Vikriti

Vikriti refers to your current state of imbalance - how the doshas have deviated from their natural proportion (prakriti). While prakriti is fixed at birth, vikriti changes constantly based on diet, lifestyle, season, age, and circumstances.

Ayurvedic treatment addresses vikriti, not prakriti. The goal is to bring the doshas back to their natural balance. A person with vata-pitta prakriti who has accumulated excess kapha needs kapha-reducing treatment, regardless of their constitutional type.

Assessment of vikriti looks at current symptoms: recent changes in digestion, sleep, energy, skin, mood, and bodily functions. The difference between prakriti and vikriti reveals what has gone out of balance and guides treatment. Effective Ayurvedic care requires accurate assessment of both prakriti and vikriti.