Vata Vikara / Diseases of the Vata system

The disease processes listed here are the ones most commonly listed in the early texts. This
list is by no means exhaustive.
1. Breaking of the nails
2. Cracking or fissures of the sole
3. Pain in the sole.
4. Loss of balance when walking
5. Numbness of the feet
6. Swelling of the ankles from gout
7. Calf spasms
8. Sciatica
9. Swelling of the knee
10. Dislocation of the knee
11. Paralysis of the thigh
12. Pain in the thigh
13. Lameness of one leg
14. Lameness affecting both legs
15. Anal prolapse
16. Arm pain
17. Upward contraction of the testicle
18. Paralysis of the penis
19. Distention of the bladder
20. Swelling of the hip
21. Diarrhea
22. Neurasthenia

23. Dwarfism
24. Lumbago
25. Back pain
26. Spondylitis
27. Diaphragm spasm
28. Spasm of the belly
29. Heart palpitations
30. Pain of the chest
31. Contraction of the chest
32. Atrophy of the arm
33. Paralysis of the neck
34. Wryneck (torticollis)
35. Voice defects
36. Lockjaw
37. Cracking of the lips
38. Breaking of the teeth
39. Loose teeth
40. Aphasia
41. Stuttering
42. Difficulty with speech
43. Astringent taste in the mouth
44. Loss of sense of smell
45. Ear pain
46. Tinnitus
47. Loud hearing

48. Deafness
49. Paralysis of the eyebrow
50. Contraction of the eyebrow
51. Blurred vision
52. Eye pain
53. Deformation of the eyes
54. Deformation of the eyebrow
55. Temporal pain
56. Pain of the forehead
57. Headache
58. Cracking of the skin on the head
59. Facial paralysis
60. Hemiplegia (some forms)
61. Tetanus
62. Convulsion
63. Spasm
64. Arthritis (most forms)
Symptoms of Vata Dysfunction
Besides these nerve diseases, there are some typical conditions and symptoms that are
connected with nervous system over-activity. These include:
1. Dryness.
2. Pink/pale or blue color appearing on the face or affected area.
3. Pink/pale color of the nail, conjunctiva of the eyes, or mucous membrane under the
tongue.
4. Pink/pale coloration in urine, stool or skin.
5. Pain or symptoms worse while food is transiting the colon.

6. Relief sensation when pressing on the painful area.

7. Symptoms worse in the evening, at dawn or during the rainy season.
8. Exhaustion, depression, restlessness, or insomnia.
9. Strong pain or colic pain.
10. Crawling (slow, weak) pulses.
11. Symptoms worse with use of bitter, pungent or astringent tasting foods or drugs.
12. Symptoms worse in cold weather or cold climate.
13. Symptoms worse with constrictory food or drugs that causes poor blood circulation.
14. Symptoms worse in nerve-natured persons (Vata Prakriti).
15. Symptoms worse with stress distress or tension.
Reversed Action of the Five Vital Airs
In addition to the problems of under-balance or over-balance of the nervous system there also
are some Vata complications caused by the interference with or reversed action of the five
vital airs.
1. If inhalation air (Prana) interferes with circulatory air (Vyana), it affects the brain and
the sense organs of the head. That is, poor or faulty inhalation (Prana) can inhibit air
supply to the head area (Vyana). This can lead to paralysis or fainting as in sudden
low blood pressure or shock.
2. If the circulatory air (Vyana) interferes with the inhalation air (Prana), this can cause
excessive sweating and numbness.
3. If inhalation air (Prana) interferes with assimilation air (Samana), it causes aphasia,
stuttering and stiffness or paresis.
4. If the assimilation air (Samana) interferes with the excretory air (Apana), it causes
diarrhea, liver or spleen pain, and colic pain of the stomach.
5. If inhalation air (Prana) interferes with exhalation air (Udana), it causes choking,
headache, coldness, difficulty in breathing, dries mouth and heart diseases. For
example, this can occur if someone inhales toxic gas and cannot exhale it fully.
6. If exhalation air (Udana) interferes with inhalation air (Prana) it results in deafness,
collapse and possibly even death.
7. If the exhalation air (Udana) interferes with the excretory air (Apana), it causes
vomiting and asthma.

