Vata Dosha

Vata governs all movement in the mind and body. It controls the flow of blood, the elimination of waste products, the act of breathing and the movement of thoughts in the mind. It is considered the leader of the three doshas (energies or energetic principles in the body) as Pitta and Kapha cannot move or exist without it. It is therefore imperative that Vata is brought back into balance whenever it is disturbed.

You need to balance the movement of Vata if many of the following conditions are present:

• Your skin or hair is dry, rough and thin.

• You feel cold easily or have poor circulation with cold hands and feet.

• You are chronically underweight and find it difficult to gain weight.

• Your mind is constantly anxious, restless and agitated and you are prone to worry and fear.

• You experience constipation or have frequent flatulence.

• You suffer from insomnia or have unsettled sleep and disturbing dreams.

• You suffer from vaginal dryness or menstrual cramps and PMT.

• You have spells of forgetfulness and absent mindedness.

• You experience discomfort or stiffness in the joints or lower back pain.

• You easily become fatigued and have poor endurance.