Vata Dosha

According to Ashtanga Hridayam, Vata dosha is dry, light, cool, rough, thin and agile. These are the major qualities of Vata, as described in the authentic source, mentioned above. By knowing these qualities we can identify the signs of Vata dosha imbalance.

If a person displays some or all of these qualities to a substantial degree, it means that Vata dosha is predominant in that person.

Actually there are three doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha, and they together form Prakriti or natural personal constitution according to Ayurveda. Originally Prakriti is translated from Sanskrit as ‘Nature’, and in terms of Ayurvedic medicine, it describes the natural tendencies in every person, including physical, mental and emotional levels.

If you belong to a Vata type, such things as fickleness and motion are common in you. Your mind is full of energy and possesses a great creative potential. If your Vata is well-balanced, you will experience an abundance of energy and inspiration (but both may come in bursts though); your body will be slender and dexterous.

Sometimes you may suffer from fatigue, skin dryness and your digestion is usually quite sensitive (sometimes weak) to a type of food and time when you take your meals. Your limbs may be too susceptible to cold.

When Vata is out of balance, you may lose too much weight; get indigestion, high blood pressure, anxiety and arthritis.

There are various diseases that, according to Ayurveda, originate from the imbalance of Vata dosha and that can be cured once the dosha is brought back to balance again.