Vata, composed of the elements air and ether, is the most mobile dosha in the body as well as being the dosha that most easily goes out of balance. It governs the nervous system and all the subtle movements of the mind, as well as all movement in the body. Disorders of vata are the fundamental basis of most health problems and always accompany those of pitta and kapha because vata is the thing that moves everything out of balance – as well as moving them back into balance. For this reason it is always important to consider apana vata (the main site of vata in the lower abdomen) in the treatment of any problem, whether it is related to vata, pitta or kapha. If disturbance of apana vata is left untreated, vata accumulates further and it’s possible that symptoms can then spread and manifest in another site of vata, such as in the head, the mind or the chest (prana vata), the throat (udana vata), the stomach and small intestine (samana vata), the circulation (vyana vata), or even other sites of pitta or kapha.
Vata people are changeable and dynamic. They can be very enthusiastic at the start of treatment, but they are easily inspired by other ideas or forms of treatment that they may hear about and can get distracted. If you have a lot of vata in your constitution, you may start studying Ayurveda, then be tempted to start an online course in aromatherapy before becoming fascinated with dance therapy! It is important to stay grounded and focused and to avoid becoming scattered and overwhelmed with too many things to do.
When beginning to devise a plan to pacify vata, it is best to start with small changes that are easy to integrate into your lifestyle and that you can make part of your regular daily routine. This will help to prevent you from forgetting your diet or to take your herbs and then remaining in an imbalanced state! Vata types tend to be forgetful and their creative nature makes sticking to regular schedules and activities a bit of a chore. However, it is the regularity and stability of a daily routine that gives vata the grounding that they really need for balance and health. Vata people may enjoy the creative process of devising a dinacharya (daily routine) with a variety of vata-reducing practices. Then, encouragement and support is helpful to keep them on track.
One of the most stabilising and balancing treatments forvata is massage. A daily massage (abhyanga) with therapeutic oils such as sesame oil and mahanaryan oil is highly recommended to remedy imbalances including insomnia, stress, lowered immunity and anxiety. Vata people crave love and support in the form of touch, and with the soothing, calming, nourishing addition of sesame oil, massage becomes a highly effective medicine.
Snehana therapy, or oleation, comes from the Sanskrit word sneha, which translates as both ‘oil’ and ‘love’. So, oiling the skin regularly can impart the warmth and security of feeling loved; this alone is transformative for vata. Warmed sesame oil massage followed by application of heat or a warm bath or shower relaxes muscles, calms the nervous system and nourishes the largest organ of the body which is the skin.
Nasya, which is nasal administration of oil such as sesame, can be used to ease stress and emotional imbalances. Shirodhara (pouring oil on the forehead) is also really helpful.
When you have an increase of vata in your constitution, you may have an irregular appetite and digestion, so it is generally best to increase warm and oily foods and avoid cold, raw, dry and indigestible foods to help bring vata back into balance. The ideal diet is one that is warm and easy to digest with lots of soups, stews and casseroles, with plenty of mild spices. Boiled, steamed or roasted starchy vegetables, ripe fruits, warm milk, cooked vegetables, and soupy grains like rice are all good. Kichari is also a great food for vata. Reduce foods that are cold, dry and hard such as salads, apples and raw nuts as these can be hard to digest and cause indigestion, wind or bloating.
Mild spices and culinary herbs including cumin, ginger, cardamon, cinnamon, fennel, coriander, salt, cloves, mustard and black pepper will raise the digestive fire (agni) and help you to digest and absorb nutrients from your food. This is especially important when you are feeling tired and run down as you will need all the nourishment you can get and your digestion is likely to be poor. Ideal drinks are warm fennel, ginger and liquorice tea. Every culinary herb and spice helps to regulate the main site of vata, apana vata, and so helps to keep vata as well as the other doshas in balance.
It is important to eat at regular times and avoid eating either too much or too little. It is best to avoid yeast, refined sugars, coffee, tea and poor quality oils. Increase foods that are sweet (nuts and seeds, soaked or ground, milk and rice), sour (like vinegar, yoghurt, fermented vegetables and citrus fruits), and salty as these are all nourishing and balancing for vata. Reduce foods that are bitter (like coffee, rocket, chicory and lettuce), very spicy foods (chillies) and astringent (like apples ands beans) as they can disturb vata.
