VATA VYADHI (disorders due to Vata) AND ROLE OF NUTRITION IN MANAGEMENT

•  VATA

               Synonyms – vayu, anila, pavana, marutha, vishwakarma, vishwarupa

•  Root

              To move, to make known, effort, to enlighten

•  Types

              Lokavata, Sariravata

•  Lokavayu

             Governs the position, movement, orbits of Sun, Moon,
             constellations and planetary systems.

• Sariravayu

            The vata inside the body

QUALITIES OF VATA

• Ruksha
• Laghu
• Sita
• Khara
• Suksma
• Cala

LOCATIONS OF VATA

•  Lumbosacral (Main)
•  Thigh
•  Feet
•  Bone (Dhatu)
•  Ear and Skin (Sensory)
•  Brain
•  Lung
•  Heart
•  Kidney

 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

BALANCED

• Enthusiasm
• Alertness

 IMBALANCED

•  Dementia
•  Disturbed sleep
•  Delusion
•  Sorrow
•  Fear
•  Jealousy                     more...

 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

 BALANCED

•  Respiration
•  Pulsation
•  Perception
•  Initiation of natural urges
•  Movement

 IMBALANCED

•  Dark discolouration
•  Emaciation
•  Weight loss
•  Speech Language Problem
•  Tremor
•  Dislike toward cold
•  Desire for heat
•  Giddiness
•  Fatigue
•  Pain
•  Constipation
•  Cramps
•  Low energy and strength
•  Reduced sensory perception
•  Dislocation’
•  Fracture
•  Osteoporosis
•  Numbness
•  Stenosis
•  Hyper sensitivity 

DIVISIONS OF VATA AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

PRANA

• Located in brain, moves to respiratory tract and chest
• Functions – Cortical functions, intelligence, sensory perception, heart functioning, swallowing, respiration, bleching, expectoration, sneezin

UDANA

•  Located in the chest, moves to the throat, nose, lung and upper GT
•  Functions – Controls speech, memory, insight, courage, discrimination, alertnes

VYANA

• Located in heart, moves all over the body
• Functions – Cardiac functions, Yawning, opening and closing of eyelids, taste perception, tissue nourishment

SAMANA

• Located in the abdomen
• Functions – Digestion, Absorption, Assimilation of food, Seperation of undigested food material from useful nutrients.

APANA

• Located in lumbosacral region
• Functions – Reproduction, excretory activities, foetus expulsion

 CAUSES FOR VATA DERANGMENT

• DIET – bitter, punget, astringent food (chips, carbonated drinks, fast food, cold food and fasting)
• ACTIVITIES – over intelligence in physical activity, sexual act, suppression or willful initiation of natural urges, loud speech
• PSYCHOLOGICAL – fear, grief, anxiety
• SEASON – Summer

 AGGRAVATION (2 types)

• Dathukshaya – Occupying tissue channels caused by tissue depletion
• Avarana – causing increased activities in such channels and getting enveloped by other doshas
• Among them, Avarana is of acute onset due to channel (srotas) blockage associated with other doshas whereas dathukshaya is a degenerative phase involving only vata

VATA SEATED IN & DATHUS

• Rasa- Dry, rough, cracked skin
• Rakta – Poor circulation, blood clot, varicose vein, cold hands and feet
• Mamsa – Muscle spasm, tremor, wasting, cramps
• Medas – Lack of lubrication, joint dislocation, fat loss, spleen enlargement
• Asthi – Joint pain, osteoporosis, neuromuscular problems
• Sukra – Premature ejaculation, absence of sperms, anxiety, infertility

GENERAL TREATMENT OF VATA

• Snehana
• Svedana
• Snigdha mridu virechana
• Use of madhura, amla, lavana, rasa
• Hot therapies
• Poultices
• Enema
• Meat soups
• Digestive carminatives
• Avoid excessive sexual act and exertion

VATA VYADHI

• Disease solely caused by Vyadhi

 IMPORTANCE OF VATAVYADHI

• Maharoga
• Immense strength
• Fast spreading nature
• Difficult treatment procedure
• Demands special treatment
• May cause death

VATAVYADHI COMPRISES OF

1. Musculo skeletal ailments
2. Neurological Ailments
3. Psychological diseases

NEUROLOGICAL ASPECTS OF VATA

     Vata can be defined as a “Biophysical force closely associated with
     the materialsubstance forming part of the body structure”

Or

    Vata is like “the nervous phenomenon that is a chemical reaction sequence
    which occurs during the course of life processes”

NEURON

• Structural and functional unit of nervous system
• Grey in colour
• Grey matter of brain and spinal cord is exclusively made of neurons
• White matter made of fibers and processors
• Nerve fiber – 65 – 85% of water
• Composition – nucleo protein and fat like substances (snigdha, guru, madhura, manda, slaksna, mridhu)
• Nerve activity due to Rajas, Inertia by Tamas

