VATA DOSHA

      Ayurveda works on the principle of “Panchmahabhuta”, the five elements of nature that constitute everything in this universe- Earth (Prithvi), Water (Jala), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), and Space (Akash). All these elements have specific characteristics, called Guna, and the dominance of one over the other determines the attributes of that entity, be it a living being or a dead matter. For example, Earth has the quality of being heavy (guru), Air has drying (Ruksha) quality, Water has cooling (Sheeta) quality, and so on.

 

What does the word ‘Dosha’ mean?

Now, Dosha is also constituted by a combination of these five elements. Dosha is a Sanskrit word meaning that which can cause imbalance or become vitiated. So these are bio-energies that are essential for all bodily functions, but can go out of balance and cause diseases if not kept in check. They are 3 in number, namely Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

 

What is Vata Dosha?

Among the Doshas, Vata is placed first as it is the Dosha that is responsible for all the functions. Vata means ‘Gati’, meaning movement, and ‘Gandha’ means perception. Hence, any kind of activity happening inside the body, either sensory or motor, indicates normal functioning of Vata Dosha. It is also the one that helps in carrying out the functions of  Pitta and Kapha. Without Vata Dosha, Pitta and Kapha Dosha are helpless.

 The Air and Ether elements constitute the Vata Dosha. This means the characteristics of Air and Ether elements are in dominance over the other three elements in the case of Vata Dosha. So Vata is:

  • Mobile (Chala)
  • Cold (Shita)
  • Drying (Ruksha)
  • Light (Laghu)
  • Rough (Khara)
  • Minute (Sukshma)

 

There are 5 subtypes of Vata Dosha based on their location and the functions they carry out. 

 

Prana Udana Vyana Samana Apana
Location Head Region Chest Region Heart Region Navel Region L. Intestine
Function (in normal state) Thought Processes, coordination of senses, Breathing Speech, Enthusiasm, Expression Circulation,  stimulation of nerve impulses Digestion, Absorption Elimination- urine, feces, menstruation, reproduction
Aggravated State Anxiety, Insomnia Excess talking, rigid opinions Restlessness, palpitations Hyperacidity, loose stools Menstrual irregularities Diarrhoea, urinary disorders, infertility
Decreased State Depression, dullness Weak Voice, poor expression Fatigue, stiffness Indigestion, Bloating, Malabsorption Constipation, reduced period flow

 

Just like Vata Dosha determines certain characteristics in the human body, it does the same to every other thing in the universe. Our food, our lifestyle, our thoughts all play a role in maintaining this balance. 

 

What factors aggravate Vata Dosha?

         Due to its inherent characteristics, Vata can be aggravated by certain foods, activitie,s and even mental factors. They are: 

Food qualities Activities  Mental Factors 
  • Ruksha (dry)
  • Kashaya (Astringent)
  • Tikta (bitter)
  • Katu (pungent)
  • Cold (Sheeta)
  • Light (Laghu)
  • Excessive exercise 
  • Excessive fasting 
  • Excess reading 
  • Repeated falling 
  • Fractures 
  • Staying awake all night
  • Controlling natural urges 
  • Cold weather 
  • Rainy season
  • In afternoon 
  • Vigorous massage
  • Fear 
  • Depression
  • Excess desire 

Ex: Foods like Legumes and beans, which are high-protein sources, can aggravate Vata Dosha. Their metabolic by-products can cause gas & bloating. Understanding from an Ayurvedic point of view, most legumes are:

  • Drying (Ruksha)- increases dryness post-digestion
  • Rough (Khara)- difficult to break down
  • Cold (Sheeta)- slows down metabolism
  • Light (Laghu)- makes digestion unstable

 

      All these are also the qualities of Vata Dosha. And from the principle of ‘like increases like’, these aggravate Vata Dosha. Hence, a person who has a Vata-dominant Prakriti has a higher chance of facing Vata-related imbalances if he/she eat things that are also dominant in Vata Dosha. 

 

Does this mean a Vata-dominant person should not eat legumes?

              No. The answer is that a Vata-dominant person should be more careful while preparing and consuming legumes & pulses. During the preparation process, adopting certain cooking methods and adding certain ingredients can bring down the Vata-aggravating qualities of the food item and can make it easier to digest:

  • Soaking Daal before cooking reduces Ruksha and Khara Guna and adds more moisture 
  • Cooking it until soft reduces its roughness and makes it easy to digest.
  • Adding the right spices like Hing, Jeera, ginger, and ajwain brings in the heating (Ushna) quality and can aid the digestion process
  • Cooking in ghee adds unctuousness, reducing the drying and light qualities.

