Would you like to take a dosha test? On this page you will find a self-assessment table based on the traditional Ayurvedic model, which you can use to explore the correspondence with Vata, Pitta or Kapha.
The dosha test allows you to compare different characteristics traditionally associated with the three Doshas. The result should be understood as a tool for self-exploration within the Ayurvedic tradition, and not as a medical diagnosis or a validated clinical assessment.
Download the CPYOGA Dosha Test here and start filling in the table.
Dosha Test: Vata, Pitta or Kapha?
The table presents a set of characteristics traditionally associated with the three Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.
In the left-hand column of the table, you will find different physical, emotional and behavioural characteristics. In the top row, you will find the three Doshas.
For each characteristic presented, select the option that best corresponds to what you recognise in yourself, choosing between Vata, Pitta or Kapha.
The aim is to observe which of the characteristics described in the traditional Ayurvedic model appear to correspond most closely to you.
Download the Dosha Test to complete the table digitally.
How to complete the Dosha Test
Work through the table and select the Vata, Pitta or Kapha characteristics according to what seems most appropriate for you.
For each characteristic, select only the option with which you identify most closely, rather than selecting all three simultaneously.
Example: physical build
Physical build:
- Vata: slender, bony
- Pitta: moderate
- Kapha: large, robust, well-developed
In this example, select the item with which you identify most closely, rather than the other two.
Continue through the table, selecting the characteristic that best corresponds to your experience.
How to interpret the test result
At the end, the table provides a percentage indication of the characteristics that have the greatest correspondence within the scoring system used by the test.
The result may show a greater correspondence with Vata, Pitta or Kapha, or with characteristics traditionally associated with more than one Dosha.
For example:
- Predominant Pitta, secondary Vata.
- Predominant Kapha, secondary Vata.
Within Ayurvedic theory, a combination of this kind means that a person presents characteristics traditionally associated with two Doshas in different proportions.
The percentage shown by the table nevertheless depends on the characteristics included and on the scoring system used by the instrument itself.
Vata, Pitta and Kapha according to Ayurveda
In traditional Ayurvedic theory, Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three Doshas used to describe different aspects of an individual’s constitution and functioning.
Prakriti is, within the Ayurvedic tradition, the concept used to describe an individual’s constitution in terms of the relative combination of the Doshas.
Traditional models recognise different combinations of Doshas. Thus, within the Ayurvedic model, a person may be described as having a greater predominance of one Dosha or a combination of characteristics associated with two or more Doshas.
These classifications belong to the conceptual framework of Ayurveda and should not be confused with physiological or diagnostic categories established by contemporary medicine.
What this test can — and cannot — indicate
This test can be used as a way of exploring the traditional concepts of Vata, Pitta and Kapha and observing which of the characteristics described in the Ayurvedic model appear to correspond most closely to you.
It should not, however, be interpreted as a medical, psychological or physiological diagnosis, or as a validated clinical assessment.
Scientific research into Prakriti assessment tools continues to present limitations in validity, reliability and standardisation. Recent studies have identified numerous different instruments and important differences in the way they assess and classify the Doshas.
For this reason, the result of this test should be understood within the context of the traditional Ayurvedic model and not as an objective or definitive determination of your constitution.
Note on scientific evidence and safety
The Doshas and Prakriti form part of the traditional Ayurvedic model. Contemporary research has sought to develop more objective and reproducible methods for assessing these concepts, but important limitations remain in the validation and standardisation of the available instruments.
The result of this test should not be used on its own to start restrictive diets or to use herbs, supplements or other treatments.
It is also important to pay attention to the safety of certain Ayurvedic products. Some Ayurvedic preparations may contain lead, mercury or arsenic in potentially toxic amounts. For additional information about the evidence and safety of Ayurveda, also consult the information provided by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
Continuing the Ayurvedic Medicine series
To explore this subject further, read the other articles in the Ayurvedic Medicine series:
- Ayurvedic Medicine – Pt.1 – Introduction
- Ayurvedic Medicine – Pt.2 – Constituent Elements
- Ayurvedic Medicine – Pt.3 – The Doshas, Vata, Pitta, Kapha
- Ayurvedic Medicine – Pt.5 – The Importance of Taste in Your Life
Note: below you will find the Dosha table in Excel and Numbers format:
All files are free of viruses.
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