What in the World is Vata Dosha

In this article, we will discuss vata dosha comprehensively. All the points about the vata dosha will be covered from Ayurveda’s point of view.

What is Vata Dosha?

In Ayurveda, Vata dosha is one of the three biological energy principles (vata, pitta, and kapha) that governs all the movement, flexibility, creativity, and thoughts in the human body.
It has (or is made up of) air and space elements. It also gives the movement to the pitta and kapha dosha in the body.
Vayu is a synonym of Vata, so it’s also called Vayu Dosha.

Vata dosha in detail

Doshas are the energy principles that govern the physiological and psychological functions of the body. In simpler terms, doshas are the energy laws that control all the bodily parts and the mind.

Two of the five basic elements or Panchmahabhutas (water, air, earth, fire, and space) combine at the unity of sperm and ovum cells to form three biological energy principles i.e. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha dosha.

Here, Air and space elements come together to form the vata dosha. It means that it has all the qualities of air and space elements. Vata dosha is of 5 types.

Vata dosha types

There are five types or subtypes of Vata doshas in the body:
1. Prana Vata or Prana Vayu
2. Udana Vata or Udana Vayu
3. Samana Vata or Samana Vayu
4. Vyana Vata or Vyana Vayu
5. Apana Vata or Apana Vayu

Vata dosha types in detail

1. Prana Vata or Prana Vayu

Prana correlates to the word oxygen in English. It is located in the head and heart.
Functions of Prana Vata–
Prana brings vitality to the cells, tissues, and thoughts. It regulates the heart, sense organs, and intellect. Prana vata is the cause of sneezing, swallowing, and breathing.
Cause for prana vata Imbalance–
Prana Vata is responsible for the processes of the mind. Hence, stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep can cause vata disturbance.
Imbalance leads to–
1. Weak senses
2. Nausea and confusion
3. Prolonged imbalance can also lead to the mind fog.
How to balance Prana Vata–
1. Daily practice of Meditation, Asanas, and Pranayama
2. Herbs like Brahmi and Ashwagandha are used to balance prana vata.

2. Udana Vata

Udana vayu or udana vata is responsible for speech, exhalation, strength, and memory. It’s situated in the chest.
Functions of Udana Vata–
It works in coordination with prana vata to produce speech and words.
Cause for Udana Vata imbalance–
1. Exposure to the cold,
2. Consumption of dry, bitter, and cold food items.
Imbalance can lead to–
1. Breathing issues
2. Hoarseness of voice
3. Congestion of chest and throat
4. Diseases of the face, eyes, and mouth.
How to balance Udana Vata–
1. By practicing the Pranayama and Meditation daily.
2. An herb useful in balancing Udana Vata is Chavanprash.

3. Samana Vata

Located in the gut near the digestive fire and moves in the gastrointestinal tract. It’s necessary to balance Samana for a healthy digestive system
Functions of Samana Vata–
Helps in the proper functioning of the activities of the digestive tract. In simple words, it helps in digestion.
Imbalance leads to–
Digestive issues, diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating.
How to balance samana vata–
Include the following herbs in your diet- Ginger, Cumin, Asafoetida, coriander, carrom seeds, and fennels.

4. Vyana Vata

Located in the heart but moves all over the body. Moves from the center of the body to the periphery to the back.
Functions of Vyana Vata–
Responsible for functions like muscle flexion and extension, and blood circulation. Opening and closing of the eyelids is a good example of Vyana Vayu or Vyana vata.
Imbalance leads to–
Blood pressure issues, tremors, muscle cramping, disrupted heart rate.
How to balance Vyana Vata–
1. Abhyanga, also known as Ayurvedic massage.
2. Pranayama and meditation also balance Vyana Vata

5. Apana Vata

Located in the lower part of the body. Apana Vata or Apana Vayu moves in the excreta, bladder, and genitals.
Functions of Apana Vata–
Responsible for the functions like ejaculation, defecation, childbirth, and urination.
All the excretion processes are controlled by the Apana Vata.
Imbalance leads to–
Constipation, Diaheorra, overactive bladder, and other bladder issues.
How to balance Apana Vata–
1. Include the following herbs in your diet- Black sesame oil, and Triphala.
2. Panchkarma processes like Basti or Enema also balance the Apana Vata or Vayu.

How Vata subtypes work together

Prana vata or Prana vayu moves things down the body i.e. food, air, water, etc. inside the body.
Vdana Vata or Vyana Vayu propels the things outside the body.
Samana Vata divides the food into the useful and the waste parts, and proper further movement of the food after the split is also controlled by it.
Vyana Vata distributes nutrition, blood, and oxygen to all parts of the body.
Apana vata throws the excreta outside the body through lower passages.

