Vata dosha (वातः वातदोषः वा)

Doshas (दोषाः), Dhatus (धातवः) and Malas (मलाः) are the fundamental components of the sharira (शरीरम्) which control the entire function of the body systems from birth to death. In a normal state, physiology and psychological activities are carried out through three doshas which are Vata dosha (वातः दोषः), Pitta dosha (पित्त दोषः), and Kapha dosha (कफ दोषः). When their balance is disturbed, they vitiate other body components and lead to disease development. Health according to Ayurveda, can be achieved when there is a balance of three doshas.

The “Vata” dosha which is one among the 3 doshas has a much important role in the functioning of the body. Vata literally means “wind” or “air”. Other doshas and dhatus are dependent on the Vata dosha for their proper movement across the body. Vata dosha which is mobile in nature performs various body functions in its balanced state, if vitiation occurs it leads to various Vata dosha dominant disorders.

निरुक्तिः ॥ Etymology

The word “Vata” (वातः) is derived from ”Va” (वा) which means “Gati” (गतिः) or movement and “gandhana"(गन्धन) which means perception.

Vata is defined as “vagatigandhanayoh” (वा गतिगन्धनयोः) which means that which has mobility and perception is Vata.

वातस्य स्थानानि॥ Site/ Location

बस्तिः पुरीषाधानं कटिः सक्थिनी पादावस्थीनिपक्वाशयश्च वातस्थानानि (Char.sutr.20.8)

Vata dosha is located in Basti(urinary bladder), rectum, kati(lower back),thighs, legs, bones and pakvashaya (colon precisely). Thus, mainly the lower body is vaguely the site of Vata dosha.  

Acharya Vagbhata also describes the Ears, skin, and Majja (bone marrow) as the seats of vata dosha.

वातस्य पाञ्चभौतिकत्वम् ॥ Panchabhuta composition

Vata is one of the three doshas (bio-energies) which is originated from Akasha (ether) and Vayu (air) Mahabhuta.

वातगुणाः॥ Properties

Vata dosha has certain properties which are expressed in the sharira (शरीरम्). This is essential from the perspective of the diagnosis of the dosha involvement in any disease.

Guna (गुणाः) or the Characteristics of Vata dosha according to different authors,

Vagbhata	Charaka Samhita	Sushruta Samhita
Ruksha(रुक्षः।dryness)	Ruksha(dryness)	Ruksha (dryness)
Sheeta(शीतः।coldness)	Sheeta(coldness)	Sheeta(coldness)
laghu(लघुः। lightness)	Daruna (दारुणः । hardness)	laghu(lightness)
Khara (खरः। roughness)	khara(roughness)	Khara (roughness)
Sukshma (सूक्ष्मः । subtle)	Vishada (विशदः । clear)	Achintyavirya (अचिन्त्यवीर्यम् । unpredictable)
Chala(चलः । mobility)	Sheeghra (शीघ्रः । swiftness)

वातकार्याणि ॥ Functions of Vata dosha

Vata dosha is responsible for the smooth governance of the bodily functions, thus it represents “life” in the living beings. Vata dosha when gets imbalanced, vitiated or obstructed will cause various diseases and even death.

सर्वा हि चेष्टा वातेन स प्राणः प्राणीनां स्मृतः| तेनैव रोगा जायन्ते तेन चैवोपरुध्यते||११८|| (char.sutr.17.118)

उत्साहोच्छ्वासनिः श्वासचेष्टा धातुगतिः समा| समो मोक्षो गतिमतां वायोः कर्माविकारजम्||४९|| (Char.sutr.18.49)

नित्याः प्राणभृतां देहे वातपित्तकफास्त्रयः| विकृताः प्रकृतिस्था वा तान् बुभुत्सेत पण्डितः||४८|| (Char.sutr.18.48)

