The Ultimate Guide To Vata Dosha
Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, teaches us that the foundation of our body depends on three factors:
1) Dosha, which are the three bio-energies that govern our physiology and psychology: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
2) Dushya, which are the seven tissues that nourish and support our body: Rasa (plasma), Rakta (blood), Mamsa (muscle), Meda (fat), Asthi (bone), Majja (marrow), and Shukra (reproductive tissue).
3) Mala, which are the three waste products that need to be eliminated from our body: Purisha (feces), Mutra (urine), and Sveda (sweat).
The balance of these three factors is essential for a healthy and happy life.
In this article, we will explore the first factor, the doshas, and focus on the most important and powerful one: Vata dosha. Vata dosha is the principle of movement, communication, and creativity in our body and mind. It is composed of the elements of space (Akasha) and air (Vayu), and it has the qualities of being light, dry, cold, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear. Vata dosha is responsible for all the major and minor activities in our body, such as breathing, blinking, walking, talking, thinking, feeling, etc. It also carries and regulates the other two doshas, Pitta and Kapha, throughout the body.
Qualities of Vata – Vata dosha has the following qualities: Lightness, Dryness, Coldness, Roughness, Subtlety, Mobility, and Clearness. These qualities reflect the nature of space and air, and they influence both our physical and mental characteristics. For example, a person with a predominant Vata constitution will tend to have a light body weight, dry skin and hair, cold hands and feet, rough nails and joints, a subtle and creative mind, a mobile and restless lifestyle, and a clear and sharp intellect.
Causes of Vata Imbalance:
Vata dosha can become imbalanced due to various internal and external factors, such as diet, lifestyle, environment, stress, emotions, etc. Some of the common causes of Vata imbalance are:
– Eating foods that are bitter, astringent, or pungent in taste, or that are light, dry, cold, or stale in nature. These foods increase the qualities of Vata in the body and aggravate it. Examples of such foods are salads, beans, popcorn, crackers, cold drinks, etc.
– Fasting or skipping meals, or eating at irregular or improper times. This disrupts the natural rhythm of the digestive fire (Agni) and creates gas and toxins (Ama) in the body, which disturb Vata dosha.
– Exercising excessively or at inappropriate times, or engaging in activities that are strenuous, violent, or erratic. This depletes the energy and vitality (Ojas) of the body and increases the wear and tear of the tissues, which weakens Vata dosha.
– Having excessive sexual intercourse or masturbation, or indulging in unnatural or unhealthy sexual practices. This drains the reproductive tissue (Shukra) and the essence of life (Prana) from the body, which disturbs Vata dosha.
– Staying awake late at night, or sleeping during the day, or having irregular or insufficient sleep. This disrupts the natural cycle of the biological clock (Kala) and the circadian rhythm (Dinacharya) of the body, which affects Vata dosha.
– Suffering from external injuries, traumas, accidents, or surgeries, or having chronic or acute diseases or infections. These cause physical damage and inflammation to the body, which aggravate Vata dosha.
– Experiencing miscarriage, abortion, or childbirth, or having menstrual or menopausal problems, or not taking proper care of the reproductive health. These cause hormonal imbalances and emotional stress to the body, which disturb Vata dosha.
– Living in a cold, dry, windy, or polluted environment, or traveling frequently or long distances, or changing seasons or climates. These expose the body to unfavorable weather and atmospheric conditions, which affect Vata dosha.
All these causes can either increase or decrease Vata dosha in the body, or block its normal flow and function. When Vata dosha is increased, it causes symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, constipation, dryness, pain, stiffness, etc. When Vata dosha is decreased, it causes symptoms such as lethargy, depression, heaviness, congestion, edema, etc. When Vata dosha is blocked, it causes symptoms such as spasms, cramps, tremors, paralysis, etc. Therefore, it is important to treat Vata dosha properly according to the type and severity of the imbalance.
Vata dosha naturally increases with age, as the body becomes more dry, light, and brittle. It also increases during the fall and winter seasons, when the weather becomes more cold, dry, and windy. Therefore, it is advisable to take extra care of Vata dosha during these times, and to undergo periodic cleansing and rejuvenation therapies (Panchakarma) to prevent or correct Vata imbalances.
- Vata dosha maintains the system of the entire body and holds its organs in place.
- Vata dosha performs its function with the help of five subtypes: Prana, Udana, Samana, Vyana, and Apana. Each subtype has a specific location and function in the body.
- Prana Vata is located in the head and chest, and it governs the functions of respiration, swallowing, sneezing, coughing, hiccups, etc. It also controls the mind, senses, memory, and emotions.
- Udana Vata is located in the throat and chest, and it governs the functions of speech, voice, expression, creativity, enthusiasm, etc. It also controls the growth, development, and strength of the body.
- Samana Vata is located in the stomach and intestines, and it governs the functions of digestion, absorption, assimilation, metabolism, etc. It also controls the digestive fire (Agni) and the appetite.
- Vyana Vata is located in the heart and circulates throughout the body, and it governs the functions of circulation, movement, coordination, balance, etc. It also controls the blood, lymph, and nerve impulses.
- Apana Vata is located in the lower abdomen and pelvis, and it governs the functions of elimination, menstruation, ejaculation, childbirth, etc. It also controls the urinary, reproductive, and excretory systems.
- Vata dosha acts as a stimulant for all the major and minor movements in the body, such as breathing, blinking, walking, talking, thinking, feeling, etc.
- Vata dosha performs the function of stimulating and controlling the mind, emotions, memory, creativity, etc.
- Vata dosha contributes to the senses to understand their objects and to transmit that information to the brain. (Nervous system).
- Vata dosha assigns all the tissues in the body, connects the joints in the body, and gives shape to the body.
- Vata dosha enables the body to touch, hear sounds, speak words, etc.
- Vata dosha creates enthusiasm, joy, and curiosity in the body, increases the body’s digestive fire (Agni) and hunger, etc.
- Vata dosha expels the waste products, urine, sweat, etc. from the body. It also expels the semen and fetus from the body.
- Vata dosha gives shape to the fetus, circulates blood and oxygen throughout the body, etc.
When Vata dosha is in a balanced state, it performs all these functions smoothly and efficiently, and it supports the health and well-being of the body and mind. When Vata dosha is imbalanced, it disrupts all these functions and causes various physical and mental disorders. Therefore, it is essential to keep Vata dosha in a balanced state, and to balance it with the other two doshas, Pitta and Kapha, which we will discuss in the next article.
See you in the next article with a new topic. Until then, live life with Ayurveda.
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