SIMILARITY BETWEEN NERVE IMPULSE AND VATA

• Nature of nerve impulse not known, understood only by a change or excitation produced in nerve fiber,     i.e.: excitability and unstability
• Excitory process travels along nerve fiber and uts impact understood by the effect which follows – sensation, secretion and movements
• Implies nerve impulse is “Avyakta” but understood by “Vyakta karma”
• Nerve impulse has the potentiality for propagation and generation of impulse in itself, thus self originated (Swayambhu)

Like vata, nervous Phenomenon is also influenced by

• Structural Integrity
• Temperature
• Nutritional metabolic state
• Narcotics
• Mechanical pressure
• Fatigue
• Similarity in pain and touch perception
• Elucidates a close relation between five fold regional and functional divisions of vata and conventional divisions of NS into central, peripheral divisions including autonomous, cardiac and enteric plexus

MINERALS INVOLVED IN NERVOUS SYSTEM

• When a microelectrode is inserted in the interior of a nerve or cell body, there is a difference in electrical potential between this electrode and another, placed outside the cell.
• The negativity inside is due to K+ion concentration
• Fluid outside is rich in Na+ and Cl- ion.
• The nerve impulse is influenced by Mg, Co 

MINERALS IN THE HUMAN BODY

• 21 minerals are required
• Minerals – Macronutrients, Micronutrients

Macronutrients –
Present at level of 0.005% of body weight.    Ca, P, S, Na, Cl, Mg
Micronutrients –
Present at level <0.005% of body weight.  Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Mn, Sn, Si, F

MACRONUTRIENTS INFLUENCING NS

Ca, Na, K, Cl, Mg

• Calcium – present in the form of hydroxypetite Ca10 (PO4)6(OH)2 in the bone
• Required for nerve impulse and muscle contraction
• Source- dairy products, yoghurt, butter, milk, egg, cheese

• Sodium, Potasium, Chlorine – involved in muscle function and nerve impulse
• Source – meat, milk, banana, orange, spinach, peanuts

• Magnesium – Nerve impulse transmission
• Source – dairy products, leafy vegetables and cereals
• Deficiency leads to convulsions and tremor

MICRONUTRIENTS INFLUENCING NS

F, Vit B1, B12, B6, Vit A

• Fluorine – nerve impulse transmission, major role in bone and teeth development, prevents osteoporosis and fracture

• Vitamins – play vital role
• Easily destroyed by oxidation and heat, however acid medium helps in stability, so fruit juices are appreciated

• Thaimine – deficiency leads to Beriberi (poly neuritis), causes paralysis and peculiar gait
• Source – whole grain with bran, meat, cooked soya bean

• Vitamin B12 – contains cobalt, necessary for normal nervous function
• Source – meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese

• VitaminB6- Immunity and NS
• Source – meat, organ meat, beans and vegetables

• Vitamin A – growth and bone development
• Source- fish, codliver oil, carrot, egg, spinach, cheese, banana, beans, yoghurt

• Above mentioned macro and micro nutrients are essential for nerve impulse transmission, which is related to vata
• Source of these nutrients are more or less snigdha, guru, madhura (meat, vegetables, fruit juices, milk, cheese etc) which pacifies vata

PATHYA FOR VATAVYADHI

• Yava
• Kulatha
• Syamaka
• Kodhrava
• Raktasali
• Vastuka
• Sigru
• Varsahbhu
• Karavelaka
• Ardraka
• Taptaneeram
• Lashoonam
• Takram
• Jangalamamsa

SUGGESTED FRUIT JUICES

• For nourishment
• For cleansing the system
• Beetroot juice – 50% Na, 20% K, 8% Cl
• Furnishes general nourishment, cleans liver, kidney, gall bladder
• Combined with carrot juice furnishes phosphorus and sulphur
• Lettuce juice – 38% K, 15% Ca, 6% Mg, 9% P
• Combined with carrot juice provides Vitamin A and sodium
• Spinach juice – removes intestinal waste
• Excellent laxative due high oxalic content
• Tomato juice – Rich in Na, K, Mg, Ca

RECOMMENDED DIET PATTERN

Eliminate

• Refined food
• Roasted food
• Canned food
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Dried fruit

Emphasis

• Whole grains
• Fruit juices
• Vegetables
• Milk
• Meat
• Dairy products

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Ashtangahridaya
2. Ashtangasangraha
3. Ramana Geeta
4. Cakradattam
5. Introduction to Ayurveda
6. Caraka
7. Food and Nutrition
8. Raw juices for health