Vata provides the essential motion for all bodily processes and is extremely vital for health. Made up of the elements Air and Ether, vata is most prominent in autumn and at the change of the seasons. These are the most important times to be careful of diet and lifestyle. Because vata is characterized by energy and motion, daily routine is important because it helps vata types stabilize and ground all of this movement and energy.
People who are predominantly vata are blessed with quick minds, creativity and flexibility. Mentally, they generally grasp concepts quickly, but are just as quick to forget. Vata individuals are alert, restless and very active, tending to walk, talk and think fast. The result of this constant movement is that they also tend to fatigue quickly. Vata types tend to have less willpower, confidence, and tolerance for fluctuation than other types and often feel unstable and ungrounded. Out of balance, Vata produces fear, nervousness and anxiety. It may also manifest as pain, tremors or spasms. Vata individuals have variable appetite and digestion. They are often attracted to astringent foods like raw vegetables and salads, but their constitution is balanced by warm, cooked foods and sweet, sour and salty tastes.
The actions of Vata are drying, cooling, light, agitating, and moving. The primary seat or location of the Vata in the body is the colon. It also resides in the hips, thighs, ears, bones, large intestine, pelvic cavity, and skin. It is related to the touch sensation. If the body develops an excess of vata, it will accumulate in these areas. Common vata disorders include constipation, flatulence, tics, twitches, aching joints, dry skin and hair, nerve disorders, and mental confusion. Vata in the body tends to increase with age and is seen in the drying and wrinkling of the skin.
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