Ayurveda Pitta Vata
Being a vata-pitta type means that two doshas are predominant in your constitution. It is usually best to manage a dual dosha prakriti according to the season. In general as a vata-pitta, follow a vata-pacifying regimen during the fall and winter seasons, during the change of seasons and especially when the weather is cold and windy. Follow a pitta-pacifying regimen during the spring and summer and especially when the weather is warm. Read more about and below.
The Qualities of Vata
"Tatra ruksho laghu sheetah, khara sukshmaschalo nilah"
The qualities of Vata are dry, light, cool, rough, subtle and mobile.— Ashtanga Hrdayam: Sutrasthana I:11
This Sanskrit line lists the main qualities of vata and provides a key to understanding what it means to have a predominantly vata prakriti. The main qualities of vata are dry, light, cool, rough, subtle, and mobile. So, having a vata-predominant prakriti means that these qualities express themselves generously throughout your mental, emotional, and physical make up. If you look back over the prakriti test, you can get a feel for how these qualities manifest themselves. A vata-predominant individual's strengths and weaknesses both reflect these qualities.
- In excess, the dry and rough qualities may manifest themselves as dry or brittle skin, lips, hair, nails, or bones (e.g. osteoporosis), as constipation, or as feeling "dry" emotionally.
- The "light" quality may manifest itself as giving you a lanky physique but excess lightness may manifest as being underweight, having muscle wasting, light bones, insomnia, or feeling "spacey" or insecure.
- The cold quality of vata may lead you to feel cold more easily than others around you, have cold hands and feet, and crave warmth.
- The subtle quality may express itself as being introverted, creative, and having an active fantasy life.
- The mobile quality may lead to a healthy ability to "multi-task" or, in excess, to scattered attention, a fidgety tendency, tremors, and nervousness. It may manifest as extremes; as in being very tall or very short or being drastically different weights at different times in your life.
Like Increases Like
A basic tenet of Ayurveda is "like increases like." Therefore, increasing the inherent qualities of vata will increase vata in your body, mind, and spirit.
For example, because vata is inherently cool—cool weather, cool foods, the cool seasons and times of day, and even cool emotions can increase vata. Likewise, dry seasons, foods, environments, or emotions will increase the dry quality and thereby increase vata.
Example: You are a vata individual. One of the qualities of vata is dryness. You live in a dry climate, like a desert, and you regularly snack on dry crackers. This added dryness adds to the dry quality of vata, which you already have plenty of. This usually increases vata and can lead to dry conditions like constipation or dry skin. This is an extreme example to illustrate the point.
Tastes That Increase and Decrease Vata
Along with the main qualities of vata, it is also helpful to know those tastes that increase and decrease vata.
Nearly everywhere we look in nature, there are creatures engaging in some sort of consistent daily routine. The natural world at large is deeply influenced by the rhythms of nature – the rising and setting of the sun, the cycles of the seasons, and the underlying impulses directing the broader community of life.
Vata is balanced by a diet of freshly cooked, whole foods that are soft or mushy in texture, rich in protein and fat, seasoned with a variety of warming spices, and served warm or hot. These foods calm vata by lubricating and nourishing the tissues, preserving moisture, and maintaining warmth.
Pitta is balanced by a diet of fresh, whole foods (both cooked and raw) that are cooling, hearty, energizing, comparatively dry, and high in carbohydrates. These foods calm pitta by decreasing internal heat, preventing inflammation, balancing the digestive fire, grounding the body...
COPYRIGHT
The above information was written by Dr. Claudia Welch for the exclusive use of Banyan Botanicals. The information is protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without the written permission of Dr. Claudia Welch and Banyan Botanicals.
DISCLAIMER
The above Prakriti test and results are intended as a convenient tool to provide practical information on your Ayurvedic constitutional type. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. In addition, it should be noted that while this information should be considered highly useful it is not meant to replace the skilled constitutional analysis of a professionally trained Ayurvedic Physician.
