Every human has a different type of prakriti. The dosha which is dominant in his body, nature and day to day life is called prakriti. It can be vata, pitta, kapha alone or a combination of vata, pitta; pitta, kapha; kapha, vata (most of the times the combination of two are found). It can also be a combination of three (vata, pitta, kapha) which is called sannipatika prakriti, which is quite uncommon.

Importance of Prakriti : If one knows his or her prakriti, it becomes easier to know the kind and type of food, environment will suit him best. By balancing the dominant dosha of his prakriti one can easily stay away from ill ffects and toxins around him. One can increase his immunity as well as fighting power of his body .To know
your prakriti, we are giving a chart .All you have to do is just tick mark ( ) the points that you feel are present in ‘you’.

Give one point for each right, which ever group gets the maximum points is the dominant dosha of your prakriti and if there are more than four points in another category then consider it a combination and the same way you
can know vata, pitta, kapha or vata pitta.pitta kapha ,vata kapha or vata pitta kapha; whatever is your prakriti.

True medicine, according to ayurveda, is one which cures the disease without causing any side effect. It is in this respect that ayurveda enjoys an advantage over the modern system of medicine. Health according to ayurveda, is the natural state of all the three aspects of the human being i.e. body, mind and the soul (indriyas, manas and atma) in complete harmony . When the natural state comes in contact with unhappiness (dukshasamayoga) diseases result.

A regulated diet is prescribed along with the medicine. The regimen of diet is as important as the medicines since the former helps restore the balance as much as the latter. Ayurveda has eight distinct branches –

(1) General medicine; kayachikitsa
(2) Surgery;shlaya chikitsa
(3) Ear, Nose, Throat, Eye and Mouth disease;shalakya chikitsa
(4) Psychiatry; bhoot vidhiya
(5) Midwifery and paediatrics;shitrirogavamkaumarbhirtya
(6) Toxicology; vishvigyana
(7) Rejuvenation and Tonics;rasayana
(8) Aphrodisiacs;vajikarna.

It is because of these eight branches that ayurveda is known as the Ashtanga-Ayurveda.

Practitioners of ayurveda are keen observers. They also study the state of the body fluids, bloods, flesh, fat, bone marrow, semen and vital essence or ojas. Ayurveda pays attention to the state of the digestion. The condition of the gastric juices guides the physician about the state of the patient. Attention is also paid to the condition of various channels (srotas) because Srotorodha (blockade of the channels) gives rise to disease.

Ayurveda largely uses plants as raw materials for the manufacture of drugs, though making of animal, marine origin, metals and minerals are also used. Ayurvedic medicines are safe and have no known adverse side effects. Ayurvedic system has preventive, promotive, mitigating and curative interventions.

Ayurveda has particular strength in treating certain diseases and chronic ailments. These are : rheumatoid rthritis, hyper acidity, peptic ulcer, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, dysurea, urinary calculi, filariasis, mental retardation, skin disease, sciatica, hemiplegia, lipid disorders, epilepsy, schizophrenia, malaria fever, jaundice, infective hepatitis, hepatitis-b, psoriasis, cancer, fistula-in-ano, error of refraction, nephritic syndrome, uterine fibroids, menstrual cycle disorders(amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea, dysmenorrheal).