Ayurvedic Herbs for Vata Dosha
Vata vata vata! Vata dosha is the dosha most likely and most easily to swing out of balance. If your prakriti is predominantly vata, you innately understand this tendency toward vata imbalance. Vata dosha, being comprised of ether (space) and air (wind), is mobile, light, cold, and dry. It is responsible for movement in the body, the flow of breath and blood, nerve impulses, and creativity. The primary site of vata is the colon, thus vata imbalance often shows up here. Balancing vata includes warming, grounding, and nourishing practices, food, and vata balancing herbs. It may also necessitate slowing down, getting adequate rest, and following a daily routine. For a more in-depth look at vata-balancing lifestyle approaches, check out our Balancing Vata guide.
Ayurvedic Herbs for Vata Dosha
From the Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia, some of the best balancing herbs for vata dosha treatment include: ashwagandha, ginger, kapikacchu, dashamula, cardamom, gokshura, brahmi/gotu kola, shankhapushpi, and haritaki. Say some of those names ten times fast! Our Healthy Vata formula combines many of these herbs into one convenient tablet to be used year-round for additional support or to bring a temporary imbalance back into equilibrium. Vata is aggravated by the astringent, bitter, and pungent tastes, so the herbs we bring to correct vata imbalance offer sweet, sour, and sometimes salty flavors. They also bring their warming and soothing qualities to balance the dry and cold of vata. Perhaps foremost in balancing vata is the use of oils both internally and externally. Healthy fats provide the unctuous quality missing in vata's dryness. Vata Massage Oil is a valuable way to provide both calm to the nervous system and moisture to the skin. The grounding practice of abhyanga, or self-massage, is a critical component in balancing vata dosha. And triphala and sat isabgol, psyllium husk, assist in regular elimination, which can often be compromised as the primary site of vata.
These are just some of the Ayurvedic herbs for vata dosha. If you are unsure of where to start, our Ayurvedic Profile™ quiz is a valuable resource, as is our Customer Service team. They are available to answer any questions you may have from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST Monday·Friday.