Topic of the Month: Tips for Vata Pains - 1

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All transportation and dynamic processes in human body depend on

Vata. From inhaling air, drinking water and eating food upto

exhalation and excreation process, all of them are driven mainly by

Vata. Without it, no human process can take place. Many a time

patients complain about continuous or intermittant body pain: full

day he has to pass with pain; he can bear the pain with a pain

killer; but as soon as pain killer effect warns out, the pain

reappears. The source of pain should get eliminated, how long he can

keep taking pain killers or anti-inflamatory drugs? The body needs

not medicines or regulated diet, but also exercise.

 

According to ayurveda principels Vata increases vigour, enthusiasm

when in balance. Inhaling-exhaling, the transport of nutrients to all

cells, sapt-dhatus all take place ideally; however, the unbalance of

Vata brings in disorder to all body parts equilibrium. Most of the

ailments, especially in old age, are caused by Vata unbalance. It is

said that 60% of patients visiting Vaidyas, belong to Vata disorders

and remaining ones are shared by Kapha and Pitta disorders. Most of

the painful disorders belong to Vata. Pains are not possible without

Vata, since Vata also carries signals of nervous system. Let us see

how Vata becomes out-of-balance. What is Vata; how many types in

manifests? What actions it drives in body.

 

Ayurvedic acharyas (teachers) give maximum importance to Vata amongst

tri-doshas. Regarded as super power giving longevity, strength,

nutrition for body building. With a balanced and stable vata

occupying its proper seats in the body promotes longevity and

healthy living. Vata is sub-divided in five types: head, ears, mouth,

tongue, nose are the seats of `Pran' vata. Spitting, sneezing,

belching, inhaling/exhaling, gulping food are the actions of `Pran'

Vata. Solar plexus area, chest and throat are the seats of `Udan'

vata. Voice, speech, enthusiasm, strength are the action fields

of `Udan' vata. The `saman' vata resides in the conduits in which

water, sweat and vitiated doshas (toxins) flow. It encourages

digestive `agni' by acting near navel. The `Vyan' vata is responsible

for dynamic actions of fast speed such as walking, movement of hands,

fingures, etc. fluttering and normal open/close action of eyelids,

and movements of Rasas and Rakta Dhatus produced as a result of

metabolism. The `Apana' vata controls reproductive organs, bladder,

hip joints, rectum, large and small intestines. It is responsible for

holding for right amount of time and expelling at correct time semen,

motion, menses, and foetus.

 

All or few of these sub-types of vata, if become vitiated, pains,

fear, flatulence, bloating, painful menses, waist pain, back pain etc

can result. Menses can turn dark, contain gas bubbles, and foul

smelling.

 

Vata equilibrium gets disturbed by loss of Dhatus. It is an accepted

opinion that vata takes the space created by loss of Dhatus. Excess

indulgence in sex and loss of semen can cause loss of Dhatus and thus

gives rise to angina pains, chest pain. Irregular food consisting of

sour, salty and hot spicy food disturbs the Vata equilibrium and the

blood balance also gets disturbed. This causes rheumatism, gaut

(Vatrakta in Sanskrit) situation. Ayurveda mentions 80 different

types of Vata diseases, 40 pitta diseases, and 20 Kapha diseases.

However, vitiated vata can only create pains in different parts of

body.

 

Amongst different reasons which disturb vata balance, the first is

dry food and sleeping late at night. In addition, light and cold

foods also disturb vata. Many fasts, excess sex, excess physical

labour, excess travel, reduced haemoglobin, worries, meloncholoy

feelings, restraining the natural actions of the body such as

visiting toilet, dining late at night, etc. Ancient ayurveda gurus

have given extensive reasons for disturbance of vata. Once you remove

the reasons for unbalance, vata will regain equilibrium slowly and

pains will reduce, and remaining cure will be obtained by medication.

A point to be noted here is that vata can not be balanced by

medication alone. One must control and reduce the reasons for vata

unbalance. In todays life, heavy difficult to digest pulses,

airconditioned offices, eating whatever you like when you attend

buffet parties are the generators of Vata dosha. The increase of

frequency Yoghurt, Coffee, Icecream vitiates vata.

 

The foundation of ayurveda is based on vata, kapha and pitta humours.

Any disturbance in their balance causes unhealthy conditions. To

understand these humours one needs `third' eye. We can

observe `pitta' coming out in vomit, but that micro level pitta which

causes digestion, causes warming up of the whole body cannot be

observed. Similar remarks apply for Kapha. When it comes out of mouth

during cold season, we can observe it, but shleshak kapha which

lubricates the joints and causing increase of `Satva' guna in the

mind can not be observed. We have to accept its existence in an

abstract way. Vata also is unobservable.

 

One who understands this tri-dosha theory of ayurveda, can easily

make diagnosis and give suitable medicine. He does not get

discouraged by new diseases yet undefined. Many diseases are really

caused by bad habits. Everyone should try to improve his habits and

clean the body of doshas, so that no disease can come near.

Frequently, small inconsequential habit pushes a man to chronic

diseases. One can remain healthy by observing simple health rules.

The life of Late Mahatama Gandhi is an example. One should eat

according to his constitution, season, place etc, so that food gets

easily digested. The digestion and metabolism gets disturbed by

sudden changes in food, eating incompatible foods, etc. and this

causes vata disturbance. Vata then disturbs the equilibrium at

different places in the body causing pain signals. The persons

getting admitted to ICU on account of angina pains are frequently

diagnosed to have only disturbed saman vata, and pains disappear with

slight massage on stomach area or massage of oil medicated with

asfoetida.

 

Several tips to see that vata does not get disturbed are being

offered here. First of all, keep bowels clean. Constipation causing

factors should be avoided, and an oil massage at least once a week

should be carried out. Head and ears hould receive adequate oil. In

Indian culture, oil is put in ears right from birth, at bath time.

Avoid frequent late night sleeping habit. The timing for work and

entertainment should be limited to reasonable time. Fresh and warm

nutritous food should be eaten. Cold and old (stale) food takes you

fast to oldage, wherin vata rules everything. Instead of eating heavy

meal once or twice a day, smaller quantity what one can digest should

be taken in each meal. Ajwain, black salt, asfoetida, etc spices

should be used which cause suppression of Vata unbalance. Additional

relief is obtained by light pressure oil massage by Mahanarayan Taila

at pain sites, use of several guggulams where joint pains are

involved, the quantity being determined by experienced practitioner.

 

One can also take according to his prakruti, twice a day:

Maharasnadi Quath, Dashmul quath, Punarnavadi quath each 10 gm, Dry

ginger powder 10 gm, 300 ml water. Mix everything and boil till 75 ml

remains. Strain, let cool and add 1 tsp of isbagol or harde or

licorice powder, or mixture of all three 1 tsp. Instead of these

three powders, sometime we recommend 1-2 tsp of castor oil when old

rheumatism exists.

 

The pain killers offer only temporary relief. But chronic disease

will get cured only by persistent, long time medication as indicated

here. Three to six months is the duration needed in most cases.