Dairy: All dairy products nourish the nervous system and calm vata but need to be organic. Cheese is best avoided, especially hard cheese as it is hard to digest. Always heat milk before you drink it, add a few cardamom seeds while heating it and drink it warm. Don’t take milk with a full meal or with fruit. If you are allergic to cow’s milk, you can substitute with almond, coconut, hazelnut, oat or rice milk. It’s best to avoid ice cream, powdered milks and soya milk.
Sweetness: All sweet flavours are good for nourishing vata and the nervous system. Root vegetables, nuts and seeds, oils, fish and meat and sweet fruits all help to balance vata. Avoid all sugars if you suffer from bloating as it may indicate the presence of ama.
Oils: All unrefined oils are good as they reduce the dryness of vata and nourish the nervous system. The best oils for vata include flax, hemp, sesame, ghee, olive, sunflower, evening primrose, star flower and fish oils. These can be used both internally and externally.
Grains: Rice (basmati, brown or wild), oats (cooked) and quinoa are very good for nourishing vata and the nervous system. Amaranth is also fine. Reduce barley, corn, millet, buckwheat and rye as these are a bit drying and can be difficult to digest, creating wind. Avoid the other grains.
Fruits: Sweet, sour and heavy fruits, such as berries, bananas, avocados, grapes, cherries, lemons, limes, fresh figs, peaches, melons, plums, pineapples, mangoes and papayas are best. Cooked apples and pears, soaked prunes and raisins are all fine. Avoid dried fruits, uncooked apples, pears, pomegranates and cranberries as these can create wind.
Vegetables: Asparagus, beets, cucumbers, carrots and sweet potatoes are the best. Peas, green leafy vegetables, celery, summer squash, winter squash and sweet potatoes are best cooked in oil or ghee with mild spices. Seaweeds are very beneficial. It’s best to avoid the Brassica family, especially when they are raw: Brussel sprouts, kale, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Also avoid the Solanaceae family: peppers, aubergines/eggplant, potatoes and tomatoes. Raw vegetables, especially onions are not a good idea as they can all create wind.
Spices: Most spices are good, especially asafoetida, cardamom, cumin, coriander, ginger, fennel, dill, cinnamon, salt, cloves, mustard seed and black pepper. They help regulate apana vata and reduce wind and spasm in the digestive system. Avoid hot spices like chilli, dried ginger and horseradish.
Nuts: All nuts and seeds are good in moderation for vata, especially when they have been soaked and then roasted and ground.
Beans: Avoid all beans, except for marinated tofu, mung beans, urad dhal and occasionally red lentils.
Meat and fish: Chicken, turkey, eggs and seafood are fine; beef and other red meats that are hard to digest should be avoided.
Teas: Herbs and spices can be taken singly as teas or made into mixtures of your choice: fresh ginger, cardamom, tulsi, clove, fennel, lemongrass, oat straw, peppermint and cinnamon all help to balance vata.
Herbs to balance vata are generally nourishing, strengthening and grounding and the most renowned is ashwagandha. They tend to taste sweet and are particularly aimed at balancing apana vata. They include many of the aromatic digestive herbs and spices that we can enjoy on a daily basis either as delicious herbal teas or enlivening our food. Cardamom, thyme, oregano, basil, ginger, long pepper, cinnamon, dill, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, coriander, saffron, cumin, nutmeg, turmeric and clove are all recommended.
Ashwagandha: Withania somnifera
Shatavari: Asparagus racemosus
Asafoetida: Ferula asafoetida
Gotu kola: Centella/Hydrocotyl asiatica
Bacopa: Bacopa monnieri
Bala: Sida cordifolia
Gokshura: Tribulus terrestris
Guduchi: Tinospora cordifolia
Celery seed/Adjain: Apium graveolens
Haritaki: Terminalia chebula
Guggul: Commiphora mukul
Liquorice: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Tulsi: Ocimum sanctum
Valerian: Valeriana officinalis
Frankincense: Boswellia serrata
Psyllium seeds: Plantago psyllium
Ginger: Zingiberis officinalis
In addition, the renowned formula triphala is a great remedy for clearing toxins from the system.
