Ayurvedic medicine for vata doshaPosted by nirogam on January 23rd, 2018 The three doshas namely the vata, pitta and kapha are known to be the vital components of a human body. Among them vata – the biological air holds a prime importance. Vata is the only element that has movement in the body and which controls the movement of pitta and kapha. Vata dosha treatment The root meaning of the term vata implies – “Tatra vaa gati gandhanayor iti vata” which means all the movements in the body are controlled by vata. Vata helps in the movement including cell division , circulatory functions, movement of metabolic wastes, transmission of liquids and gases, osmotic changes in between cells, perception of smell and other sensory functions. Vata is composed of air (vayu) and ether(akasha) elements of the panchamahabhoota. Importance of vata over other doshasVata is the initiator and activator of all happenings. Acharya Sharangadahara substantiates this by saying that Pitta, Kapha, the Dhatus (tissues) and the Malas (excreta, metabolic wastes) or everything in the body is lame and cannot move by themselves unless motivated, provoked, carried, pushed or pulled by Vata. Just like the clouds move from one place to other being carried by the winds, the other elements of the body too move from one place to the other in the body only when carried by Vayu’. Thus all activities are contributed to Vata. Pittam pangu, kapham pangu, pangavo mala dhaatavaha | Qualities of vataThe vata dosha has the following qualities:
Tatra rooksho laghu sheeta khara: sookshmashchalo anila:| (Ref- Ashtanga Hridayam) Vata also has the quality of daaruna or instability. All these qualities have to be kept during the vata dosha treatment. Functions of vata dosha at physical and psychological levels
The vata dosha treatment targets upon correcting the deranged functions of vata. Types of vataThe basic concept of vata or vayu in the body is one. However it is given five different names based on its site of action and specific function. Wherever the vata resides in the body it does not let go of its basic qualities as mentioned above. There are 5 types of vaayu in your body, which are responsible for various functions. They are: 1. Prana vayu – It is situated in the head and neck region and is responsible for the normal functioning of the sense organs. It is responsible for expectoration, sneezing, belching, inspiration and swallowing of food. 2. Udana vayu – It is situated in the chest and moves between nose, umbilicus and throat.It is responsible for the initiation of speech, efforts, enthusiasm, strength, colour, complex and memmory. 3. Vyana vayu – Vyana is located in the heart and moves all over the body in a great speed. It causes movements like flexion, extension, opening and closing of the eye lids and all locomotor activites. 4. Samana vayu – It is located near to the digestive fire in the stomach and moves there and causes digestion of food and divides it into two components as useful nutrient portion – ‘sara bhaga’ and Wate products –‘kitta bhaga’ 5. Apana Vayu – Apana vayu is located in the lower part of the abdomen. Being there it circulates around the pelvis, bladder and genital region and is responsible for the ejacualtion, menstruation, defecation, urination and expulsion of fetus. The vata dosha treatment depends upon the site of location and the specific deranged quality of vata. For example if the Apana is affected, then treatment is given for the same using herbs that can directly correct the apana vata. Signs of deranged vata doshaVitiated Vata dosha causes blackish discolouration and dryness of skin, constipation, decreased strength, weight loss, disturbed sleep, dizziness, tremors and different kinds of pain like cutting pain, pricking pain, splitting pain and crushing pain. Vata, when aggravated, afflicts the body with various types of diseases and effects the strength, skin complexion, happiness and the span of life. It perturbs the mind: affects all the sense organs and sense faculties; destroys, deforms the embryo or delays delivery of the fetus. Vata causes fear, anxiety, bewilderment, humility and delirium. It shortens life span. The following symptoms corresponding to each type of vata helps in vata dosha treatment.
Yogavahi- a special nature of vataYogavahi is a special quality of vayu. It is a special quality of vata to combine with other doshas without loosing its own properties. For example vata combines with Pitta dosha and carries the heat and other qualities of pitta like penetrating effects, lightness, typical odour and liquidity without loosing the original properties of vata. when combined with kapha, it carries the coldness, unctousness, heavyness, smoothness , etc along with it but never foregoes its original qualitites. Yogavaahaha param vaayuhu samyogaad ubhayaartha krut | Yogavahi is that which carries the qualities of that thing or substance with which it is associated in the combination. Since Vata carries the qualities of Pitta and Kapha, it is called Yogavahi (said to possess Yogavahi property). Vata creates an impact of the dosha it carries to the target tissue or organ, but doesn’t manifest itself too much. Vata dosha treatment in Ayurveda:In general, the following treatments are advised to control increased Vata dosha:
Ayurvedic Medicine for Vata Dosha Imbalance
These are advised for the proper movement of vata.
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