8. If the excretory air (Apana) interferes with the exhalation air (Udana), it causes
delusion, weak digestion and diarrhea.
9. If the circulatory air (Vyana) interferes with the excretory air (Apana), it causes
vomiting, tympanitis, neurasthenia, abdominal tumor and rectal colic.
10. If the excretory air (Apana) interferes with the circulatory air (Vyana), it causes
diarrhea, polyuria and semenuria.
11. If the assimilation air (Samana) interferes with the circulatory air (Vyana), it causes
fainting, drowsiness, delirium, bodyache, weak digestion and collapse.
12. If the exhalation air (Udana) interferes with the circulatory air (Vyana), it causes
stiffness or paresis, weak digestion, lack of sweating, motionlessness and inability to
keep the eyes open.
If the Pitta substance or the Kapha substance interferes with the vital airs they can become the
cause of various heath problems. For example:
1. If vital bile (Pitta) interferes with the inhalation air (Prana), it causes fainting, hot
sensations, dizziness, colic pain and sour vomiting.
2. If vital mucus (Kapha) interferes with the inhalation air (Prana), it causes sneezing,
belching, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
3. If vital bile (Pitta) interferes with the exhalation air (Udana), it causes fainting, hot
sensation, a gradual decline of the lungs, asthma and collapse.
4. If vital mucus (Kapha) interferes with the exhalation air (Udana), it causes paleness in
the complexion, hoarseness, difficulty in speaking, weakness, and loss of appetite and
heaviness of the body.
5. If vital mucus (Kapha) interferes with the assimilation air (Samana), it causes low
body temperature, lack of sweating, indigestion and goose pimples.
6. If vital bile (Pitta) interferes with the assimilation air (Samana), it causes excess
sweating, thirst, hot sensation, fainting, and a loss of appetite.
7. If vital bile (Pitta) interferes with the circulatory air (Vyana), it causes hot sensation,
fatigue, jerking or spasmodic movements, paralysis, bodyache and headache.
8. If vital mucus (Kapha) interferes with circulatory air (Vyana), it causes heaviness of
the body, joint pain, and sluggishness within the organs.
9. If vital bile (Pitta) interferes with the excretory air (Apana), it causes dark yellow
urine and stool, hot sensation in the penis and anus, and menorrhagia.
10. If vital mucus (Kapha) interferes with the excretory air (Apana), it causes colitis and
some types of urinary disease with mucus.

Vata in the Sense of Aggravating Agent

The nervous system can become overactive as over-balanced

by Vata aggravating agents. These are primarily substances or behaviors that have or increase
the physical properties, found in the air formula.
1. Excessive or daily use of any of food or drug that is bitter, pungent or astringent in
taste, alone or in combination.
2. Hemorrhage or loss of blood.
3. Fasting, irregular meal times or too little amount of food.
4. Mental anxiety, distress or excessive thinking.
5. Heavy exercise or excessive labor.
6. Sleeping or sitting for a long time in cramped or otherwise bad positions.
7. Withholding the urges of stood, urine, gas etc.
8. Travel in vehicles that cause constant vibration of the body, or exposure to strong
vibrations.
9. Misuse of laxatives (page 143), enema and emetic drugs (page 145).
10. Improper practice of Yoga or exercise using unnatural body positions.
11. Over indulgence in sex.
12. Trauma of any sort.
13. Excess cold, such as cold weather or living in a cold climate.
14. Excessive use of cold foods, or behaviors that have a cooling (constrictory) effect in
the capillaries.
15. The effect of the rainy season or excess humidity.
These Vata aggravating agents cause over-activity of the nervous system that in general
manifests as neuralgia symptoms. Ayurveda presents them as fundamental causes of diseases
associated with the nervous system (Vata).

