8/17/2018 The Different Aspects of Vata « Ayurveda in Nepal

Following these rules of Ayurvedic pharmacology, bitter, pungent and astringent tastes contain more Air
Element. Substances with these tastes generally strengthen the power of the air formula. Any matter that
strengthens the power of the air formula, is called Vatala, meaning “an agent that increases gas or air.” The
proper use of foods or medicines with bitter, pungent and astringent tastes causes balance of the Vata substance.
Excessive use of them results in Vata over-balances such as nervousness and shakiness.

The sweet sour and salty tastes in general are greasy. That means they contain more Water Element. The object
with more water is considered to be relatively heavier. In this sense, the sweet, sour and salty tastes are
counteractive to the bitter, pungent and astringent tastes. Therefore, the excess use of sweet, sour and salty taste
by nature of physical properties causes under-balance (weakness) or imbalance (irregularity) of the Vata
substance.

Vata in the Sense of the Nervous System

Ayurveda explains that the vital air is signified by touch because the presence
of air is realized in a being only by the action of touch. Touch causes the
sensations of hot and cold, pleasant or unpleasant, greasy or dry etc.
Sensations result in vibrations, the reaction of the being to sensations. These
vibratory reactions are a mobilization of the nervous system. In this sense, the
medical word Vata is used to refer to the function of the nervous system.
Diseases (rogas) caused by functional disorders of the nervous system are
called “Vata rogas” For example, the classical Vata disease called Paksavata is paralysis. Spasm and pain are
also Vata rogas.

The nervous system is one of the three major control systems along with the venous system and the arterial
system. These regulatory systems are connected with all organs and tissues of the body. They interrelate with
each other according to the rules for Vata, Pitta and Kapha. The function of the nervous system controls and
regulates the function of the artery system and the function of the artery system controls and regulates the
function of the nervous system. The functions of the nervous system and the artery system, when combined
(acting together) control and regulate the function of the vein system. Similarly, the function of the vein system
controls and regulates the functions of both the nervous system and the artery system.

For demonstration, the proper use of bitter or pungent or astringent tasting foods or drugs can be used to
stimulate the nervous system. The stimulated nervous system becomes more powerful to control and regulate
the function of the artery system. This power is indicative of a state of balance within the nervous system. The
excessive use of either bitter or pungent or astringent tasting foods or drugs results in the over-stimulation of the
nervous system. If this occurs, the nervous system itself begins to move out of control. This is considered to be
the state called over-balance of the nervous system.

The excessive use of sweet, sour and salty tasting foods or drugs (that are counteractive to the tastes of bitter,
pungent and astringent) cause weakness in the functioning of the nervous system. The weakened or irregular
function of the nervous system is defined as under-balance of the nervous system. This occurs because the
bitter, pungent and astringent tastes contain more Air Element (the physical properties of the air formula) and the
sweet, sour and salty tastes contain more Water Element. Following these demonstrations, it is clear that the
function of the nervous system is linked to the function of the Vata substance.

Vata in the Sense of Health

Health, in the definition of Ayurveda, means the balance of the three regulatory bodily substances (Vata, Pitta or
Kapha) or the three congruent body regulatory systems, the nervous system, the venous system and the arterial
system. To maintain health, the five elements–earth, water, fire, air and space–must be in proportionate amounts
and be working together to keep balance in the physical construction of the body. The Vata substance represents
the element air, identified by its physical properties found in the air formula. The main function of the Vata or
air is to mobilize the sources of energy and the energy itself.
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