The Vata dosha is responsible for governing all the movements in the mind and body.
It regulates the blood flow, removal of wastes, breathing, and the progression of thoughts in your mind.
As Pitta and Kapha cannot move without Vata so it is considered the leader of the three Dosha in the body. It’s very important to keep Vata in good balance for a healthy life.
In this article, we are going to give you a detailed description of how you can balance Vata Dosha in your body.
Table of Contents
What Is Vata Dosha?
Vata dosha or Vayu maintains all the movement inside your body and mind. It governs blood circulation, waste elimination, breathing, emotions.
Vata is the leader of all three doshas because movements of Kapha and pitta is dependent upon it.
So, if you observe any signs Vata of imbalance, then retaining its natural level in your body brings back the harmony in body functions.
How Vata Imbalance Occurs? (Excessive state)
There are many causes that trigger Vata imbalance.
When your vata is imbalanced, then you will notice the following few signs and symptoms.
- Cold – Vata balance is provoked in your body when you take too many chilled beverages (cold drinks), ice creams, frozen foods and come in contact with a cold climate.
- Dryness– Vata balanced is affected by dry weather or when the climate you live in is windy. And greasy non-dry foods can also agitate Vata.
- Change – Due to unusual meal-timing, uneven schedule, and change of season Vata dosha can go out of balance.
- Stimulation – When you are too much stimulated by the use of gadgets like Computer, adventurous games, thriller films and extreme workout Vata gets increased.
Vata Dosha Signs and Symptoms (Vata Imbalance)
If you ever observe some of these symptoms in your body, then you should realize it is an imbalance of Vata Dosha:
- Your skin is dry, rough and thin.
- You are underweight and fighting for gaining weight.
- You may observe twitches, tics, tremors, spasms
- Your mind is restless, worried and is always anxious.
- If you observe is any black discoloration in your body.
- You suffer from loss of sleep or insomnia or disturbing dreams.
- You quickly get exhausted with little work and endurance is decreased.
- Your lower back and joints are painful—causing discomfort in activities.
- You feel fullness, bloated abdomen, constipation and frequent flatulence.
- You experience cold quickly, and blood circulation is poor in feet and hands due to cold.
- Feeling absent-minded and forgetful all the time. (Like, “Where did I leave my goggles?”)
Diseases Caused Due To Vata Dosha Imbalance (Excessive state):
Though Vata imbalance diseases are countless, according to Charaka Samhita, 80 particular disorders are commonly caused by Vata imbalance.
Some of them are:
- Nakhabheda (cracking of Nails)
- Vipadika (cracking of fees)
- Padasula (pain of feet)
- Pada bhramsa (feet drop)
- Pada Suptata (numbness of foot)
- Vata khuddata (club foot)
- Gulpha graham (stiff ankle)
- Pindiko-udvestana (cramps in the calf)
- Gridrasi (sciatica)
- Janubheda (genu varum)
- Januvislesa (genu valgum)
- Urustambha (stiffness of thigh)
- Urusada (pain in the thigh)
- Pangulya (Paraplegia), etc
How To Balance Vata Dosha
If you find your Vata is out of balance then you should maintain these guidelines:
Apart from following the guideline, you should follow a Vata pacifying daily routine.
1.More Rest:
When you feel tired or exhausted, do not push yourself more. Instead, stop working and take a nap. Mostly, it happens when you are high in energy or gets over stimulated by some activity. Do not stress yourself.
If you feel sleeplessness, anxiety, then do some sleep exercises.
2.Maintain a “Daily Routine”:
You should maintain a routine for sleep, mealtimes every day. Also, try to go to bed earlier—before 10 pm and get up before 6 am. Keeping a consistent lifestyle helps to ground Vata.
A vata pacifying daily routine is discussed in a separate article.
3. Keep Your Body warm:
Keep your temperature warm and avoid becoming chilled. When you go out in cold weather, always wrap your hands and cover your head with adequate clothing.
Mainly, in the winter season always make choices that bring warmth and avoid catching a cold.
You can sip ginger teas and take warm drinks throughout the day.
4.Get Regular Oil Massages:
Perform an Abhyanga massage on your body daily with warmer and heavy oils like sesame, almond.
5. Keep Yourself calm:
Make choices for daily meditation, gentle countryside walks. Spend time in gardens, riverbanks with slow walks.
6. Do Simple Yoga:
Perform some light exercises, yoga that enhances Vata balance.
Like: Qi Gong, Tai Chi, light bicycling, slow dance, and aerobics
7. Go for Relaxing and Calming Activities:
Take plenty of naps, deep sleep and rest when you feel tired out of overworking.
Listen to soothing, ambient or white music. Read. Write or enjoy painting to bring back your creativity. Spend at least a day in silence, once a week.
Meet your loved ones, relatives. Give them hugs and feel their touches. It gives you emotional strength.
8. Eat Warm Foods and Spices
Eat natural foods that taste sweet, sour and salty. Take warm and freshly cooked foods. Include daily high-quality oils and milk products like ghee in your meal.
Eat your lunch slowly and peacefully. Take a deep breath after your last bite and then go for any activity.
Include legumes, tofu and warm soy milk in your diet. Warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, black-pepper help before one hour of taking food.
Make sure to eliminate post-digestive wastes, or bowels movements regularly, on a daily basis.
9. Make Your Surrounding Warm
Wear clothes of warm color such as pastels, sunny yellows, and browns.
Make your office places, living areas aromatic with strong and sweet fragrances like basil, citrus, cloves, lavender, and vanilla.
Diffuse aromatic oils and incense into your work area for a soothing environment.
What The Food To Avoid In Vata Dosha
You can find an extensive list of Vata pacifying food here. You can add these to your Vata pacifying diet regime.
- Milk in your meal.
- Dry foods like chips, crackers, etc.
- Over Processed, deep fried, frozen or cold foods.
- Raw foods and uncooked foods like salads.
- Foods that taste bitter, astringent & pungent.
- Chilled carbonated drinks.
- Stimulating drinks such as energy drinks, coffee, etc.
- Exposure to freezing temperatures.
- Loud and noisy environment.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Excessive talking
- Excessive use of stimulating electronic gadgets such as video games, pc.