Vata dosha has a set of functionality in the shareera or human body,

1. वायुस्तन्त्रयन्त्रधरः  Vata dosha is responsible for maintaining and controlling all the activities of the shareera
2. प्राणोदानसमानव्यानापानात्मा, vata operates in the body as, Prana Vata, udana vata, samana vata, vyana vata,apana vata. Which precisley are the types of Vata dosha
3. प्रवर्तकश्चेष्टानामुच्चावचानां  , it is the origin of all kinds of movements.
4. नियन्ता प्रणेता च मनसः it governs all the mental functions
5. सर्वेन्द्रियाणामुद्योजकः सर्वेन्द्रियार्थानामभिवोढा  Vata dosha is responsible for the stimulation of all the senses and directs them to their respective organs.
6. सर्वशरीरधातुव्यूहकरः vata dosha provides structure to the dhatus or tissues for the development of organs.
7. सन्धानकरः शरीरस्य binds the tissues
8. प्रवर्तको वाचः  vata dosha induces speech
9. प्रकृतिः स्पर्शशब्दयोः श्रोत्रस्पर्शनयोर्मूलं responsible for the sensation of touch and sound.
10. हर्षोत्साहयोर्योनिः origin offeelings like,  happiness and enthusiasm.
11. समीरणोऽग्नेः kindles digestive fire
12. दोषसंशोषणः  drying of moisture
13. क्षेप्ता बहिर्मलानां removes or excretes waste products from the body
14. स्थूलाणुस्रोतसां भेत्ता vata dosha travels through all the micro and macro channels
15. कर्तागर्भाकृतीनाम् helps formation of the embryo and development of structures, shape and etc.
16. आयुषोऽनुवृत्तिप्रत्ययभूतो helps sustain life.
17. The physiology of breathing, inspiration, and expiration (char.sutr.18.49)
18. Proper functioning of Dhatus(bodily tissues)
19. Pulsations (sush.sutr.15.4)
20. Retains the perception of senses
21. It helps ingestion of food
22. Differentiates the food and retains what is necessary for the body.

वातस्य भेदाः॥ Types

Vata dosha is classified according to their specific functionality and act accordingly in our body, as Prana Vata (प्राणवातः), Udana Vata (उदानवातः), Samana Vata (समानवातः), Apana Vata (अपानवातः), Vyana vata (व्यानवातः).

Vata doshas subtypes,

प्राणवातः॥ Prana Vata

स्थानानि॥ Sthana (Location)

Murdha(मूर्धा। head region), urah(उरः । chest), Kantha(कण्ठः। throat), jivha(जिव्हा । tongue), asya( आस्यम्। mouth), nasika(नासिका। nose)

कार्याणि॥ Kriya (function)

Spitting, salivation, burping, respiration, Aharadi karma (आहारादि कर्म। food consumption)

प्राणविकृतिजन्याः रोगाः॥ Associated Disease

Hikka(हिक्का। hiccup), Shwasa(श्वासः । respiratory disorders)

उदानवातः॥ Udana Vata

स्थानानि॥ Sthana(location)

Naabhi(नाभिः । umbilicus), urah (उरः । thoracic region), kantha(कण्ठः । throat)

कार्याणि॥ Kriya (Function)

Speech, prayatna (प्रयत्न । making effort), Urja(ऊर्जा । strength), bala-varna (बल--वर्ण), smruti (स्मृतिः । memory).

उदानविकृतिजन्याः रोगाः॥ Associated disease

Udhrvajatrugata vikara (उर्ध्वजत्रुगतविकाराः । diseases related to neck and above).

समानवातः॥ Samana vata

स्थानानि॥ Sthana (location)

Kostha (कोष्ठः).

कार्याणि॥ Kriya (Function)

Ingestion of food, break down of food, digestion, and moving it towards excretion process.

समानविकृतिजन्याः रोगाः॥ Associated diseases

Gulma (गुल्म), atisara (अतीसारः).

अपानवातः॥ Apana Vata

स्थानानि॥ Sthana(location)

shroni(श्रोणी । thigh region), Basti ( बस्तिः। urinary bladder), medra (मेढ्रम् । penis), urah (उरः । thoracic region).

कार्याणि॥ Kriya (function)

excretion of semen, urine, menstrual blood, and Stools.

अपानविकृतिजन्याः रोगाः॥ Associated diseases

diseases pertaining to the Anal region and Urinary bladder.

