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Dosha Guides

A Plain Guide to Vāta

Vāta is air and ether — movement, breath, nervous system. Light, dry, cold, mobile. Warmth, oil and rhythm are the antidotes.

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The three doṣhas — air, fire and earth
The three doṣhas — air, fire and earth

What Ayurveda says

Vāta governs all movement — breath, blood flow, nerve impulses, elimination, thought. Balanced Vāta is creative, light, expressive. Unbalanced Vāta is anxious, dry, cold, irregular.

Possible dosha pattern

Cold hands and feet, irregular hunger and stools, broken sleep, anxiety, dryness in skin and joints, difficulty finishing what they start.

Foods to favour

  • ·Warm cooked food with ghee or sesame oil
  • ·Soups, stews, kichari, root vegetables
  • ·Soaked almonds, dates, warm milk

Foods to reduce

  • ·Cold raw salads, iced drinks
  • ·Dry crackers, popcorn, leftovers
  • ·Caffeine and intermittent fasting

Daily routine

  • ·Same wake and sleep time daily
  • ·Abhyanga with warm sesame oil
  • ·Slow grounding exercise — yoga, walking, swimming

Herbs (with cautions)

  • AshwagandhaFull guide →

    Daily Vāta rasayana

    Caution: Avoid in pregnancy and Pitta heat

  • TriphalaFull guide →

    Gentle nightly bowel support

    Caution: Avoid in pregnancy and diarrhoea

When to see a doctor

Severe anxiety, chronic insomnia, unexplained weight loss, or persistent constipation — see a GP alongside Ayurvedic support.

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Important Medical & Legal Disclaimer · Information only

The information presented here is for educational and general wellbeing purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, prescription, treatment or a cure for any condition, and is not a substitute for conventional medical care.

Ayurvedic herbs and formulations contain potent substances that can interact with medications and may be unsafe for certain conditions. Always consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before use. Ayurveda is classified as a complementary therapy in the UK and complements, rather than replaces, conventional treatment. We do not operate as registered medical doctors. Stop immediately and seek care if any symptom worsens; in an emergency call 999 or NHS 111.