Vata
Vata governs all movement in the mind and body. It controls blood flow, elimination of wastes, breathing and the movement of thoughts across the mind. Since Pitta and Kapha cannot move without it, Vata is considered the leader of the three Ayurvedic Principles in the body. It's very important to keep Vata in good balance.
Vata Governs
Prana Vata
The senses, creative thinking, reasoning, enthusiasm, leader of all 15 categories of Vata, Pitta and Kapha
Udana Vata
Quality of voice, memory, movements of thought
Samana Vata
Movement of food through digestive tract
Apana Vata
Elimination of wastes, sexual function, menstrual cycle
Vyana Vata
Blood flow, heart rhythm, perspiration, sense of touch
Vata out of Balance
Prana Vata
Worries, overactive mind, sleep problems, difficulty breathing
Udana Vata
Dry coughs, sore throats, earaches, general fatigue
Samana Vata
Slow or rapid digestion, gas, intestinal cramps, poor assimilation, weak tissues
Apana Vata
Intestinal cramps, menstrual problems, lower back pain, irregularity, diarrhea, constipation, gas
Vyana Vata
Dry or rough skin, nervousness, shakiness, poor blood flow, stress-related problems
Do you need to balance Vata?
Vata dosha governs flow and motion in the body. Answer these questions to see if you need to balance Vata.
Is your skin dry, rough, thin?
Are you underweight?
Is your mind constantly in a whirl?
Do you worry incessantly?
Are you constantly restless or agitated?
Do you experience constipation?
Do you suffer from insomnia?
Do you suffer from vaginal dryness?
Do you have spells of forgetfulness?
Do you experience discomfort in the joints?
Are you easily fatigued?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, you need to balance Vata.
Here are some tips for balancing Vata:
All Vata products: drink Vata Tea and season meals with Vata Churna, diffuse calming Vata aroma oil in the environment
Abhyanga (daily ayurvedic massage with sesame oil)
Warm temperatures
Warm, cooked foods (less raw foods)
Early bedtime, lots of rest
Favor warm, oily, heavy foods and sweet, sour, and salty tastes
Reduce light, dry, cold foods and pungent, bitter and astringent tastes
Regular daily routine
Avoid stimulants
Regular, daily elimination
Stay warm in cold, windy weather
Vata-Pacifying Diet:
Eat larger quantities of food, but not more than you can digest easily.
Dairy. All dairy products pacify Vata. Always boil milk before you drink it, and drink it warm. Don't drink milk with a full meal.
Sweeteners. All sweeteners are good (in moderation) for pacifying Vata.
Grains. Rice and wheat are very good. Reduce intake of barley, corn, millet, buckwheat, rye and oats.
Fruits. Favor sweet, sour, or heavy fruits, such as oranges, bananas, avocados, grapes, cherries, peaches, melons, berries, plums, pineapples, mangos and papayas. Reduce dry or light fruits such as apples, pears, pomegranates, cranberries, and dried fruits.
Vegetables. Beets, cucumbers, carrots, asparagus and sweet potatoes are good. They should be cooked, not raw. The following vegetables are acceptable in moderate quantities if they are cooked, especially with Ghee or oil and Vata reducing spices: peas, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, zucchini and potatoes. It's better to avoid sprouts and cabbage.
Spices. Cardamom, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, salt, cloves, mustard seed and small quantities of black pepper are acceptable.
All nuts are good.
Beans. Reduce all beans, except for tofu and mung dahl.
Oils. All oils reduce Vata.
