To determine your Prakruti (body constitution), choose answers based on the state of your natural being throughout your life. The focus is you, the real you, not what happens to be true recently, nor what you wish to be. You may float between two answers and in that case, pick both. Add up the totals for each v, p, and k at the end. The test will tell you if you are Vata, Pitta, Kapha or any combination of the three.
For a printable version use this dosha-test
1. Physique
v) I am a slender person and I hardly gain weight
p) I am medium build
k) I am well built and I gain weight no matter what I do
2. Skin
v) My skin is dry, thin, and itches often
p) My skin looks flushed; I have lots of moles and freckles on my body
k) My skin is smooth and soft, it looks pale sometimes
3. Hair
v) My hair is dry, thin and brittle
p) My hair is neither dry nor oily (men, receding hairline)
k) My hair is thick, full, lustrous, and slightly oily
4. Face
v) My face is oval
p) My face is triangular (pointed chin, prominent jaw line)
k) My face is round
5. Eyes
v) My eyes are small; they feel dry often and have a bit of dullness (usually brown)
p) My eyes are medium in shape; sharp & penetrating (usually blue)
k) My eyes are big and round in shape, full eyelashes
6. Hands
v) My hands are generally dry, rough; slender fingers; dry nails
p) My hands are generally moist, pink; medium fingers; soft nails
k) My hands are generally firm, thick; thick fingers; strong & smooth nails
7. Joints
v) My joints are small, prominent bones, and often crack
p) My joints are medium and loose
k) My joints are large, sturdy, with lots of muscle surrounding
8. Activities
v) I am a very active person (always on the go, mind constantly thinking)
p) I like to think before I do anything
k) I am steady and graceful (I don’t like to rush)
9. Actions
v) I walk fast and talk fast
p) My actions are very thoughtful and precise
k) I like a slower pace and I take my time to accomplish things
10. Sleep
v) I do not sleep soundly at night. I tend to toss and turn. I wake up early in the morning
p) I am a light sleeper but if something wakes me up, I can go back to sleep easily
k) I am a heavy sleeper
11. Appetite
v) Varies, sometimes I feel hungry, sometimes not, I feel anxious if I don’t eat
p) I always feel hungry. If I don’t eat I get irritable and angry
k) I don’t feel very hungry. I can go without food easily for a day
12. Bowel Movement
v) I tend to have constipation and can go a day or two without a bowel movement
p) I am regular and sometimes stools are loose (tend to get diarrhea)
k) I have no problem. I wake up to go to the bathroom.
13.Voice
v) My voice tends to be weak or hoarse
p) I have a strong voice, I may get loud sometimes
k) My voice is deep, has good tone
14. Emotions
v) I am a born worrier, I often feel anxious and nervous
p) If things don’t happen my way, I feel irritable and angry
k) I am a happy person, very caring and loving
15. Weather Preference
v) I love warm and humid weather
p) I enjoy cool weather, I dislike a warm climate
k) I like wam but dry weather
16. Sweating
v) I sweat little but not much
p) I sweat profusely and it might have an unpleasant odor
k) I never sweat, unless working very hard
17. Memory
v) I remember quickly and forget quickly
p) I remember what I want to remember and never forget
k) It takes me a while to remember, but once I do I never forget
18. Actions
v) I tend to be spontaneous
p) I am a list maker. Unless I plan,I don’t do anything
k) I don’t like to plan, I prefer to follow others
19. Stamina
v) I like to do things in spurts and I get tired very easily
p) I have medium stamina
k) I can work long hours and maintain good stamina
20. Mind
v) My mind gets restless easily (it starts racing
p) I get impatient easily
k) It takes a lot to make me mad. I usually feel very calm
21. Decision Making
v) I change my mind more often and will take time to make a decision
p) I can make a decision easily and stick with it
k) I want others to make the decisions
22. Personality
v) “can I change my mind”?
p) “it’s my way or the highway”
k) “don’t worry be happy”
23. Sports
v) I like action
p) I like to win
k) I like to have fun
24. Health Problems
v) My symptoms are mainly pain, constipation, anxiety and depression
p) I often get skin infections, fevers, heart burn, hypertention
k) I tend to get allergies, congestion, weight gain and digestive problems
25. Hobbies
v) I like art (drawing, painting, dance) and travel
p) I like sports, politics, and things that get my adrenaline pumping
k) I like nature, gardening, reading, and knitting.
Total up your v’s, p’s and k’s and see which dosha(s) are dominant in you!


2 responses so far ↓
1 marit // Aug 12, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I’m both Vata and Pitta (or so says every test I take as well as an Ayervedic nutritionist I used to see). I also have excess heat (according to my acupuncturist), which causes acne and irregular bowls. I think the Vata is what causes anxiety and busy-ness and a flakey scalp. So… how does one find the right foods, etc. when on the fence? Should I be paying more attention to staying away from the foods that cause imbalance, or to eating the foods that help to bring balance?
Thank you for the great website! I’ve been looking for something like this forever!!!
2 Monica // Aug 12, 2009 at 9:50 pm
YAY! I’m glad you like the site. Great question! You will always need to keep the two in balance. But there are certain things that will imbalance one or the other…like seasons. In warm weather, you will probably need to pay more attention to your pitta and in cold weather, pay attention to vata. Vata many times is the first dosha to go out of whack – because it’s such a fast energy. It’s also the fastest dosha to come back into balance – so that’s the good news.
You will always and forever want to focus on vata/pitta balancing foods. Ghee will be your best friend! It will help the anxiety, scalp (you can put it on your head at night…but your pillow might smell like butta) and excess heat. Ghee is the only oil that is actually cooling AND strengthens agni.
Grains will help your bowels behave and fruits and water will calm down the acne. All are vata/pitta balancing. Anything bitter like coffee or salads will imbalance vata (esp when it’s cold out). Anything heating or sour (citrus) or fermented (pickles, alcohol) will imbalance pitta (esp in the heat).
If you have more questions, I will be more than happy to go over this in more detail with you. I am a vata-pitta myself :) xo
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