| Vata Dosha |
Understanding Vata Dosha: The Principle of Movement
It’s the Dosha that governs all movement within the body. Vata represents movement in the universe as understood in its movement through space via air or Vayu Mahabhoota. Among the three Doshas, it is only Vata, the Dosha that supports bodily movements. In fact, the entire activity of a system that transports nutrients across the membrane starts and runs on the engine Vata. Movement is not just physical. It also includes sensory perceptions. For instance, each time we see something, the feeling is transmitted to the brain for interpretation.
Vata is Not Just About Movement
Vata is Not Just About Movement
- Too Much Motion
If taken to their limits, too much movement creates a condition like diarrhea or spastic colitis when there’s the rapid movement of food and water down the digestive channel. - Reduced Movement
When movement slows down, it leads to constipation, or slow transmission of nerve impulses, which leads to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. - Complete Absence of Movement Complete paralytic condition leads to absence of movement in the whole body, affecting different parts of the body
Vata’s Influence on Disease
An imbalance or disturbance in Vata Dosha can lead to several conditions
- Excessive Movements When the movement reaches an excessive or uncontrolled level, it may sometimes cause conditions like diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome, causing food and fluids to move along the digestive tract too fast. Unrestricted muscle movements can cause various conditions, including tremors, Parkinson’s disease, and gait disorders.
- Reduced Movement When movement slows down, it leads to constipation, or the slow transmission of nerve impulses, which may lead to conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Complete Absence of Movement A complete lack of movement in the body will lead to paralysis and influence all body systems.
The Dryness of Vata Diseases
Vata’s Subtle Influence on the Body
Vata governs movements at the subtlest levels, such as the movement of knowledge and energy. The energy consumed by Vata movements contributes to the lightness of the body. Air, although it has weight, is light compared to other elements, and Vata shares this quality of lightness. As movement increases, energy is consumed, and lightness follows.
The Roughness Resulting from Vata Imbalance
As Vata consumes fats for energy, the absence of smoothness results in roughness. This is what could be noted in diseases like osteoarthritis, where surfaces of bone become rough and sensitive. It is one of the significant symptoms that shows influence of Vata on the body, in the results of their unbalanced activity.