Vata

Vata is the physiological operator that governs movement and communication.

Functions of vata dosha

vata Vata is responsible for making everything move in the body and making the body move, including circulation, elimination, peristalsis, respiration, speaking, , natural urges, thinking, and locomotion. Vata makes a person animated, enthusiastic, creative, and witty.

Vata's qualities

Vata is composed of the primordial elements akasha (space) and vayu (ether, air). It is dry, light, subtle, moving, cold, quick, rough, and hard, and is increased by any substance or influence having these same qualities.

Vata's location

Vata finds its main seat in the pelvis, the seat of elimination, but it is also in the nervous system, joints, and all channels, such as vessels and intestines.

Vata constitution

People with significant vata in their constitution are fun to be around because they are creative and lively. They tend to be on the svelte side, with slender digits, sinewy limbs, visible tendons and veins, and are always in motion, prone to taking on many projects. They may have darker coloration, dark veins, blueness of the whites of the eyes.

Symptoms and signs of increased vata

Insomnia, lack of energy, constipation with hard, dry stools, tremor, flighty thinking, garrulousness, weight loss, dry skin, fear, worry, nervousness, irregularity in habits, and accelerated aging

Symptoms and signs of decreased vata

Depression, weakness, heaviness

Symptoms and signs of vitiated vata

Vata vitiation gives the appearance of something that has been left in a cold, dry wind: brittle, dry, emaciated, cracking, stiff and aged. This will express itself in the joints, skin, digestion, general vitality.

Disorders caused by vata aggravation

There are 80 vata disorders, including most problems of the central and peripheral nervous system, digestive disorders, urinary and reproductive disorders, arthritis, and many degenerative disorders associated with aging.

Factors that increase vata:

Any activity or influence involving movement will increase vata: excessive work and exercise, overuse of the senses, traveling, fasting staying up late and keeping other irregular habits. Dry, cold, pungent, bitter and astringent foods. Cold and dry climates. Excessive worry, fear, trauma, stress and hardship.

Five types of vata

Pranavata: Movement in the mind, intellect and senses as associated with the vital breath. Its location is in the head and chest.

Udanavata: Governs movement upward in the chest, including speaking, coughing, burping, sneezing, etc.

Samanavata: The wind that fans the flames of the digestive fire, samana governs all movement in the upper digestive tract including peristalsis, flow of the food through the digestive tract, and its absorption.

Apanavata: Governs movement downwards through the pelvis including the flow of urine, stool, gas, menstrual fluid and semen as well as delivery of the newborn.

Vyanavata: Governs functions of the autonomic nervous system including circulation and the flow of energy, as well as motility of the limbs.

This information on "Vata" is in the "About Vedic Medicine" section of AyurvedaMed.com website. To return to the index page of this section, please click here.