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Six Steps to Get Back To Good Health (Balanced Doshas)

Step 1: Determine Your Vikruti

Using the diagnostic tests given, determine your Vikruti. As mentioned in the discussion of your mind body constitution, Vikruti is an Ayurvedic concept that defines where you are now. If you are ill, your Vikruti will defer from your Prakruti, which defines your base mind body constitution. This imbalance need to be known, before an effective treatment strategy can be developed. Read the sections, Signs of Aggravated Dosha or Dosha Imbalance for vata, pitta and kapha doshas. This will tell you which of your Dosha is aggravated and need balance. Another way to do this is by taking the HolisticOnLine diagnostic test. When answering the questions, concentrate on how you feel in the past week or so, or when you were not feeling good. How was your action. For example, normally you are calm and do not get excited easily. But you have noticed that in the last week or so, you get upset very easily or you get very argumentative. Answer the diagnostic test that you get excited or angry easily. Note down your vata, pitta and kapha score and mark it as your Vikruti. You will need this for step 3. We suggest that you do this Vikruti test once every 3 months like changing the oil in your car. This will foretell any signs of impending diseases and you can take proactive corrective actions by catching any imbalance in a timely manner.

Step 2: Determine your Prakruti

Prakruti defines your natural state and your potential. This is your base behavior. HolisticOnLine has provided a diagnostic test to determine your Prakruti. In answering the questions, please answer based on how you normally feel (rather than your condition at this moment which may be different because of some dosha imbalance or illness. It may not be a bad idea to take this test three times over a period of a week and average out the score to get your Prakruti. Ayurvedic practitioners have other diagnostic tools to determine your imbalance such as Pulse diagnosis. Prakruti defines both your physical and emotional (or mental) state. Many persons have difficulty defining their mental status. If you want you can ask a friend or someone who knows you well to help in answering the questions. Write down your score as Prakruti score. If you have used our diagnostic test, it tells you what your predominant dosha is. Look up the characteristics of your dosha (Read the appropriate sections Vata or Pitta or Kapha) and see how closely it describes you.

Step 3: Determine the Imbalance

Compare scores from steps 1(Vikruti) and 2(Prakruti) and determine the major imbalances. This is a complex process and very often requires a skilled ayurvedic practitioner to determine a course of treatment.

First look at your Vikruti score. Compare your highest dosha with the next highest dosha. If these are more than 10 points apart, there may be a serious imbalance. (Note that we are only talking about your Vikruti. An imbalance of 10 points or more is quite common in Prakruti as this will give your dominant dosha.)

To confuse the matter a little, very often what you see may not what it is. Doshas can disguise themselves. One dosha may affect another one throwing it out of balance. In most of the cases, Ayurvedic practitioners start with the vata dosha although that may not be the most imbalanced. This is because, vata controls most of the nervous system and mind and affect other doshas especially when you are under stress.

After checking vata, check your pitta imbalance. Pitta is responsible for the digestion. If your digestive fire is low, it can manifest itself with other problems. This can, in turn, put both vata and kapha out of balance.

Step 4: Stabilize your Doshas

Depending on which dosha needs to be balanced, use the diet recommendation for balancing the particular dosha.

Vata or Pitta or Kapha

It is recommended that you balance your vata first, followed by pitta so fine-tune your system. If your dosha imbalance is severe, you may want to undergo a cleansing operation such as Panchakarma. You may also want to consider yoga, meditation or aromatherapy.

Step 5: Monitor your progress

Follow the dosha balancing practices recommended until the symptoms subside. Repeat the Vikruti test every 3 months to confirm the progress you are making.

Step 6: Maintain Balance

When your doshas are in balance, follow proper daily lifestyle recommendations given by Ayurveda. If old or symptoms appear, repeat the steps 1 to 5.

Related Topic:     A Food Plan to Balance Vata Dosha

A Food Plan to Balance Pitta Dosha

A Food Plan to Balance Kapha Dosha

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