In early 2025, there was a publication online by Stanford Medicine explaining how gut health is linked to overall brain functionality. Stanford Medicine called the gut a second brain, as the gut also has neurons.

In December 2025, ScienceDirect added that bacteria Bacillus (like Lactobacillus in yogurt and fermented food) in our diet is not only connected to gut health—it also improves brain functionality by improving gut health.

In other words, how our gut health controls our brain’s efficiency.

It perfectly matches with the principle of Ayurveda—doshas and how their imbalance affects our overall health.  Dosha describes what you have in your body—a large intestine that reaches your gut eventually.

I heard this term in my childhood from a rural Vaidya who was living next door: “Oh, that person has ‘Vichar-Vayu’; do this, this, and this—he will be alright.”

I always wondered what that ‘Vichar-Vayu’ meant.

After studying ‘Charak Samhita,’ I understood the term and meaning of. “Vichar” means “thought,” and “Vayu” means “air.” Vichar-Vayu means mental disturbance caused by Vata imbalance.

Yes, Vata dosha is the main culprit behind all brain problems—mainly any issues caused by vagus nerve malfunctioning. Other than that, Vata imbalance also causes gut-related issues.

I would say another link between gut health and brain health is Vata dosha.

How Vata dominance happens

👉 The first source is inherited dosha (& imbalance) from parents -that is your prakriti. If either of your parents had Vata dominance, you get it.

👉 In this high-tech time, people are choosing easy food over healthy food more often. No one has the time & skill to cook.

👉 Hence, the other most common causes of all dosha imbalances are junk food, overeating, and an inactive lifestyle.

👉 Periodic stress can cause it too.

👉 Diet -any healthy dish that is prone to Vata dominance can cause it (like dry beans).

👉 Skipping (even healthy) fat in the diet entirely—fat calms Vata.

👉 Fasting or eating in irregular intervals may cause Vata dominance.

What Vata Imbalance Typically Leads To

Vata governs movement, nervous system activity, circulation, breathing, and mental flow.

When it goes out of balance, the effects usually show up in broad areas. I will start with two main categories related to the article above.

Mind Symptoms

• Daydreaming or overthinking overpowers reality (Vichar-Vayu)
• Short-term memory problems
• Difficult to focus
• Feeling lightheaded
• Vertigo (unexplained)
• Mood swings
• Lack of patience – restlessness
• Light sleep or broken sleep
• Vision problems (unexplained)
• Prone to anxiety
• Dry or itchy eyes
• Eye twitching or eyelid drop
• Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

Gut & digestive symptoms

• Hiccups
• Excessive burping – bloating
• Constipation—diarrhea or bowel problem
• Irregular appetite and so energy
• Digestion issues

Skin & Hair

• Dry skin and dry hair
• Cracked heels
• Brittle nails
• Chapped lips

Circulation & Movement symptoms

• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Poor peripheral circulation
• Cold hands and feet
• Tingling in hands and feet
• Stiff joints – Stiff neck or stiff back
• Muscle tightness

Emotional symptoms often get overlooked

• Feeling unsupported or alone
• Fear-based reactions
• Quick emotional shifts

Vata Imbalance—Caused Symptoms Overview

How to balance Vata

We show multiple symptoms of Vata imbalance; however, it may differ from person to person. Everyone has different Prakriti, and so every body reacts differently to certain imbalances.

Balancing Vata isn’t a one‑size‑fits‑all process.

Here are general methods that help calm Vata overall, but the specific way to bring Vata back into balance always depends on the root cause of the imbalance—whether it’s digestion, stress, sleep, travel, cold weather, or irregular routines.

Each cause needs its own approach, its own rhythm, and sometimes its own recipe or practice.

I’ll be sharing these one by one in upcoming posts so you can understand not just how to pacify Vata, but how to match the solution to the exact trigger behind your symptoms.

Eat regular meals:

👉 Vata gets aggravated in an empty stomach as well as overeating. That means small, healthy meals, as per your needs, are significant to balance Vata.

👉 Do not fast or stay hungry for longer, even if you start intermittent fasting; start with minimum hours at first and increase fasting window hours gradually.

Walk around:

👉 People with Vata imbalance may not have that energy to do HIIT or any extensive exercises. Go for a walk or add a few minutes more to your walking schedule.

👉 Do chores or just walk around in the house.

 👉 If you are doing desk work, get up in your breaks and walk around a few times a day.

Include healthy fats

👉 Fat pacifies Vata; include good fats in your diet like ghee, coconut oil, Avocado.

Drink more water

👉 Drink warm water, or room-temperature water at least. Do not drink cold drinks or drinks with ice; favor warm teas.

Limit beans and legumes:

👉 Use beans and legumes in the midday meal; avoid them at dinner to minimize the Vata.

👉 Add spices like black pepper or carom seeds while cooking dry beans or legumes.

Favor cooked vegetables:

👉 Use cooked vegetables more and raw vegetables less in your diet.

👉 Cook them with ghee or coconut butter for added benefit.

Eat warm oatmeal—**cooked well.

**Cook 1/2 cup instant oatmeal in 1 cup water with a pinch of salt & a pinch of black pepper, three dates finely chopped, and a few walnuts. Add half a teaspoon of ghee before eating.

Recent gut–brain research and Ayurveda are surprisingly aligned: both recognize that the gut and mind are deeply connected, and both show that when digestion becomes irregular, the nervous system follows.

Modern studies highlight how changes in the microbiome, stress, and digestive overload can disrupt gut–brain signaling.

Ayurveda describes the same pattern through Vata imbalance. The language is different, but the insight is the same

Vata Mobility

Even though Vata originates from the bottom half of our body, it affects the upper body more.  In general, air moves up, the same way air in the body moves up too. It feels like an ache in the stomach when it is trapped in the intestine between heavy food.

Based on the same principle, hiccups can be alleviated with this trick:

• Bend down from your west.
• Sip water slowly while in that position.
• Take 4–5 sips, wait 4–5 minutes, and stand up.
• Repeat these steps a few times if you are comfortable or until hiccups are gone.

Vata dominance is more common in older people. If you noticed, grandparents are expelling (via fart or burp) air after dinner. As they age, their frequency increases.

How can they minimize it?

Brioveda Tips:

👉 Walk 10–20 minutes before dinner.

👉 Eat a very light and cooked dinner.

👉 Eat very slowly; chew every bite well.

👉 Stay upright for at least an hour (ideally three hours) after eating.

If you want to verify whether you have Vata dominance or not, take this Dosha quiz.