Consultations are held at Elephant Pharmacy at 1607 Shattuck Avenue at Cedar (7 blocks north of University Avenue) - 8 blocks walk from the Downtown Berkeley Shattuck BART station), Berkeley, California 94709

Director: Michael Reid Kreuzer, D.Ayur, M.A.H.   (1) 510-292-6696  Call to Book Appointment
www.Ayurveda-Berkeley.com     Please CALL US, no e-mail available.

Indian Ayurveda Medicine in San Francisco Bay Area - A Windy Place with Vata Disturbance

Balancing Vata Dosha: The Ayurvedic Concept of Quelling the Wind

AVOID the CAPITALIZED by DOING the following to help balance Vata

DRY — avoid or reduce raw foods, dry climates, alcohol, eat oily foods — cook with oil, add ghee to breads not toasted, add oil to salads, etc; daily oil massage makes the skin softer and helps strengthen yet soften it — sesame is antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antineoplastic (colon cancer and melanoma); oil in other orifices is also a good idea for similar reasons; most soaps/determents are drying / harsh to skin — use soaps (not detergents) such as castile soap; essential fatty acids are important for the maintenance of the cell membrane’s liquidity, flexibility

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LIGHT — avoid windy areas/weather, high altitudes; light foods should be reduced (they lack oiliness or protein-like components); substitute heavy bedding / clothing for light bedding / clothing — heavy things help ground Vata; alcohol is light and should be avoided; the color green is good for reducing Vata (green is nourishing and probably heavy in this context), while black is to be avoided; day sleep may be an important behavioral modification for those struggling with light body weight; at times sleep in the night will be light for this group of people, in which case herbal strategies might include nutmeg, valerian, skullcap, etc.

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COLD — avoid situations which promote, provoke, increase or otherwise bring your attention to depression, attachment, worry, fear, anxiety, hopelessness, insecurity, helplessness; avoid cold food, drink & weather / air conditioning, cold dairy, sweets, yogurt (and especially in evening), aged cheeses, cucumbers; to promote and increase digestive function affected by this attribute eat pungent foods and spices such as chilies, black pepper, ginger, cayenne, cumin, ajvain, hing (asafetida), mustard seeds, drink copper water (water stored overnight in pure copper container); favor hot / moist saunas, hot, moist living climates; meditate daily to stimulate mental fire, use mustard oil in cooking or externally for its heating property (when oil is not contraindicated); wear warm clothing, scarves, hats, to prevent chilling in cool, windy weather, etc.; despite the above advice to walk barefoot for grounding avoid walking on cold surfaces

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ROUGH — avoid eating raw foods, which are rough in their nature; rough surfaces irritate Vata sensibilities; many cleansers are rough to skin so avoid them by using gloves, etc.; the feature is implied in uneven sleeping surfaces — avoid them; avoid experiencing sentiments that are harsh, cruel, crass, rough

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SUBTLE — those sensory, mental, emotional experiences which are strong and create impressions on the person should be avoided; alcohol is subtle and should be minimized/avoided; stimulants generally should be avoided

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MOBILE / ERRATIC — avoid excessive physical or mental activity; avoid physical activity that is stop-and-go in its quality; avoid vigorous physical activity during the Vata time 2-6 PM; daily routine should be regular to help control this Vata quality; grounding activities help slow down Vata — walking on the earth in bare feet or working in the soil (gardening) with bare hands; gazing at the mountains helps ground Vata movement; creating bonds with groups and things helps build roots — e.g. owning pets and joining affinity or support groups; swaying, swinging, agitated movements of limbs is a sign of deficient/defective rest, which suggests that one should stop the nervous motion and expand and improve the quantity/quality of rest

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CLEAR — clear quality accompanies light and rough things or foods, especially air, alcohol and such; one should reduce exposure to these; take more oily/heavy food (cloudy foods are opposite to clear — these include milk products); viewing colored materials — colored light, colors in nature, etc. in the green, red, orange, and yellow spectra helps balance this feature of Vata (while other colors are strictly speaking opposite to clear these are not balancing to Vata); alcohol is clear and should be avoided

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BITTER — bitter taste in the mouth is indication of high Vata; avoid or reduce bitter tasting foods such as mustard, collard greens, etc.; bitterness in emotions produces separation / isolation--situations which provoke it should be avoided; isolation in life also leads to increased bitterness and suggest a balance of social interaction for a healthy/happy life

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ASTRINGENT — avoid or reduce astringent foods as they are drying — these include mainly beans, but also apples, pears, pomegranates, etc.; wind is drying unless especially humid and should be reduced;

