Kapha/Pitta??

January 9, 2003

Quick question, probably for Dharam...(or any ayurveda yogi's out

there!)

I have David Frawley's book Yoga and Ayurveda. There's a test

inside to see whether you're vatta/Kapha or Pitta. I've been

wondering for a year now how to use this info because when I took

the test pitta was my highest score, but Kapha was only behind by 7

points. That didn't seem like much to me. Do I consider the Kapha

advice as well or, I'm Pitta so I just look at Pitta?

Thanks,

Sat Sangeet

January 9, 2003

One of the difficult things with those ayurveda tests is that there is

constitution then there is pathology. In other words, you can be a pitta a

person with khapa pathology for instance. That is true of most forms of

natural medicine. So you have to study it over time and get a feel for the

difference. One way to do that is to retest your self several times a year,

and to pay attention to whether or not it is your general physical and

emotional well-being that is effected by contraindications, or symptoms that

are aggravated. For instance, dairy is usually okay for vata but bad for

khapa. So when you eat dairy do you feel better and your mucous membranes

don't? (vata constitution-khapa pathology) Or does it make you feel sluggish

and constipated? (khapa constitution). The yoga way, by the way, is to

balance the doshas, not cater to one or the other. A fine distinction