 

Other food items that aggravate Vata Dosha are:

  • Raw Vegetables and salads- They are cold, drying & light
  • Excess intake of Bitter & Astringent tasting food- Green leafy vegetables, Bitter gourd, etc.
  • Cold Drinks, cold smoothies
  • Frozen, Stale, leftover food
  • Overuse of spices like red chili, black pepper

 

At what time is Vata Dosha dominant?

           If we see the distribution of Vata Dosha in a day, it is dominant in the evening when it is slightly cold and dry. In a year, Vata Dosha accumulates in the body during the Summer season and gets aggravated in the Rainy Season. In the entire life, Vata is dominant during Old age when the body naturally starts to get dry and cold, leading to gradual depletion of tissues, pain in joints, loss of luster, reduced appetite, reduced sleep, degeneration, and finally death. Even when a person goes through a traumatic incident, high stress levels, an accident, surgery, etc. Vata Dosha is aggravated. That is the time to bring in qualities that are opposite to Vata qualities like nourishment, groundedness, warmth, etc.

 

What are the common symptoms of Vata Dosha Aggravation?

  • Indigestion, gas, and bloating
  • Craves for warm food, environment 
  • tremors
  • Restlessness
  • Constipation 
  • Reduced or loss of function of Karmendriya and Jnanendriya
  • Irrelevant speech
  • Giddiness
  • ill look
  • Sleeplessness (difficulty getting to sleep)
  • Brittleness in nails
  • Reduced hair quality, frizziness, and hairfall
  • Blackish discoloration of skin
  • Joint Pain
  • Weakness in the body, Fatigue
  • Wasting of muscle tissue
  • Loss of immunity

 

What are the common symptoms of Vata Depletion? (These look very similar to Kapha aggravation)

  • Reduced digestion 
  • Reduced speech & expression
  • Unable to make a decision or altered consciousness
  • Lack of enthusiasm
  • Laziness, Heaviness
  • Excessive Sleep
  • Liking towards drying & cold items

 

How to keep Vata Dosha in check with our food and lifestyle?

If we understand the qualities of Vata Dosha, we can bring necessary changes in our food and lifestyle:

  • Eating unctuous foods like Ghee and practicing Abhyanga (Oil Massage), Pada abhyanga (foot massage) & Nasya (Nasal Drops) can all balance the drying quality of Vata.
  • Eating warm, cooked, nourishing food, predominantly sweet in taste, meditation practices, and slow and mindful movements can all make one more grounded and compensate for the mobile quality of Vata.
  • Sweet, Salty, and Sour tastes have antagonistic qualities to those of Vata. Hence, they pacify Vata. So grains like wheat and rice are favourable for Vata. While most of the millets, which are dominantly astringent in taste and drying in nature, can aggravate Vata.
  • Having meals at a fixed time, sleeping early and at a fixed hour, not bringing a lot of changes in daily routine, and avoiding too much travel can all help in bringing stability and groundedness to an already mobile Vata person.

 

FOOD ITEMS Best Avoid
Grains Rice, Wheat Millets, Corn
Legumes Moong, Masoor Urad (Black Gram), Rajma, Chickpeas (Chole), Soyabean
Vegetables Sweet Potatoes, Bottle Gourd, Pumpkin, Beetroot, Carrots Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leafy Greens, Bitter Gourd
Fruits Mango, Papaya, Grapes, Banana, Dates Dry figs, dry raisins, dry dates 
Spices Cumin, Ajwain, Hing, Turmeric, Ginger Red chilli, black pepper, mustard seeds

 

What should we avoid to keep Vata in Balance?

  • Excessive exercise
  • Eating less, starving, or fasting
  • Eating cold and drying food
  • Waking up late at night
  • Overthinking
  • Fear
  • Suppression of natural urges

If you have a Vata-Dosha Dominant Prakriti, you can keep it balanced by following a consistent routine in your Dietary habits- Meal timings, Dishes and Recipes, Quantity, etc., and Lifestyle habits- sleeping and wake-up time, work timings, leisure time, hobby time, etc. A fixed routine keeps the mobile nature of Vata in check. 

If you still feel your Vata is imbalanced to a level that you face challenges in your day-to-day living, it is best to take advice from an Ayurvedic Doctor. We can help you with setting up a Vata-Balancing Diet and Lifestyle that you can follow for the rest of your life.