व्यानवातः॥ Vyana Vata

स्थानानिः॥ Sthana (location)

Hruday (हृदयम्), overall sharira (whole-body).

कार्याणि॥ Kriya (function)

Contraction, relaxation, opening, and closing of eyelids.

व्यानविकृतिजन्याः रोगाः॥ Associated diseases

These are manifested usually all over the body since the vyana vata circulates all over the body performing the function of circulation of the .

In a nutshell, these types of Vata have a seat, functionality, and even diseases associated with them, their knowledge plays a vital role while diagnosing diseases from the physician's perspective and further planning the management. While correlating with modern science Prana Vata is associated with the respiratory system, Udana Vata is correlated with mental functions, samana Vata is associated with the digestive system, Apana Vata with the Reproductive system, and excretion, Vyana vata with the Musculoskeletal system and circulation.

वातप्रकृतिलक्षणानि॥ Vataja Prakriti

Prakriti is formed during the conception itself with Prakrut Dosha, Prakrut dosha precisely is the fundamental constitution of sharira which literally means “the origin”. Alongside, Vikrut doshas are expressed through the waste of ahara, their excess or lack of expression can lead to diseases.  Collectively Prakrut and Vikrut doshas are known as Shareerika dosha. One of three type of Dosha is seen as dominant in an individual which is understood with the help of certain characteristics

Vataja Prakriti

The Vataja dominant prakriti is based on the characteristics of Vata Dosha,

1. Underdeveloped and short stature
2. Dry skin, hair, and hoarseness of voice
3. Swift movements
4. Talkative
5. Instability in the movements of joints, eyebrows, lips, shoulders and, etc.
6. Visual network of veins over hands.
7. Gets irritated quickly
8. Poor memory
9. Intolerance to cold.
10. Coarse hair, bear mustache
11. Brittle nails, hair, teeth
12. Crackling sound in joints during movements.

वातदुष्टिहेतवः लक्षणानि च॥ Pathological state of vata dosha

वातप्रकोपहेतवः॥ Causes of Vata vitiation

Certain factors is responsible for the imbalanced state of vata dosha in the sharira.

प्राकृतहेतवः॥ Natural factors

• Age - Vata dosha is dominant during old age.
• Season - Dosha undergoes seasonal variations during the change of season. There occurs accumulation, vitiation, and pacification state of doshas as the season changes. Vata dosha undergoes Chaya (accumulation) stage during Grishma (ग्रीष्मः । summer) rutu, gets vitiated (prakopa) during Varsha (वर्षा / प्रावृट्। monsoon) rutu, and gets pacifies (shaman) in Sharada (शरदः । autumn) rutu.
• Desha - in Jangala desha (देशः) which is the arid region, Vata dosha gets easily afflicted.
• Circadian rhythm - there is predominance of vata dosha at the end of the day.
• Stage of digestion -  vata dosha gets vitiated at the end of the digestion.

आहारादिहेतवः॥ Other factors

• Diet - The significant aspect of the ayurvedic diet is the six tastes known as Shadrasas (षड्रसाः), which are Madhura(sweet), Amla(sour), Lavana(salty), Katu(spicy), tikta (bitter), kashaya(astringent). And each Rasa or a combination of it is responsible for the dosha vitiation if consumed in excess or in less quantity. Thus, Vata dosha vitiation occurs due to excess consumption of Katu(spicy), tikta (bitter), kashaya(astringent)

• Lifestyle- Excessive exercise, sleeping late at night, suppression of natural urges, excessive singing and etc increases Vata dosha in the sharira.

वातदुष्टिलक्षणानि॥ Clinical aspect

वातवृद्धिलक्षणानि॥ Aggravated Vata dosha signs

There are certain signs and symptoms when Vata dosha gets Vitiated in the body,

1. Emaciation
2. Discoloration of skin to black
3. Craving hot food substances
4. Tremors
5. Distension of abdomen
6. Constipation
7. Insomnia
8. Loss of sensory functions
9. Loss of strength
10. Giddiness
11. Dry skin
12. Pain in the bones
13. Experience of sorrow.
14. And etc.

