Ruksha - Dry

Laghu - Light

Shita - Cold

Khara - Rough

Sukshma - Subtle

Chala - Mobile

Vishada - Cear

Attributes / Qualities of Vata

Sub-Types of Vata

Prana – The vital force, life giving

Udana – Upward movement, to sustain memory

Vyana – Vehicle of circulation, pulsation

Samana – Balancing digestion, assimilation of food

Apana – Elimination of semen, urine, feces, fetus

Main Sites of Vata

Colon

Thigh

Ear

Brain

Waist

Bone

Vāta prokōpa kāranamCauses for provocation of Vata

Sandhārana: Suppression of the natural urges

Adhyaśana: Over eating

Jāgarana: Staying up late at night

Ucchābhasa: Talking too much

Vyāyāma: Excessive physical work or exercise

Yāna: Excess walking

Katu, Tikta, Kaśāya rasa: Eating too much pungent, bitter or astringent foods

Cinta: Worrying, excess thinking

Vyāvāya: Excess sex

Bhaya: Becoming afraid of small things

Langhana: Frequent fasting

Sīta: Eating cold foods

Śoka: Crying over small things

Fall/Autumn also increases Vāta

Vāta dōșa karmaSymptoms of vitiated Vāta

Pārușya: Hard skin

Sankōcana: Contraction

Tōda: Pain

Śūla: Shooting pain

Śyāmatva: Blackness of the skin

Anga vyadha: pain in parts of the body

Cēșța bhanga: inability to do work

Suptatva: numbness

Śītatva: Coldness

Kharatva: Rouph skin/body

Śōşa: Emaciation

Vāta can be pacified with the following:

Snigdha: Oily foods

Ușņa: Heating foods

Sthira: Nourishing foods

Vrușya: Aphrodisiacs

Balya: strengthening foods & herbs

Lavaņya: Salty foods

Svādu: Sweets

Amla: Sour foods

Taila: Oils

Ātapa: sun-bathing

Snānā: Bathing

Abhyañjana: Oil bath

Basti: Enema therapy

Māmsa: Meat

Madirā: Alcahol

Samvāhana: Body massage

Udvartanam: Fragrant oils

Snēha: Oleation therapy

Svēda: Sudation therapy

Nirūha: Enema with decoctions

Nasya: Medicated nose drops

Śayana: Laying on beds

Āsthāpana: Enema with decoction & no oil

Upanāhādikam: A type of steambath

Pāna: Vāta reducing drinks

Āhāra: Foods that reduce Vāta

Vihāra: Vāta reducing rutine

Bhēșaja: Vāta reducing herbs

Art and design by Aaron Staengl, Ayurvedaposters copyright © 2015