Vaata dosh and problems associated

 Vata-generated problems, causes, and remedies 

1. Introduction

VATA (AIR) IN THE HUMAN BODY

Vata means flowing. As the fluids have the property of flowing, similarly, the vata in the human body also has a flowing character. In the human body, it controls the blood flow, excretion, and the thinking process. The “vata” can be dry, colder, lighter, with a changing character, and fast at times.

There are two factors: (i) Pitta (bile) and (ii) Kafa (cough) cannot move without the help of air in the human body; therefore, Vata is considered the superior element among the “Vata, Kafa, and Pitta.”

If these three factors are balanced, then there is no chance of getting affected by any disease. Imbalance of the elements causes the illness.

2.     Vata Dosh (Air)

It is categorized into five factors—

(i)               Pranvayu

(ii)             Saman vayu

                                                       

(iii)          Vyan vayu

(iv)           Udan Vayu

(v)             Apan Vayu

(i)               Pranvayu

It is considered the main force for driving life. It is closely related to the “Anahata Chakra” (energy related to the heart—the heart chakra). It controls the inhalation and exhalation (breathing process) involved in eating and drinking. It is also involved in physical activities.

(ii)             Apana Vayu

This energy is related to the “Mooladhar Chakra” near the navel. It helps to throw the waste material out of the body. Excreting the solid waste in the form of stool and excreting water in the form of sweat and urine.

(iii)          Samana Vayu

The third most important energy driving force of the Vata is Samana Vayu. It flows between the navel and the heart. It is connected to the Manipur chakra, which is considered the point of initiating digestion. It provides the power to start digestion and “agni” that initiates the digestion.

(iv)           Udana Vaayu

It is also a vital part of the Vata dosha, connected with the “Visuddhi chakra” of the body. It is upward-moving energy required for the senses, brain function, and sensory organs. It is considered the energy of self-expression, telling the truth, and communicating with each other.

(v)             Vyan Vayu

This energy starts from the center of the body and radiates to every part; it moves outward. It is associated with the “Svadisthan Chakra.” This chakra controls the happiness and creativity of the person. It connects the Prana Vayu to other forms of energy related to Vaata.

Types of Vata dosha

It is of two types. (i) Dosha from parents or ancestors (genetic disorder or prakrita)

(ii) Gained (Self-generated dosha or vaikrita dosha or acquired)

(i) Genetical or Prakrita Dosha 

This dosha starts at the time of conception and remains throughout life. It does not go away by itself. 

(ii) Gained or Vaikrita

If the waste from the food materials circulates in the body of the offspring. It can generate physical challenges for the person. 

These (i) and (ii) types of dosha remain connected to each other, and they form physical (Sharirik Dosha)

 

Nature of vat-dominance

 A person suffering from the predominant vata can have the following problems:

•    Appearance of a lean body 
  A
  
  
•    Dry voice, skin, and hair  
  
  
  
  
  
•    Problem of sleeping disorders
  
  
•    Quick in action, talkative, and walking
  
  
•    Cracks in the heel and skin 
  
  
•    Unstable movement of the hand and legs 
  
  
•    Voice comes out from the joint while walking
  
  
•    Unable to tolerate cold  
  
  
•     Prominent, tendons, veins, and joints

     

Causes of the abnormal state of vata

Abnormality due to the changes in nature

Due to the changes in the season, the vata balance changes in the human body. In the summer season, it accumulates in the body; in the rainy season, it deteriorates, and in the winter, it becomes normal. 

At the different stages of the digestion

Vata gets defective at several stages involved in the digestion. 

Biological rhythm

Due to the biological body rhythm, it gets vitiated

Living area

The living place, specifically an arid area, also affects the body.

Age factor

Age is also an important factor for the increased vata dosha.

Artificial causes 

Diets

 Some diets also increase or vitiate the vata prakriti

(a) Dry and Light foods: crackers, dry food, popcorn

(b) Cold and raw food: Iced items, raw salad

(c) Stimulant foods: Coffee, alcohol, and energy drinks

(d) Astringents and bitter foods: Some raw vegetables, bitter melon, beans, dry-tasting grains

(e) Processed food, deep-fried foods, and taking food at irregular intervals

Clinical Causes

People having the genetic vata dosha should avoid the habits that vitiate the vata and cause problems to their health. 

Stages of Dosha [Su.Sa. Sutra Sthana 15/15]

Dosha remains in three phases, like hypofunction (kshaya), hyperfunction (vriddhi), and the normal physiological state called Sama.

Symptoms of Vata vriddhi

Emaciation  (Karshya) 

Blackish appearance (discoloration)

Uncontrolled motion

Abdominal distension

Constipation

Dizziness

lack of self-confidence

Reduction of bone marrow

Loss of sensory function

Flatulence 

Grief

Fear

Delusion

Delirium 

Hypofunctioning of vata

When the vata is declining in the body, the visible symptoms are—

Less talking

Generalised weakness

Increased kafa

Loss of happiness

Excess salivation 

Nausea

Loss of Appetite 

There are 80 kinds of diseases illustrated in the "Charak Samhita."

Diagnosis of the vata disease

The state of the vata dosha can be found by the clinical conditions. The dominant problem is pain, numbness, rigidity, and harshness.

