaluation by a competent practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine. This online quiz however will give you are an excellent head start as you begin your journey to take optimum care of yourself.
This quiz was adapted from the book: Healing Your Life; Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda by Dr. Marc Halpern.
Vata | Vata points | Pitta | Pitta points | Kapha | Kapha points |
Distended abdomen | Burning indigestion | Little appetite | |||
Gas without much smell | Strong smelling gas | Sluggish digestion. Abdomen feels heavy. | |||
Constipation | Loose stools | Mucus in stools | |||
Dry skin or mild acne with black heads. | Reddened skin rashes or red acne | Large pustules or cysts. Cystic acne | |||
Does not like cold temperatures | Does not do well in the heat | Water retention and swelling | |||
Cramping shooting electrical or chronic pain | Burning or searing pains in the body | Dull, Achey Pain | |||
Weak bones (osteoporosis) joint pains or fragile nails | Red or burning eyes | Excess eye excretions | |||
Spotty hair loss | Inflammation in body | Muscle heaviness | |||
Tremors tics and twitches | Infections anywhere in the body | Benign tumors and cysts | |||
Infertility due to weakness of the egg or sperm | Infertility due to past infections | ||||
Irregular and/or spotty menses | Heavy menses | Extended menses | |||
Anxiety | Loss of patience worry or overwhelm | demanding | |||
Increased rambling in the voice | Sharp intense or angry words | Speaks very slowly | |||
Mood swings or severe depression | Anger overly critical | Melancholy (mild depression) | |||
Easily distracted | Intense focus on goals | Slow processing information | |||
Fatigue (exhausted) due to stresses like worry and anxiety. | Burn out from wordsworking too hard and being too focused. | Lethargy (chronic low energy) | |||
Total Vata: | Total Pitta: | Total Kapha: |
Your Next Step:
Now that you know your vikruti, it’s time to take the actions that will restore your balance. Here we provide you with two resources and some general tips to gain more guidance.
Resources
Receive an Ayurvedic Consultation and work with a practitioner who can provide you with the guidance and support you need to make the necessary diet and lifestyle changes to heal your life. (Book An Ayurvedic Consultation)
Read Healing Your Life: Lesson on the Path of Ayurveda. In this book, Dr. Marc Halpern will help you learn the diet and lifestyle steps to take to restore proper balance and support your healing journey. (Click here)
Tips For Each Dosha
Vata Dosha Imbalance
Vata dosha imbalances requires greater rest, warmth, deeper nourishment, and regular routines. A vata pacifying diet should be followed that build ojas (stamina, endurance)
Pitta Dosha Imbalance
Pitta dosha imbalance requires time away from work and/or planning. Pitta dosha also benefits from staying cool. Follow a pitta pacifying diet that avoids hot spices. Regular routines are important too. These routines should include time to truly relax.
Kapha Dosha Imbalance
Kapha dosha imbalances requires more motion and less rest. Kapha dosha imbalance benefits from hot spices, exercise, less sleep and a kapha reducing diet (less food, lighter foods, more purifying).
Dual and Tridoshic Imbalances
Dual and Tri-doshic imbalances with moderate or severe symptoms are more difficult to manage and require greater supervision or support. If you have a dual or tridoshic imbalance with moderate or severe symptoms please consider a consultation with an Ayurvedic healthcare professional..