Vata in the Sense of Diagnosis

Ayurveda has classified almost all diseases within the

categories of Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Vata-Pitta, Vata-Kapha, Pitta-Kapha and Vata-Pitta-Kapha.
For proper diagnosis of a Vata disease, there are certain tests that have to be carried out one
by one to determine a final decision. For example, colic pain, strong pain, or unbearable pain
is a positive sign that a disease is caused by Vata.

1. Touch Test. If a painful area becomes less painful from gentle pressure, this is
positive for Vata causation.
2. Color Test. Presence of blue, black or pink/pale color in the affected tissue area, the
complexion, or the stool, urine, nail etc. is positive for Vata causation.
3. Colon activity test. If the symptoms of a disease become worse when the colon is
active during digestion of food (6-8 hours after food intake), it is positive for Vata
causation.
4. Time Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen in the evening and/or dawn, it is
positive.
5. Pulse Test. If the pulse is crawling (moving weakly and slowly), it is positive.
6. Seasonal Test. If the symptoms of disease are worse in the rainy season and/or winter,
it is positive.
7. Tastes Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen with the daily or excessive use of food
or drugs or herbs that are either bitter or pungent or astringent (or combinations of
them), it is positive. Feeling an astringent taste in the mouth is also positive for Vata
causation.
8. Climate Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen in the humidity or in an alpine
climate, it is positive for Vata causation.
9. Constrictory Test. If the symptoms of disease worsen while using foods, herbs or
drugs that have a constrictory effect, it is positive.
10. Nature Test. If the symptoms of a disease are worse in nervous thin people (Vata
Prakriti) it is positive.

11. Test of Mind. If the symptoms of disease become worse during anxiety, mental
distress, excessive thinking or fear, it is positive.
12. Skin Test. If the affected area is dry, it is positive for Vata causation.
13. Swelling Test. If the affected area is swollen with gas, like a balloon, it is positive.
14. Fever Test. If the temperature goes up and down sporadically or for no apparent
reason, it is positive for Vata causation.
15. Preference Test. If the patient prefers warmth, it is positive for Vata causation.

Vata in the Sense of Treatment

The fundamental theory of treatment concerning the nerve

diseases or the condition of diseases that are classified within the character of Vata is based
upon restoring balance to the over-balanced nervous system and the over-balanced physical
properties of the air formula. The colon in general, contains gas that normally is excreted
during peristaltic motion, and which should not be putrefactive. Excess gas within the colon
and especially putrefactive gas aggravates the nervous system. This is because the physical
properties of the air formula are similar to the physical properties of gas.
Cleansing the Colon
Ayurveda therefore emphasizes that to restore the balance of the nervous system in any part
of the body, it is essential first of all to cleanse the colon with a medicated enema. Ayurvedic
medicated enemas contain milk and/or oil mixed with a decoction of medicinal plants that
have physical properties that counteract against the physical properties of the air formula.
Ayurvedic physicians discovered and recorded that, in addition to all other treatments,
medicated enemas that cleanse the colon are very effective in reducing the aggravation to the
Vata substance by the toxic or excess gasses that exists when there is an over-balance of the
nervous system.
The application of medical enema is no doubt effective for cleaning the colon. But, to make
the treatment more efficacious and to avoid side effects from the enema, it should be applied
after a short period of intake of greasy foods, and along with a hot steambath. The reasons
for this are related to the basic Ayurvedic theories about physical properties. Stimulating
evacuation can cause more air to accumulate in the colon, or cause the colon to become
overactive and dry. This in turn can be the cause of other problems such as the diseases of
the heart. To avoid these problems, application of greasy foods is prescribed before taking an
enema. That is, the effect of intake of greasy foods such as oil, ghee, butter or fat is to
counteract dryness. The same principle is applied when the nasal passages are cleaned with

salt water, using a Neti pot. After cleaning, medicated oils are inhaled into the nose to restore
balance and to moisturize after cleaning.
Steambath
The main purpose of taking a steambath is to stimulate perspiration and increase the
circulation of blood. In general, when the skin is being stimulated by heat, air qualities are
reduced in the body by the effect of the heat. In this sense, applications of greasy foods and
use of hot steambaths both cause less air accumulation in the body during evacuation by
enema, and the colon gets less chance to accumulate excess air and thereby aggravate the
nervous system. The applications of grease, steam bath and medicated enema are very
important for a comprehensive treatment of nerve diseases or diseases classified within the
character of Vata.
Tastes which Benefit Vata

