Vata Dosha

What is Vata Dosha?

               As I explained in my earlier post, Imbalance of any of the Tridoshas viz. “Vata”, “Pitta” and “Kapha” gives rise to various diseases. Every Doshas plays a vital and unique role in our Body. Vata is a combination of air and ether (Space). Vata is often referred to as the Vayu (wind) in the body, and it is the primary the ve force of the Doshas. the other Doshas are incompetent to travel without it. Vata is too strong, rough, quick-acting and causing developing conditions. Vata Controls five-element of body namely Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, Vyana. Each element performs various body operations.

Let me give you anatomy, the normal Vayu (Wind), moving about in the nature performs various functions like sparking of fire, disposing of continuous movement of the sun, planets, making of clouds, raining waters, producing flowers and fruits etc. When it moves against nature, it shows negative effects like churning the tops of mountains, shaking trees, producing high tides in oceans, earthquake, sound, showering of dew, thunder etc. Likewise, Vayu in the body perform certain important Functions but when it is vitiated in Body, gives rise to disorders and diseases. 

Functions/ Merits of Vata (Vayu):

• Tasks of the nervous system
• Prompts speech
• originates touch and sound, is the root of auditory and tactile sense organs.
• stimulates Agni (digestion),
•  Throws out Waste (urine, faeces, sweat)
•  Shapes the foetus and Delivery of Baby
• Menstruation
• Regulates Will power
• Creativity
• conductive to health, improvement of strength and the complexion, valour (fearlessness, Bravery), development and improvement of knowledge
• the mum expanse of life-span

Characteristics of Vata:

• Rooksha (dryness)
• Laghu (lightness),
• Seetha (coolness),
• Khara (roughness),
• Sookshma (subtlety)
• Chala (mobility). 

Symptoms of Vata Dosha:

• Light Body
• Pain in the joints
•  constipation
• weakness
• leanness
• dizziness and tiredness
• darkness of complexion
• Insomnia
• Ringing in the ears
• Vertigo
• Difficulty in remembering
• Hyperactivity
• Amenorrhea
• Delusions

Dietary Guide to pacify Vata Dosha :

Type of food	Vata
	Avoid	Recommended
Fruits	Dried fruit, Apples (raw),  Cranberries, Dry figs and Dates pears, Pomegranates, Dry Raisins, Prunes and Watermelon	sweet fruits,  Apricots Avocado Bananas, Berries, Cherries, Coconut, Dates (fresh), Figs (fresh), Grapes, Kiwi, Lemons, Mangoes Melons, Oranges Papaya, Peaches Pineapple, Plums, Strawberries, tamarind
Vegetables	frozen, raw or dried vegetables	Cooked Vegetables
Graines	Barley, Bread (with yeast), Buckwheat Cereals (cold, dry or puffed), Corn, Crackers, Granola Millet, Muesli,, Oats (dry), Rye, Sago, Wheat bran	Durham flour, Oats (cooked), Rice (all kinds), Sprouted wheat bread, Wheat
Legumes	Aduki beans, Black beans, Black-eyed peas, Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), Kidney beans Lentils (brown) Navy beans Peas (dried), into Beans, Soybeans Soy flour, White beans	Lentils (red), Mung beans, Mung dal, Soy cheese Tofu, Tur dal Urad dal
Dairy	Cow's milk (powdered) Goat's milk (powdered) Yoghurt (plain, frozen)	Butter, Buttermilk, Cheese (hard), Cheese (soft) Cottage cheese, Cow's milk Ghee, Goat's cheese and  milk
Nuts	None	All type of Nuts viz, Almond, Walnut, pine nut, cashews etc.
Spices	None	All types of Spices
Oils	flax seed	Sesame, Ghee, Olive Most other oils except coconut and Avacado
Animal foods	Lamb Pork Rabbit Turkey (white)	Chicken (dark and white ) , EggsFish (freshwater or sea), Salmon, Sardines Seafood, Shrimp, Tuna fish Turkey (dark)
	Hope you have understood the Vata and its Significance in our body. What are the merits, symptoms of Vata and what diet should be followed to pacify Vata Dosha? What other ideas can you add to this post that I may have not touched upon? Or any topic you would like me to cover in subsequent blogs. Leave your footnotes below in comment section.       Healing with Care!