वातक्षयलक्षणानि॥ Signs of Vata depletion

As there are signs and symptoms of vata dosha vitiation in the body similarly when Vata dosha is depleted there occurs,

1. Generalized body ache
2. Slow body movements
3. Increased Kapha dosha
4. Excessive salivation.
5. Reduced speech
6. Decreased happiness
7. Decreased appetite
8. Nausea

वातप्राधान्यलक्षणानि॥ Clinical Presentation

According to Acharya Charaka Vata dosha dominant disorders can be assessed through certain common symptoms, it is presented clinically as “Shoola” (शूलम् । pain), Suptata (सुप्तिः । loss of sensation), Rukshata(रुक्षता । dryness), Sthmbhana(स्तंभनम् । rigidity), Shosha(शोषः । wasting), Parushata (परुषता । roughness).

वातस्य नानात्मजविकाराः॥ Vata Nanatmaja Vikaras

There are 80 types of disorders explained by Acharya Charaka merely due to imbalance in Vata dosha,

नखभेद (breakage of nails)	विपादिका (cracked heels)	पादशूलं (leg pain)	पादभ्रंश (foot drop)
पादसुप्तता (numbness in feet)	वातखुड्डता (ankle pain)	गुल्फग्रह (stiff ankle)	पिण्डिकोद्वेष्टनं (calf pain)
गृध्रसी (sciatica)	जानुभेद (knee pain)	जानुविश्लेष (dislocation of knee)	ऊरुस्तम्भ (stiff thigh)
पाङ्गुल्यं (paraplegia)	गुदभ्रंश (anal prolapse)	वृषणाक्षेप (scrotal pain)	श्रोणिभे (pelvic pain)
विड्भेद (diarrhoea)	उदावर्त (reverse direction of vata)	खञ्जत्वं (limping)	वामनत्वं (dwarfism)
त्रिकग्रह (stiff shoulder joint)	उदरावेष्ट (twisting pain in abdomen)	हृन्मोह (cardiac dysfunction)	वक्षस्तोद (pricking pain in chest region)
बाहुशोष (wasting in arm)	मन्यास्तम्भ (torticollis)	कण्ठोद्ध्वंस (hoarse voice)	दन्तभेद (tooth ache)
मूकत्वं (aphasia)	मुखशोष (dry mouth)	बाधिर्यं (deafness)	वर्त्मस्तम्भ (stiff eye lids)
तिमिरं (loss of visual acuity)	शिरोरुक् (headache)	केशभूमिस्फुटनं (dry scalp)	अर्दितं (facial palsy)
पक्षवध (hemiplagia)	दण्डक (tonic convulsions)	वेपथु (tremors)	अस्वप्न (insomnia)

दुष्टवातचिकित्सा नियमाः॥ Basic aspects of management of vitiated Vata dosha

Vata dosha when vitiated is managed with dravyas (द्रव्याणि) or drugs which are Madhura(मधुरः । sweet), amla(अम्लः। sour), and lavana(लवणाः । salty) in rasa(taste) which is contrary to the rasas(taste) of substances or dravyas which are inherently Vata dosha dominant. Further, Karma or the procedures must be done which are dominantly Unctuous and hot. For instance, Snehana (स्नेहनम् । oleation), Swedana (स्वेदनम् । fomentation), Asthapana basti(आस्थापन बस्तिः । decoction enema), Anuvasana basti (अनुवासन बस्तिः । oil-based enema) nasya (नस्यम् । errhine therapy), ahara (आहारः । diet modification), abhyanga (अभ्यङ्गम् । oil massage) and etc. among the above therapies Basti(बस्तिः । enema) is considered as the principle management protocol for Vata dosha diseases. Since pakvashaya (colon precisely) is the seat of Vata dosha and Basti medication enters and affects directly the root of the disease, the origin of the disease thus the effects of treatment are seen at a much faster pace. Acharya Charaka (आचार्य चरकः) explains this phenomenon with a simile, just like when the tree is cut at the roots it automatically destroys the branches, leaves, fruits, etc similarly when Vata dosh is stroked in its root place the diseases afflicting the other organs are cured as well.