ANTI-VATA

ANTI-PITTA

ANTI-KAPHA

IN GENERAL

Nurturing, warming, moistening, calming and grounding therapies. Should be done with patience, peace, consistency and regularity.

Cooling, calming, moderately cleansing and nurturing. Should be implemented with an attitude of peace, restraint and moderation.

Reducing, lightening, stimulating, drying and clearing therapies. Should be applied with

force, determination and detachment.

DIET

A nutritive, strengthening diet is indicated with predominantly sweet, sour and salty tastes. Food should be warm, heavy and moist and consumed frequently. Spices should be used in cooking to regulate digestion. Cold water or ice should be avoided, as well as stimulating beverages such as coffee, though a small amount of wine or alcohol may be taken with meals.

A balanced strengthening and reducing diet is indicated with mainly sweet, bitter and astringent tastes, along with adequate intake of raw food and juices. Food should be cool, heavy and a little dry, even in taste, without excessive spices. Water should be taken cool. Coffee and alcohol should be avoided, but tea may be consumed.

A reducing diet emphasizes pungent, bitter and astringent tastes. Food should be warm, light and dry, prepared with hot spices. Occasional fasting or skipping a meal is good. Avoid eating early in the morning or late at night. Cold water should be avoided. Herbal teas are good, and tea can be taken regularly.

HERBS

Digestion – spices and salts: rock salt, garlic, ginger, cumin, fennel, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon and Ajwan

Elimination – bulk and tonic laxatives like flaxseed, mild laxatives like Triphala

Energy – special anti-Vata tonics: garlic, Ashwagandha, Shatavari, Safed Musali

Mind – anti-Vata nervine herbs: Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Jaiphal

Digestion – digestive bitters like aloe. Mild spices like turmeric, fennel, coriander, cumin and mint

Elimination – bitter laxatives like aloe and rhubarb root in acute conditions, or psyllium husk powder for milder ones

Energy – calming and cooling tonics: Shatavari, Aloe Vera

Mind – cooling and calming herbs: Gotu kola, sandalwood, rose, lotus seeds

Digestion – hot spices: Pippali, Ginger, mustard, cloves, cinnamon, garlic for improving metabolism

Elimination – bitter laxatives like aloe and rhubarb root with spices like cayenne, basil or ginger

Energy – pungent or bitter tonics: garlic, cinnamon, saffron, ginger, Safed Musali, Guggul and Aloe Vera

Mind – stimulants and mind-clearing herbs: Gotu kola, basil, Guggul

OILS AND MASSAGE

Warm, heavy oils like sesame and almond to be applied on a regular basis. The best sites are the feet, the top of the head, the back and lower abdomen. Massage should be warm, moist, mild, nurturing, relaxing and not inducing pain or discomfort.

Best essential oils are warming, calming and clearing like sandalwood, camphor, wintergreen, cinnamon and musk. Also good for use as incense.

Cooling oils such as coconut or sunflower. Can be applied to the top of the head, forehead and heart.

Fragrances and flower essences are specific, such as sandalwood, henna, rose, lotus, jasmine, honeysuckle and iris. Can also be used in the form of incense.

Dry or strong massage is good, or massage with such light oils as mustard of flaxseed (linseed) oil. Rubbing alcohol or warm herbal oils prepared in alcohol, like wintergreen, camphor, eucalyptus and cinnamon are excellent. Use stimulating and cleansing fragrances and incenses like musk, camphor, cloves, cinnamon, cedar and myrhh.

COLOURS AND GEMS

Most colours are good especially bright colours like yellow, orange, white and a small amount of red. Dark colours, greys, browns and blacks should be avoided.

The right gemstones are stabilizing and grounding. Special gems for the nervous system are best – emerald, jade, and peridot set in gold or yellow sapphire and topaz. Rubies can be helpful in improving circulation and boosting energy.

The cooling colours white, blue and green are best. Any overly strong or bright colours should be avoided, particularly red.

Cooling gems such as moonstone, clear quartz, crystal, emerald, jade, blue sapphire and amethyst set in silver or white gold are indicated.

Use warm and bright colours like yellow, orange, gold and red. White should be avoided along with the pale shade of blue and green.

Warm gems are indicated: rubies, garnet and cat’s eye set in gold. Reducing gems such as blue sapphire and amethyst set in gold can be good, but should be combined with warmer stones.

YOGA

Calming and grounding asanas (postures) such as sitting and lying postures, as well as backbends and inverted poses done gently. Calm deep breathing practices are helpful. Calming and fear-dispelling mantras (healing sound) like “RAM, SHAM, HUM, HRIM, SHRIM” are specific.

Cooling and calming asanas such as most sitting, lying or shoulder-stand postures are recommended. The suggested mantra is “OM, SHAM, SOM, SHUM, SHRIM”.

Strong workouts are indicated with more active asanas, head-stands if possible, and stretching of the chest. Deep breathing exercises are also good. The best mantras like “AIM, HRIM, HUM, OM” are both stimulating and clearing.

MEDITATION

Raja yoga, which is an integral yoga combining knowledge, devotion and psychophysical techniques, is indicated. The right attitude for meditation involves giving up worry, fear, anxiety, negativity and lack of faith.

Yoga of knowledge or self-enquiry is generally appropriate, such as Vedanta, Zen or Vipassana, along with giving up anger, hostility and an overly argumentative and critical nature.

The yogas of devotion (bhakti) or service work (karma) are generally best. Renunciation of greed, desire, attachment and sentimentality is indicated for clearing the mind.

LIFESTYLE

Always get adequate sleep, and do not stay up till late. Practice moderate sunbathing and mild exercise. Avoid wind and cold, overwork and physical hardship. Avoid excess talking, thinking or travelling. Practice moderation in sex and reduce excess stimulation including television, movies and radio. Develop peace and take care of your body with diligence.

Too much sun and exposure to heat or heaters should be avoided. One should seek cooling breezes, cool water, moonlight, gardens, flowers and lakes.

Strong and aerobic exercise should be done with walking, running and outdoor activity. Sunbathing is good with exposure to warm and dry breezes, and avoidance of cold and damp environments. One should follow a disciplined life, working hard, not sleeping early at night, and avoiding sleeping during the day. Keep the mind stimulated with new thoughts, projects and information. Travel is excellent.