Vata season is in full effect here in Maryland, and as I write multicolored leaves are whizzing by my window on this particularly windy day. Vata dosha has the qualities of dry, cold, light, mobile, erratic, rough, bitter, astringent, and pungent. Have you ever noticed your skin beginning to dry out during the Autumn season? Or maybe you have noticed yourself becoming more flighty and unsettled? It is easy to see the connection between the Autumn season and Vata dosha, especially on windy days like today. The wind itself has very similar qualities: dry, cold, light, mobile, erratic, rough. What happens in our external environment can affect our internal environment, so in this case, using the principle of like increases like, the Autumn season can increase Vata dosha and accentuate all of its qualities. In order to stay balanced and healthy, Ayurveda uses opposite qualities to calm doshic qualities that have become overly abundant. Therefore, in order to balance the dry quality of Vata dosha, we use oil, to balance cold qualities we use hot qualities, and so on to include to Vata reducing qualities of heavy, stable, fluid, and smooth.
The Autumn selections of Liquid Ember balms and serums are designed to calm Vata dosha by incorporating ingredients with these balancing qualities. The sesame oil base, besides the obvious of being oily, is also a warmer oil than something like coconut; the essential oils in the scented versions are chosen for their grounding, anxiety reducing, and warming effects. What makes the Autumn balms and serums really special, though, are the Ayurvedic herbs Ashwagandha and Bala. Ashwagandha (Winter Cherry) is a deeply rejuvenative herb that is suited to the high Vata season of Autumn because of its ability to nurture the mind and body during erratic, stressful times. In particular it supports deep sleep, the hormonal system, and the healing of tissues. Bala (Indian Country Mallow) is soothing to the nerves and supports the heart. A very healing herb, Bala can also help to soften muscle spasms. Applying the Autumn balms and serums to the skin, feet, and scalp, help to bring the stabilizing and nurturing qualities of the ingredients into the body during a season that is most definitely beautiful, but also a bit unsettling. More lifestyle ideas on how to balance Vata during the Autumn season will follow!