Sweet, sour, and salty tasting foods, herbs or drugs are

generally nourishing and stimulating to the activity of the artery system. A well-nourished
and stimulated artery system counteracts the over-function of the nervous system because the
sweet, sour and salty tastes are counteractive to the bitter, pungent and astringent tastes that
aggravate the function of the nervous system. Therefore, foods, herbs or drugs that are either
sweet or sour or salty (or some combination of them) are prescribed as medicines to restore
the balance of the nervous system. For the sweet sour and salty tastes to be effective in
restoring balance to the nervous system, they must be greasy and heavy in their physical
properties. Otherwise, they cannot restore the balance. This is a basic rule of Ayurvedic
pharmacology.
Herbs that are pungent and/or bitter, if also aromatic, cause a heating or dilatory effect.
Aromatic drugs are considered carminatives (page 145), because the heat generated from
them expands and forces out gas accumulated in the colon. In this sense, carminative drugs
or spices play a major role as an important tool that is prescribed to restore the balance of the
nervous system.
Oil or oily drugs, no matter what their taste, also have medicinal value to restore balance to
the nervous system. This is because the physical properties of healthy grease or oil etc. are
counteractive to dryness that is one of the most important and powerful physical properties of
air or Vata.
Herbs and Formulas to Treat Vata
Some common herbs used to treat Vata are:
1. Ashwagandha root (Convolvulus arvensis)
2. Gokshura fruit (Tribulus terrestris)

3. Shatavari root (asparagus / Asparagus racemosus)

4. Vacha rhizome (acorus / Acorus calamus)
5. Bilwa fruit (Aegle marmelos)
6. Nagaram rhizome (Indian cyperus / Cyperus pertenuis)
7. Vidari tuber (Ipomea paniculata)
8. Atasi oil (flaxseed / Linum usitatissimum)
9. Amalaki fruit (Indian gooseberry / amla / Emblica officinalis)
10. Rasna shrub (Vanda roxburghii)
In fact, any non-poisonous plant that is either sweet, sour or salty in taste, and dilatory in
action, or greasy and heavy in property will have general medicinal value to subdue overbalance in the nervous system as well as to restore balance to a weakened nervous system.
In the same way, standard Ayurvedic formulas that contain the tastes and physical properties
that strengthen Vata can be used as nerve restoratives. One example is the pill called Maha
Yogaraja Guggulu found in the classic text. Similar to Maha Yogaraja Guggulu pills but
without the minerals is called Yogaraja Guggulu. The standard dose for this remedy is 1-2
grams twice daily. Other nerve restoratives are found on page Error! Bookmark not defined..
The medicated oil calledNarayana tailam is very useful for Vata disorders.
Breathing and Medicated Snuff
The health of the nervous system also depends on proper breathing. Healthy air is sweet in
taste and without smell. Therefore breathing exercises (Pranayama), when properly done,
have value to restore balance to the nervous system.
The nose is a passageway to clean the head area. In some cases of head diseases classified in
the character of Vata, such as paralysis, use of a nasal snuff made from carminative drugs
(page 145) is prescribed. The medicated snuff causes dilatation of the capillaries of the nose
and the strong sensation results in sneezing, initiating a process of nasal cleaning.
Following the logic in this background discussion about Ayurvedic principles, it should be
clear that Vata in the sense of general treatment includes:
1. Applications of grease
2. Steambathing
3. Use of enemas
4. Intake of sweet, sour and salty tasting herbs and foods
5. Breathing exercises

6. Use of aromatic herbs

7. Use of oil or oily herbs, and
8. Use of medicated snuff.