Vegas, The Natural Urges

Ayurveda mentioned 13 spontaneous flows, known as Vegas, or the body’s natural urges. The moving force of Vata dosha causes these impulses, and regular repression of any of these urges may lead to imbalances and diseases.
Vegas are physical manifestations of air coming out of the body, and they are also described as Adharaniya, or impulses that can’t be held back easily. Each of them spontaneously emanates from the body and is considered part of the body’s metabolism, and a Mala (waste product) that needs to be removed from the body. Without proper release of these flows, toxins accumulate. The thirteen Vegas are urination, vomiting, yawning, tears, bowel movement, sneezing, hunger, sleep, sexual release or ejaculation, belching, thirst, panting, and passing gas.

The natural flows of the body are usually initiated by Apana Vayu, the downward flow of the body through the pelvis, and Udana Vayu, the upward flow from the body through the throat. Resisting or forcefully creating an artificial urge will aggravate Vata dosha. Therefore, it is important to follow the body’s signals and not to ignore or interrupt its natural functions.

Vegas are controlled by the nervous system and the subtle impulses of the brain. These signals alert the brain that some reflex movement is required to detoxify the tissues or release stress. For example, sneezing is the result of the receptors in the nasal cavity, sinuses, and throat signaling chemicals in the brain to contract the facial muscles, depress the tongue, contract the diaphragm, and open the nostrils to force a sneeze through the nose and mouth to rid the air passage of an irritant, whether it’s pollen, black pepper, or poison. Suppressing the sneeze builds pressure in the closed mouth and nose and traps these particles back into the passageway. Over time, these toxic particles accumulate in the cavity’s lining and create inflammation. The body integrates several synchronized muscles and hormonal movements when an urge emerges, and constant suppression will interrupt these automatically orchestrated responses over time.

Ayurveda warns that diseases will manifest if these urges are habitually suppressed or forcefully induced over a long period. Suppressing the urge to defecate will lead to constipation and colon cancer, delaying the need to urinate causes UTIs and abdominal pain, holding in gas may cause severe pain and gut complications, avoiding sleep, thirst, or hunger cues may lead to death, and suppressing tears from coming out can cause mental-emotional disturbances. Abusing laxatives, inducing vomiting after meals, or over-ejaculation are as harmful and disruptive to the body.

Ayurveda suggests optimal times for some of the Vegas, and aligning with these indicates good health. Early morning is the time for emptying the bowels and bladder because toxins and wastes have accumulated overnight and must be evacuated before reintroducing food. The time between 8–10 am is the optimal time to start feeling hungry for a small breakfast, and 11:30 am–1:30 pm is the ideal time frame for feeling hungry for lunch. If we allow the body’s flows to happen when they happen, healthy bodies will indeed feel urges at these times of the day. When the body is not in a state of health, the urge to empty the bowels will arise at random times of day, or may not come at all!. The same applies to sleeping, waking, and eating. An irregular sleep schedule interrupts the secretion of hormones, and constant grazing and eating at random hours throughout the day also creates imbalances. Though it may not be convenient for our schedule, these should not be ignored! Ayurveda treats these disorders by encouraging following a predictable routine to help bring Vata back to balance. Sleeping and waking at the same time every day, eating at similar hours every day, and incorporating herbs and different supportive practices will reorient the internal systems and bodily flows.