Vata Imbalance hampers circulation and movement in the body. An imbalanced Vata can take toll on the functioning of our critical body systems such as Lymphatic system, Reproductive System, Blood Circulation, and our Mental Balance.

Vata imbalance leads to erratic motion, roughness, dryness, hardness, irregular flow, or blocked flow of fluids and matter in the body. Vata increase can cause excessive, sharp, and throbbing pains in the head, stomach, or other affected body parts.

Health Issues of Vata Imbalance in Women

The primary body organ or seat of Vata Dosha is the colon and pelvic cavity. Hence, Vata Dosha is responsible for all eliminatory functions. Any disturbance in Vata Dosha leads to health disorders such as constipation, flatulence, urinary incontinence, prolonged labour, and irregularities.

• Irregular Menstrual cycle, Absence of Menstruation, Excessive Menstrual pain, and Menstrual Disorders.
• Hormonal Imbalance – Ovarian Cysts, Hypothyroidism, Hot Flashes, PMS, and Menopausal Syndrome.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Low libido and lack of interest in sex and intimacy
• Poor Fertility and inability to hold the fetus.
• Prolonged Labour, Excessive Constipation during and after pregnancy
• Organ prolapse such as uterus and vagina
• Skin dryness externally and thinness of vaginal walls
• Emotional hypersensitivity and Crying Spells

Vata Imbalance causes Accelerated Aging in young and Health complications in Elderly

Vata Dosha is active in physical body during later years in life, ideally from 55 years onwards. That’s why any aggravation in Vata Dosha leads to musculoskeletal pains, bone weakness, and anxiety tendency.

• Poor Bone Health , and Tendency for fractures
• Anxiety, Nervousness, Fear, Loneliness, and Spaciness
• Loss of taste buds sensitivity. Hence, inability to experience all the tastes and stimulation of food, smell, and noise.
• Hearing problems and vocal problems.
• Loss of hair, thinness of hair, and bald patches.
• Organ prolapse
• Emotional hypersensitivity
• Joint pain, Arthritis, and back pain involving Lumbago and Sciatica
• Neuromuscular disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Poor skin tone, wrinkles, excessive dry skin and lips
• Brittle nails, crooked teeth, and irregular shape of body
• Poor Immunity, Allergies, and regular infections

Vata increase leads to Poor Nervous System Health, Low Memory, and Focus

Vata Dosha guides the functioning of nervous system through nervine impulses. All the health issues related to nervous system originate with vitiated Vata.

• Poor Memory, Inability to recall and remember the things
• Lack of focus and inability to pay attention to the details
• Fidgetiness and restless experienced in terms of daily thoughts and long term behaviour
• Hyperactivity in children and health issues related to ADHD
• Highly emotional and vulnerable to surroundings and people. Lack of focus and emptiness in thoughts.
• Insomnia in the form of inability to sleep.

Vata leads to Bloating, Flatulence, and Constipation

• Dryness in terms of constipation and irregular bowel movement.
• Dry and hard stools
• Lack of sweating
• Excessive weight loss or weight gain (when unbalanced Vata displaces Kapha)
• Gas, Bloating, Distention, Constipation, Flatulence, and IBS.
• Malabsorption of Nutrients

Vata Increase causes Irregular Digestion and Unpredictable Appetite

Usually, vata imbalance is reflected as an unpredictable digestion and an irregular appetite! For example, a person would suddenly feel an irresistible bout of hunger, but then gets satisfied with a small quantity of food. And at other times, a person with Vata Imbalance would have no or low appetite.

An irregular digestion also is reflected as periods of constipation and diarrhea. And it involves the usual suspects – bloating and flatulence! In Ayurveda, Vata type of digestion is called vishama agni.

An irregular digestion leads to nutritional deficiencies and related health problems even if a person is consuming healthy foods.

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Hence, it is important to balance the irregular digestion first, before one dives into good foods or bad foods!

Why does Vata increase lead to Irregular Digestion?

There are a couple of reasons behind unpredictable digestion during Vata Imbalance:

1. Vata dosha imbalance hampers the peristalsis of the intestines. Hence, it leads to an irregular movement of food through the digestive system.
2. Due to Vata imbalance, the gut microbes in the digestive tract becomes highly sensitive and unstable. Hence, the gut flora changes with every meal. It is also gets highly affected by external stimulation such as temperature, hydration, stress, and your mood.
3. Secretion of digestive enzymes and digestive juices become scanty and unpredictable in Vata Imbalance! Hence, it leads to a bad start in the first place.

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What are the primary causes for Vata Imbalance?