Coordination of these subtypes of vata dosha is necessary for the proper functioning of the body.
Let’s understand this with an example-
When Prana Vata is trying to push down food in the stomach. At this time, if the Udana Vata doesn’t cooperate, the Udana Vata will throw the food in an upward direction creating Nausea and vomiting.

Functions of Vata Dosha

Generally Vata controls-
1. Mind
2. Breathing
3. Blood flow
4. Heart functions
5. Blinking
6. Muscle and tissue movement

Vata Body type people

1. People with Vata dosha dominance in their body are slim.
2. The skin is thin and dry.
3. They usually have small eyes and fuzzy hair.
4. Cold hands and feet of a vata body type person.
5. Irregular digestion and appetite. Sometimes, they have a robust digestion and appetite, and other times it can become a nightmare.

Vata Dosha Personality Traits

1. People with vata dosha predominance are very active in nature.
2. You will find them enthusiastic, creative, creators and dreamers
3. Spontaneous and changeable
4. Quick in completing tasks
5. Quick to learn and quick to forget as well.
6. Like to travel
7. Walk and talk hastily
8. Quick to anger and quick to forgive
9. Less sleep and easy waking up.
10. Intolerance to cold
11. Capability to think big

Qualities of Vata Dosha

Vata dosha has similar attributes to the air and space elements.
1. Quick
2. Light
3. Cold
4. Dry
5. Rough
6. Clear
7. Mobile

Location of Vata Dosha in body

Vata Dosha is located in the colon, thighs, bones, and joints.

Factors aggravating vata Dosha

• Dry and cold foods
• Excessive exercise
• Excessive walking and running
• Stress and grief
• Fasting
• Sleep disturbances
• Suppressing Natural urges
• Bitter, Astringentm and pungent foods

Natural factors aggravating Vata

• Cloudy and rainy season
• Winter season
• After the digestion of food
• Evening
• Old age

Vata dosha imbalance symptoms

Following are the signs of vata imbalance in the body-

• Insomnia
• Dry and rough skin
• Joint pain
• Arthritis
• Headache
• Difficulty in breathing
• Feeling tired
• Poor circulation
• Hypertension
• Feeling dizzy
• Loss of strength
• Astringent taste in the mouth
• Sensitivity to cold
• Gas formation or distension of the abdomen
• Colic
• Constipation
• Restlessness
• Anxiety

Vata Dosha diseases

The list of all 80 vata diseases or disorders according to Ayurveda is-

1. Insomnia
2. Paralysis (mainly the face)
3. Unstable mind
4. Headaches
5. Hemiplegia
6. Delirium
7. Polyplegia
8. Monoplegia
9. Asthenia
10. Dryness in body
11. Hiccups
12. Skin turning dusky dark
13. Excessive Yawning
14. Tremors
15. Fainting
16. Clonic Seizures
17. Tonic seizures
18. Dandruff
19. Eye pain
20. Eyeballs Ptosis
21. Eyebrows ptosis
22. Temporal region pain
23. Head pain (Frontal region)
24. Amaurosis
25. Entropion
26. Eyelid’s Ptosis
27. Tinnitus
28. Hearing problems
29. Ear-ache
30. Anosmia
31. Hearing impairment
32. Ageusia
33. Dry mouth
34. Toothache
35. Tooth filling
36. Jaw pain
37. Lips’ pain
38. Lalling
39. Dampness
40. Voice Hoarseness
41. Torticollis
42. Arms’ Atrophy
43. Stiff back
44. Pain in the chest
45. Abdominal pain (spasmodic)
46. Bradycardia
47. Tachycardia
48. Chest pain (rubbing)
49. Sacroiliac joint pain and stiffness
50. Gigantism
51. Kyphosis
52. Impaired Thoracic movement
53. Chest pain (pricking)
54. Astringent taste in the mouth
55. Hard stool
56. Stiff Neck
57. Ankle stiffness
58. Pelvic pain
59. Groin fullness
60. Penis stiffness
61. Knock knees
62. Bowlegs
63. Stiff thighs
64. Thigh pain
65. Paraplegia
66. Chest pain (general)
67. Tenesmus
68. Scrotum pain
69. Club foot
70. Feet crack
71. Collapsed instep
72. Feet pain
73. Numb feet
74. Nail split
75. Calf muscle cramps
76. Pain in eyes (constant)
77. Distension (abdominal) with constipation
78. Sciatica
79. Rectal Prolapse
80. Deafness

Conclusion

Vata dosha is one of the three life energies behind all of our bodily functions. The aim of a person should be to keep the three doshas in a balanced state to achieve the optimum state of health.
Also, think positively and exercise daily, eat healthily, work hard, stay strong, build faith, worry less, read more, and be happy. 

Reference

Understanding personality from an Ayurvedic perspective
Functions of Vata
Vata Brain types
Biomarker for vata dosha

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ Vata Dosha