Region and associated problems

Head, Neck, and Face

• Head and Neck:

  • Headache (shiroruka)

  • Frontal pain (lalatabheda)

  • Temporal pain (sankhabheda)

  • Neck stiffness (grivastambha)

  • Torticollis (manyastambha)

• Face:

  • Facial paralysis (Ardita)

  • Difficult movement of the temporomandibular joint (hanubheda)

  • Cracks in lips (oshthabheda)

• Mouth and Throat:

  • Toothache (dantabheda)

  • Loose teeth (dantashaithilya)

  • Hoarseness of voice (kanthoddhvansa)

  • Dry mouth (mukhashosha)

  • Astringent taste in the mouth (kashayasyata)

  • Tastelessness (arasagyata)

Sensory Organs

• Eyes:

  • Difficulty in vision (akshibheda)

  • Glaucoma (timira)

  • Pain in eye (akshishula)

  • Ptosis of eyelid (vartmastambha)

  • Entropion (vartmasankocha)

  • Complete loss of vision (akshivyudasa)

  • Complete loss of eyebrow (bhruvyudasa)

• Ears:

  • Earache (karnashula)

  • Tinnitus (ashabdashravana)

  • Difficult hearing (ucchaihsruti)

  • Deafness (badhirya)

• Nose:

  • Anosmia (grananasha)

List of Vataja Nanatmaja Vikara (Diseases Due to Vata Dosha)

This list categorizes diseases caused by an imbalance of Vata dosha, a key principle in Ayurvedic medicine, based on affected body regions and organ systems.

Head, Neck, and Face

• Head and Neck:

  • Headache (shiroruka)

  • Frontal pain (lalatabheda)

  • Temporal pain (sankhabheda)

  • Neck stiffness (grivastambha)

  • Torticollis (manyastambha)

• Face:

  • Facial paralysis (Ardita)

  • Difficult movement of the temporomandibular joint (hanubheda)

  • Cracks in lips (oshthabheda)

• Mouth and Throat:

  • Toothache (dantabheda)

  • Loose teeth (dantashaithilya)

  • Hoarseness of voice (kanthoddhvansa)

  • Dry mouth (mukhashosha)

  • Astringent taste in the mouth (kashayasyata)

  • Tastelessness (arasagyata)

Sensory Organs

• Eyes:

  • Difficulty in vision (akshibheda)

  • Glaucoma (timira)

  • Pain in the eye (akshishula)

  • Ptosis of eyelid (vartmastambha)

  • Entropion (vartmasankocha)

  • Complete loss of vision (akshivyudasa)

  • Complete loss of eyebrow (bhruvyudasa)

• Ears:

  • Earache (karnashula)

  • Tinnitus (ashabdashravana)

  • Difficult hearing (ucchaihsruti)

  • Deafness (badhirya)

• Nose:

  • Anosmia (grananasha)

Trunk and Abdomen

• Chest and Heart:

  • Lateral chest pain (parshvavamarda)

  • Stiffness in the heart (hridmoha)

  • Heaviness in heart (hriddrava)

  • Rubbing pain in the chest (vakshauddharsa)

  • Stabbing pain in the chest (Vakshastoda)

  • Difficulty in thoracic cage muscle movements (vakshauparodha)

• Abdomen and Pelvis:

  • Dysperistalsis (udarvarta)

  • Pain in the abdomen (udaraveshta)

  • Diarrhea (vidbheda)

  • Rectum prolapse (guda bhransha)

  • Tenesmus (gudarti)

  • Pelvic girdle pain (shronibheda)

  • Tension in the groin area (vankshanaanaha)

  • Scrotum pain (vrushnakshepa)

  • Stiffness in the penis (shephastambha)

Musculoskeletal and Neurological System

• Spine and Joints:

  • Kyphosis (kubjata)

  • Back stiffness (prishtagraha)

  • Stiffness of the sacro-iliac joint (trikagraha)

  • Sciatica (gridhrasi)

  • Genu varum (janubheda)

  • Genu valgum (januvishlesha)

• Limbs:

  • Cracks in feet (vipadika)

  • Foot pain (padashula)

  • Foot numbness (pada suptata)

  • Foot drop (pada bhransha)

  • Stiffness in the ankle (gulphagraha)

  • Cramps in the calf (pindikodveshtana)

  • Stiffness in the thigh (urustambha)

  • Thigh pain (urusada)

  • Wasting of arm muscles (bahushosha)

• Motor and Neurological:

  • Monoplegia (ekangaroga)

  • Hemiplegia (pakshavadha)

  • Paraplegia (pangulya)

  • Quadriplegia (sarvangaroga)

  • Unable to walk (khanjata)

  • Difficulty in walking (vatakhuddata)

  • Tremors (vepathu)

  • Clonic contraction (akshepaka)

  • Tonic contraction (dandaka)

General and Systemic Conditions

• Voice and Speech:

  • Speech disorder (vakasanga)

  • Aphasia (mukatva)

• Mental and Emotional:

  • Giddiness (bhrama)

  • Fainting (tama)

  • Delirium (atipralapa)

  • Insomnia (aswapana)

  • Depression (vishada)

• Physical Manifestations:

  • Yawning (jrimbha)

  • Hiccups (hikka)

  • Dwarfism (vamanatva)

  • Dryness (rukshya)

  • Hardness (parushya)

  • Cracks in nail (nakhabheda)

  • Scaling of the scalp (keshabhumisphutana)

  • Dusky appearance (shyavarunaavbhasata)

Source: https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php

Sushruta. Sushruta Samhita. Edited by Jadavaji Trikamji Aacharya. 8th ed. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Orientalia; 2005.