Vata imbalance can occur due to various reasons involving Time, Ahara – Food and Vihara – Lifestyle, and Vichara – Mental State. Some of the reasons are listed below:

Kala – Time of the Day, Season, and Your Age affect Vata Balance

• Physical changes observed during Menarche, Menopause, and Post Delivery.
• Vata Dosha is active during the cold and dry months of Autumn season. This is the time, when it gets easily vitiated. Hence, one needs control consumption of cold and dry foods and limit irregularities in their daily schedules.
• Old age is related to the physical and mental aspects of Vata phase of life.
• During the day, Vata Dosha is active from 2 AM to 6 AM and from 2 PM to 6 PM. This is the time when Vata health disorders will show their symptoms to be slightly aggravated. For example, one would find early morning and early evening times when joint stiffness, pains, nervousness, anxiety build up.

Ahara – Food and Dietary Habits that cause Vata Imbalance

• Excessive consumption of old and leftover food
• Excessive consumption of Dry or raw food
• Insufficient food intake
• Eating very fast without proper chewing or ingestion in a standing position.

Vihara – Lifestyle Practices that cause Vata Imbalance

• Sudden or excessive changes in lifestyle involving meal composition, timings, and way of ingestion.
• Extreme climatic conditions involving very cold and hot temperatures.
• Multi-tasking – Involvement in multiple activities at the same time
  Irregular schedule with untimely meals, erratic sleep and wake cycles.
• Suppression of urges such as urination, defecation, sneezing, belching, flatulence, and or sexual urges.
• Staying up late at night and insufficient sleep poorly affect our Circadian Rhythms leading to Vata Imbalance.
• Overexertion of the body through physical work or exercise.

Vichara – Mental State affects Vata Balance

• Excessive Stress and Anxiety
• Worry, fear, and loneliness
• Sadness and trauma
• Overstimulation of the senses

Tips for Vata Dosha Balance with Diet, Lifestyle, Herbs, and Yoga

As easy it is to get unbalanced; it is also easy to come back in place by following a simple rule of discipline and regularity.

The guiding principle of balancing Vata Dosha is as simple as practicing directly opposite characteristics of Vata. Ayurveda prescribes numerous methods involving dietary changes, lifestyle practices, yoga and pranayama routines, meditation, and external treatments of massage, and aromatherapy.

Vata Diet – Foods, Herbs, and Dietary Habits to Balance Vata

Vata diet involves timely, nutritious, and unctuous meals. Vata diet and foods are balanced by proper use of spices and herbs. This ensures good assimilation of heavy food items. Here you can learn about Vata Diet and Vata pacifying foods in detail.

• Prefer smaller meals during the day and do not hold hunger. Timely meals at fixed time everyday should be taken.
• Warm and unctuous foods such as porridges, curries, gruels, and soups should be taken.
• Include spices and herbs to maintain healthy digestive fire and to get the micronutrients.
• Remove chilli and sugar from the diet. Both of these cause excessive stimulation and push Vata out of balance.
• Remove cold temperature foods and drinks.
• Limit or stop raw foods such as salads.

Lifestyle Practices for Vata Balance

• The most important act to balance Vata includes a scheduled lifestyle. Establish and follow a daily routine of activity, sleep, and food intake.
• Sleep of 8-9 hours is required. Do not hold on to sleep and do not reduce sleeping hours.
• Remove all the Vata aggravating factors.
• Regular self-massage by warming oils such as sesame oil and ghee. In Ayurveda, it is known as Abhyanga.

Physical Activity

• Calming and soothing activities such as swimming and walking in nature can help to relieve Anxiety, Nervousness, and Loneliness feelings.
• Excessive physical activity can lead to vata aggravation and related disorders. If one is suffering from Vata increase, they should practice lower intensity exercises.
• Pranayama, the discipline of breath is one of the best lifestyle act to balance Vata.

Yoga Poses for Vata Balance

Vata body benefits from strength building poses that emphasise balance and controlled breathing. It helps to calm down mobile and light characteristics of Vata.

Inversion yoga poses are contraindicated during menstrual cycle and during pregnancy.

• Surya Namaskar – Sun Salutation Sequence
• Adho Mukha Svanasana or Wall Push
• Tadasana – Mountain Pose
• Utkatasana – Chair Pose
• Trikonasana – Triangle Pose
• Savasana – Corpse Pose
• Marichyasana – Marichi’s Pose
• Balasana – Child’s Pose
• Halasana – Plow Pose
• Parsvakonasana – Extended Side Angle Pose

Pranayama for Vata Balance

Pranayama practices involve breathing exercises, which develop the life-force in the body. It promotes flow of energy, awaken the mind, and cleanse the body. Pranayama increases Agni, promotes heat, and increases flow of vital force of Prana through the body.

Following Pranayama techniques are recommended for Vata Dosha balance:

• Anuloma Viloma – Alternate Nostril Breathing
• Kapalbhati Pranayama – Head Shining Pranayama
• Bhastrika Pranayama
• Brahmari Pranayama – Humming Breath

Read here to know about Pitta Dosha and Kapha Dosha.

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References

• Textbook fo Ayurveda – Part 1 by Vasant Lad
• Yoga for your body type by Dr. David Frawley and Susan Summerfield Kozak