vata dosha and its features and role in ayurveda treatments

VATA DOSHA AND ITS QUALITIES ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA

1-VATA:

Vata has the properties like air. It maintain all the bodily movements, neurological activities etc. It have the characters like cold,dryness,irritant, astringent,bitter,pungent etc. It act in muscle movements like contraction, breathing,blood circulation etc. Vata moves Pitha and Kapha because it is strong enough and have the property like movement and others have not.

Two types of vitiation occurs to this vata, like obstruction and aggravation or decreasing. Vata mainly increases due to excessive exercise, excessive intake of hot and spicy food, sleeplessness, etc. The main location of vata in our body is pelvic region and colon.Diseases like neurological,arthritis etc are mainly due to vata vitiation.Vata is also considered to be the result of digestion.

Vata supports the body functions like utsaha (enthusiasm), Utchwasa niswasa (inspiration and expiration),Ceshta (all types of physical and psychological functions), Dhatu poshana (nourishment of tissue in proper order),strengthens the sensory organs.

Types:

Divided into five types;

1. Prana vayu
2. Udana vayu
3. Vyana vayu
4. Samana vayu
5. Apana vayu

1-Prana vayu:

Mainly locates and functions in the head neck and chest. It carries out the functions of sensory organs in the head and act as sensory receptors.

2-Udana vayu:

Located in the teeth, gum, chest, heart etc. Functions as controls speech, intellectual power, etc

3-Vyana vayu:

Actions in sweat glands, controls sweating, other reproductive gland etc. It is responsible for circulation in the body.

4- Samana vayu:

Location is the area of the abdomen.amasaya(abdomen) pakwasaya etc.it ignite the digestive fire and activities like the process of digestion ,peristaltic movement etc.

5- Apana vayu:

located in the anal region. Functions are like defecation, acts on kidney and urinary system and reproductive system. Acts on ovulation, sperm movement etc.

Features:

People who are under this group have characters like ability to learn, very active, dark complexion, lean, irregular routine, changing moods, tendency to forget thing fast etc. Those peoples are physically underdeveloped,veins and muscle tendons are visible, chest are flat, skin are cold , rough, cracked. Appetite and digestions vary, they always prefer to take sweet, sour and salty food and hot drinks, scanty urine produced,etc.

 Increased Vata symptoms:

Emaciation, black discoloration, ushna kamitwa (desire for hot climate and substances), tremor, flatulence, constipation, fatigue, failure or perception of senses, insomnia, delirium etc.

Pathological Manifestation of vitiated vata dosha:

Visceroptosis(sramsa), dilation, numbness, inertia, pain, pricking sense, splitting pain, retention, dropping of a organ, tremors, dehydration, squeezing pain, etc

Decreased vata lakshanas/symptoms:

Intolerance of sounds, slow movements, lack of interest in anything, excess sleep develops debility, coldness,etc

Causes of Vata dosha Vitiation:

Improper dietic and behavioral regimen.
Use of excess hot and spicy food items
Lack of sleep
Over indulgence in sex
Over exercise
Mental tension,etc

Role of vata dosha in treatment:

Vata has important role in treatment while considering the role of other doshas. It has ability to carry other dosha from the normal locations to others, and vata has ability to vitiate on other site of doshas. It is difficult to treat a vata predominant disease.

How to normalize a deranged vata dosha:

Vata dosha is dry, light, rough, cold and erratic. Therefore, as Ayurveda works on the principle that to decrease vata, Vata people should avoid anything dry, light, rough, cold and erratic. That includes the foods and activities listed above. 

• Vata is balanced by regularity. Be regular with your bedtime, mealtimes, and all habits. 
• Have regular Ayurvedic oil massage, as oil and heat are one of the best therapies for Vata.
• Eat soothing, heavy, warming and nourishing foods, like cooked whole grains, vegetables, dairy and fruit, and soups and herbal teas. 
• Have warm baths, rest and relax, practice deep breathing and meditation.
• Do mild exercise like yoga, tai chi, walks in nature, and non-strenuous cycling and swimming, especially in natural surroundings. 

Pathophysiology of vatika diseases:

In all the vatika type of diseases enumerated or implied the inherent natural qualities and actions of vata are quite obviously manifested wholly or partially and as such it is not difficult for a complete physician to correctly diagnose the vatika type of diseases.for example: roughness, coolness, shapelessness etc.

The natural action of vata moving from one part of the body to the other are looseness, dislocation expansion, obstruction separation etc, coarseness, harshness, porousness, numbness, pain, reddish, astringent taste, and tastelessness in mouth ,etc these are the actions that help to diagnose.

Principles of treatment of vatika disease:

The vitiated vata should be treated by drugs having sweat, sour and saline taste and unctuous and hot qualities and by such therapies like oleation, fomentation, asthapana and anuvasna type of enema, inhalation, diet, massage, unction, effusion, etc. All these should contain materials having anti-vatika properties. These is of course to be done with due regard to the dosage and the season. Of all the therapies stated above, the asthapana and anuvasana type of enema are the treatment par excellence for the cure of vatika diseases because immediately after entering the colon, they strike at the very root of the vitiated vata and when it is overcome in the colon, even the entire vitiated vata dwelling in the part of the body is automatically alleviated. these can be likened to the cutting of the root of a tree which results in the automatic destruction of the trunk, branches, sprout, etc.

By:Dr.Rimin Razak