Overstimulated Mind, Stressed Body | The Nervous System and Modern Imbalance
We live in a culture of constant movement - endless thought, speech, and digital stimulation. We stay up late, skip meals, multitask, and call it productivity. Yet the body keeps score. The more we push, the more balance we lose.
In Ayurveda, this loss of rhythm reflects an imbalance of Vata dosha - the principle of air and ether that governs movement, communication, and flow in the body. In modern terms, it mirrors dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system: an overactivated stress response, disrupted vagal tone, and impaired digestive and hormonal rhythms. When movement in the mind becomes excessive, the body follows suit, and stability gives way to strain.
Vata governs all movement in the body: every nerve impulse, breath, and cycle of circulation. Its subtypes - Prana, Udana, Vyana, Samana, and Apana Vata - coordinate brain function, nerve transmission, digestion, and elimination. Among them, Prana Vata (centered in the head and chest) regulates the mind, sensory perception, and breath. Vyana Vata governs circulation and neural communication. Apana Vata, seated in the colon, regulates elimination and reproductive stability. When these forces are in balance, communication across the nervous system is steady and coherent. When disturbed by overstimulation, irregular routine, or emotional stress, that communication becomes erratic - manifesting as anxiety, insomnia, shallow breathing, or irregular digestion.
Ayurvedic texts describe this as Vata prakopa, or aggravation of movement. Charaka Samhita notes that when Vata becomes excessive, “the body trembles, the mind grows restless, and the organs of action lose coordination” (Sutrasthana 12).
Contemporary research mirrors this understanding. Chronic stress triggers overactivation of the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) and the sympathetic nervous system, reducing vagal tone—the body’s natural calming mechanism. Studies confirm that reduced vagal activity and increased sympathetic dominance are linked to irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, and anxiety disorders (Mayer EA et al., Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 2015). Another review found that chronic stress disrupts the gut microbiome, slows motility, and impairs absorption (Sundin J et al., Current Gastroenterology Reports, 2018). In Ayurveda’s language, excessive movement (chala guna) and dryness (ruksha guna) of Vata directly correspond to the physiological signs of sympathetic dominance and parasympathetic depletion - different vocabulary - same biology.
As Vata’s movement becomes erratic, its downward flow (Apana Vata) weakens. The colon, being hollow and naturally mobile, becomes the first site of disruption. What should be a smooth rhythm of elimination turns into irregularity, gas, bloating, or constipation. From a clinical lens, this same pattern reflects disrupted gut-brain signaling. The colon, rich in enteric neurons and vagal endings, responds immediately to stress and overthinking. When sympathetic tone rises, motility slows, the microbiome shifts, and inflammation follows. Ayurveda has consistently recognized this connection. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes balance between prana (upward-moving energy) and apana (downward-moving energy) as the foundation of steadiness in both body and mind (HYP, Ch. 2). When the mind loses rhythm, the gut follows.
The correction begins not with restriction, but with rhythm. The body does not heal through force - it heals through regulation. Ayurveda prescribes simple, measurable actions to restore Vata’s stability. Consistent sleep and meal times recalibrate the circadian and digestive cycles. Warm, cooked meals and adequate hydration counteract Vata’s dryness and lightness. Abhyanga, daily oil massage, nourishes the sensory and motor nerves and improves vagal tone. Slow, conscious breathing before meals resets parasympathetic dominance and improves motility. Reducing sensory overload - limiting constant input, multitasking, and digital exposure - allows the mind to recover from overstimulation. Even minor adjustments can re-establish predictability in the nervous system, reversing chronic sympathetic strain.
We often treat imbalance by adding more - more supplements, more therapies, more effort. But healing from Vata dysregulation begins by doing less, consistently. The nervous system, like the colon, depends on rhythm. Every meal, breath, and sleep cycle is an opportunity to reintroduce order where chaos has accumulated. When rhythm is restored, Prana and Apana synchronize, digestion steadies, sleep deepens, and the body’s intelligence re-emerges.
References
Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana, Ch. 12 (Prana, Vyana, and Apana Vata)
Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana, Ch. 12 (Daily rhythm and digestion)
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Ch. 2 (Balance of prana and apana)
Mayer EA et al., Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 2015
Sundin J et al., Current Gastroenterology Reports, 2018
Porges SW, Frontiers in Psychology, 2011 (Polyvagal Theory)
