HOW TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEMS

HOW TO RECOGNIZE PROBLEMS

Disease starts to occur when the doshas are out of balance and/or agni is becoming weak. This part shows symptoms that will help you recognize imbalances.

Responding to the body

The state of the body is in constant flux, with the strength of the doshas and the strength of agni always changing. It is helpful to develop an awareness of your body so that dosha imbalance and agni weakness can be noticed and addressed. Vata is the most easily elevated dosha due to its changing nature; it is also the quickest to rebalance. Pitta is more stable than vata, while kapha has the most stability—once kapha is increased, it requires effort to bring it back into balance. The doshas that are most susceptible to imbalance for you will be those that are strongest in your constitution, or most influenced by your lifestyle (e.g. kapha in a sedentary lifestyle), the season (e.g. pitta in summer), or phase of your life (e.g. vata in old age).

ELEVATED VATA

These symptoms can be signs that vata is starting to become irritated within the body and mind.

MENTAL

• Lack of concentration.
• Sleeplessness.
• Sensitivity (such as to noise and touch).
• Exhaustion.

PHYSICAL

• Strong intolerance to cold.
• Restlessness and inability to sit still.
• Muscular tension.
• Constipation, gas, or runny bowel movements.
• Cravings for sweet, salty, or sour food.
• Stiffness or pain in the joints.
• Susceptibility to common illnesses, such as colds or UTIs.

ELEVATED PITTA

These symptoms can be signs that pitta is starting to become irritated within the body and mind.

MENTAL

• Irritation or a short temper.
• Prone to judge others and themselves.
• Overly competitive behavior.

PHYSICAL

• Strong intolerance for heat.
• Burning sensations (especially in the eyes).
• A frequently red and flushed face.
• Sensitivity to bright light.
• Excessive thirst or hunger.
• Loose and frequent bowel movements.
• Increased sweating.
• Skin irritations.
• Cravings for sweet and cold food and drink.
• Heart burn or sour eructation.

ELEVATED KAPHA

These symptoms can be signs that kapha is becoming irritated within the body and mind.

MENTAL

• A lack of inner drive and mental clarity.
• Strong attachment to things.

PHYSICAL

• Excessively cold skin.
• Loss of appetite and hunger.
• Reduced sense of taste and smell.
• Weight gain.
• Feeling of heaviness and sluggishness.
• Fatigue and lethargy.
• Difficulty becoming active.
• Oily scalp and dandruff.
• Increased and more viscous bodily secretions.
• Sinusitis or blocked sinuses.
• Susceptibility to colds with productive cough.

WEAK AGNI

These symptoms can be signs that your agni is weak and needs to be strengthened.

PHYSICAL

• Indigestion.
• Fullness, heaviness, or bloating after a meal.
• Fatigue after a normal meal.
• Newly developed food intolerances.
• Reflux, heartburn, or gastritis.
• Undigested material in your stool.