PHYSIO- PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL NATURE OF THE DOSHAS

Five Airs of Vata

The five sites or centres of operation and systemic outreach through which Vata casts its influence on the entire organism are called the five airs of Vata, namely: prana, udana, samana, apana and vyana

Air of Respiration: Prana

Prana means ‘life’ is the first air of the universe and of the body. Although located in the body between the diaphragm and throat, it not only pervades the region of the heart and chest, but also up into the face and brain. Prana aids in the chewing and swallowing of food and provides immediate nourishment to all vital tissues of the body. The system is constantly being rejuvenated through the natural rhythm of the breath’s inhalation, exhalation, and timely retention. The activity of the colon is attuned to the respiration’s rhythm; the main function of prana is extracting ‘prana’ i.e life from the digested food and diffusing it into all of the tissues in the body. When the colon is disturbed and unable to fulfil its natural ability to extract and diffuse prana, this unused prana becomes waste.

Prana facilitates all movement in and out of the body. It moves in the region of the heart, causing it to beat. It carries food through the oesophagus into the stomach. Prana sustains the heart, arteries, veins, senses, and our wisdom faculty, (buddhi). When prana cannot function properly our very life force is threatened. Respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and asthma result. Heart ailments and the impulse to vomit are also related to prana’s imbalance. 

Air of the Throat: Udana

Udana, the second air of Vata, which means “rising air,” flows upward from the umbilicus through the lung and into the throat and nose. Known as the air of ejection, it provides us with our vocal powers and clarity of sense perceptions. It also preserves our body’s natural forces, such as its strength of will and capacity for effort.

Udana has the supreme task of keeping track of the number of breaths we expend.

An equally supreme task is udana’s capacity to preserve memory, both experiential (memories gathered within a present lifetime) and cognitive (cumulative memories carried into all lives from the beginning of creation through all time). Impairment of udana can result in loss of memory, impaired speech, giddiness or heaviness in the head, deep-seated fears, and a shortened life span).

Air of the Stomach: Samana

Samana, the third air of Vata, is located between the diaphragm and navel. It aids the movement of food through the stomach and small intestines, fans the fires of digestion by stimulating the production of gastric juices and digestive enzymes and helps in the assimilation of nutrients extracted from our food. Samana is the moving force that transports these nutrients to the various tissue elements and discharges wastes into the colon. When the samana air is disturbed, it can cause mucus accumulation in the stomach called ‘ama’, indigestion, poor assimilation, and diarrhoea.

Air of the Colon: Apana

The fourth air of Vata, apana, is located in the colon and the organs of the pelvic region. Also known as the air of elimination, apana’s primary function is to relieve the body of feces, urine, flatus, semen, and menstrual waste. Its down ward pressure maintains position of the foetus and the flow of its eventual birth. Apana is the most dominant of the five airs, situated as it is in Vata’s primary location. Apana maintains the delayed nutrition of prana in the organism. When apana is impaired, diseases of the bladder, anus, testicles, uterus, menstrual problems and obstinate urinary diseases, including diabetes, prevail.

Air of Circulation: Vyana

Vyana is the fifth and final air of the Vata and is located in the heart. It diffuses the energy derived from food and breath throughout the entire organism including the skin. Circulatory in nature, Vyana functions in the body’s circulation channels, such as the blood vessels, to transport nutritive juices and blood throughout the body. Vyana also carries sweat from the glands to the skin and is the force behind bodily expressions such as yawning and blinking. When vyana malfunctions, there is dryness of the skin and other body extremities, poor circulation, and diseases such as fever.

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