The following is a guideline as to which Dosha is most exacerbated and needs pacifying/balancing. This is not dependent on your natal Dosha, it is dependent on your current symptoms. It is important to know whether the imbalance includes Ama or not. Ama must be thoroughly cleansed and removed before doing anything else. If you do not have an Ama buildup, your treatment is very different - a cleansing/detox protocol might make you worse, more depleted.
As with natal Doshas, it is possible to have more than one Dosha out of balance. Combine treatments as necessary if this is the case with you.
If you start rebuilding too soon or too much, you may need to go back to a cleansing diet. If you have to cleanse for a long long time, it is important to take a few days off and get some nourishment. Always be well hydrated before taking on either a cleansing or rebuilding protocol. It is especially important to be well hydrated prior to and during pungent or bitter therapy.
| Vata + Ama | Vata - Ama | Kapha + Ama | Kapha - Ama | Pitta + Ama | Pitta - Ama |
| Constipation
Tongue coating Abdominal pain and distension. Pressure such as massage is painful. Gas, cramping. Low appetite. Heavyness, weakness. |
No constipation
Pain mild, relieved by massage Clear tongue Mouth dry Body light and dry Loss of weight Less fatigue cracking joints |
Mucus cloudy, thick,
sticky, does not come out easily, blocks throat, coats tongue, saliva
forms threads.
Sour or salty taste in mouth. Tightness in chest, congestion, difficulty breathing. Mucous in stools, urine. Low appetite dull aching,generalized pain and fatigue |
Mucus watery, liquid or
comes out easily.
Sweet taste in mouth. Normal appetite. Tongue clear. No pain. |
Loss of appetite and
thirst.
Yellow tongue coating. Urine, feces or mucus yellow or green. Heaviness in stomach, thick bilious vomiting. Bad breath, bitter or sour taste in mouth. Skin rash Dulled perceptions |
Excessive appetite &
thirst
Red or inflamed tongue w/o coating Urine and feces clear, reddish or blackish Strong burning sensations Hot flashes, giddiness Dizziness Heightened perceptions |
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| Cleansing Stage
Pungent, carminitive, mild laxatives. Basic Cleansing Diet and pungent therapy. |
Rebuilding Stage
Rebuilding Diet - focus on tonics, sweet foods, broths, liver, almonds, Protein Shake Do heating/moistening therapies |
Cleansing Stage
Pungent, bitter decongestent herbs, some carminative herbs. Basic Cleansing Diet and pungent therapy. |
In between Cleansing &
Rebuilding Stage. Avoid milk and cheese, kefir okay.
Mix Pungent and Sweet herbs/foods with plenty of expectorants to take out excess mucus. |
Cleansing Stage.
Bitter and pungent herbs/foods, bitter tonics like Swedish Bitters, and mild stimulants to clear toxins. |
Rebuilding Stage.
Needs cooling herbs and foods with some tonics/sweet foods and bitter. Do cooling therapies. |