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RAJAS — this feature of the mind, common to Vata, promotes the active / dynamic aspects of life, addictive behavior, self-centered behavior — these features should be avoided as much as possible

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The Big Picture of Soothing Vata
 

1. Remove the causes of the imbalance by direct behavioral avoidance; give particular attention to the attributes of the imbalance as detailed above
    
2. Remove excess Vata by elimination therapies — pancha karma
      • Do therapeutic enemas as indicated
      • Do nasal administrations as indicated
      • Do heating, oleating, nourishing therapies as indicated
    
3. Balance Vata
      • Avoid its attributes in food, emotions, thinking, lifestyle
      • control metabolism and the nervous system with dietary, lifestyle, and activity changes to promote groundedness, heaviness, and oiliness
    
4. Balance / strengthen digestion
      • Increase fire component in food, lifestyle
      • Increase sour and salty foods in diet especially when cold is problematic to the imbalance
    
5. Eliminate tissue toxicity —
      • Herbal and dietary strategies that help eliminate heavy metals, petro-chemicals etc.
      • Avoid suppression of urges
    
6. Rejuvenation of tissues with herbals and behavioral programs as indicated
   
    

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© Copyright 2001 Michael S. Dick All Rights Reserved.
Under License from Michael Dick for use only by Michael Reid Kreuzer's personal clients.

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Doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) - The Three Constitutions of an Individual:

These three doshas are formed from the combination of two elements. The panchamahabhuta (five elements) Ayurveda discusses are ether, air, fire, water and earth. Vata is formed from the combination of ether and air, pitta from fire and water, and kapha from water and earth. The five elements govern the physical structure of the body, while the three doshas govern the functional aspect of the body. 

Vata is responsible for all movement, the physical movement of body parts, mental movement of the mind in the form of thoughts, feelings and emotions, and the process of respiration. Pitta is responsible for digestion, absorption and assimilation of nutrients. It also digests thoughts and feelings and transforms them into understanding, comprehension and perception. Kapha functions to provide the body with structure, stability, support and strength. It aids in the retention of memory, lubrication of joints, and repair of body parts. 

Each of these doshas has its home site in the gastrointestinal tract: vata in the colon, pitta in the small intestine and kapha in the stomach. In addition, vata is located in the pelvic cavity, bones, skin, ears, and thighs. Pitta is also found in the stomach, sweat glands, blood, skin, and eyes. Kapha also resides in the chest, lungs, joints, and spinal fluid.

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Vikruti - Imbalance in the Body: 

When these doshas go out of balance, then imbalance results. Vikruti is the present altered state of the dosha which must be addressed. The purpose of all Ayurvedic treatment is to balance one’s prakruti and vikruti so the doshas are in harmony. Five factors that cause aggravation are: diet, lifestyle, emotions, exercise (including too much, too little, or the wrong kind), and external influences of the seasons, weather, or trauma. However, diet is the principal cause of disease, and therefore, one of the primary methods of treatment.

Deranged vata can result in hyperactivity, restlessness, anxiety, insecurity, fear, doubt, nervousness, insomnia, spaciness, dizziness or ungroundeness. Physical manifestations are constipation, bloating, abdominal distension, gases, dehydration and emaciation, to name a few.

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Links to Ayurvedic Web Sites:

The Ayurvedic Institute:  
http://www.ayurveda.com

11311 Menaul NE, Albuquerque NM 87112 USA. Ph: 505-291-9698
Directed by Dr. Vasant Lad, renowned Ayurvedic teacher and author (Ayurveda, the Science of Self-Healing etc.).
Courses, seminars, India programs, books, products, treatment, excellent overall resource center.  The most complete Ayurveda program in the USA.

 

National Association of Ayurvedic Medicine:  
http://www.ayurveda-nama.org

Excellent national organization on Ayurveda for practitioners and for licensing issues with strong membership on the West Coast. Acknowledged by the Ayurvedic Institute (Dr. Vasant Lad), the Medicine Buddha Healing Center and the Medicine Buddha Healing Center. Pioneering Ayurvedic educational principles and Ayurvedic standards.

California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine (CAAM)
http://www.ayurveda-caam.org

Ground-breaking state-wide organization in California focused on supporting Ayurvedic practitioners and lobbying for licensing in California for Ayurveda. Acknowledged by the Ayurvedic Institute (Dr. Vasant Lad) the Medicine Buddha Healing Center and the Medicine Buddha Healing Center.  Spear-heading Ayurvedic certification / licensing, ethical principles and education standards.

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