Embracing Ayurveda: Seasonal Practices for Optimal Health
The core principle of Ayurveda is disease prevention through the maintenance of health. This can be achieved through a balanced diet and lifestyle that aligns with the changing seasons. Each season has distinct characteristics that influence both our bodies and the external environment.
Ayurveda provides specific guidelines on diet and lifestyle to help us adapt to seasonal variations, maintaining body homeostasis. This aspect of preventive medicine, emphasized in classical Ayurvedic texts, is crucial, especially in today’s world where epidemics and lifestyle disorders are prevalent. These guidelines are designed considering the impact of climate on human health.
According to Ayurveda, the year is divided into six seasons:
1. Shishira (Winter)
2. Vasanta (Spring)
3. Grishma (Summer)
4. Varsha (Monsoon)
5. Sharata (Autumn)
6. Hemanta (Late Autumn)
The first three seasons—Shishira, Vasanta, and Grishma—fall under Uttarayana, a period where body strength gradually depletes. The latter three—Varsha, Sharata, and Hemanta—fall under Dakshinayana, a period where body strength regains.
Uttarayana (Northward Movement of the Sun)
During Uttarayana, the sun and wind are powerful, causing dryness in the body and a decrease in strength. The environment promotes bitter (tikta), astringent (kashaya), and pungent (katu) tastes.
Dakshinayana (Southward Movement of the Sun)
In Dakshinayana, the wind is not as dry, and the earth cools due to clouds, rain, and cold winds. Sour (amla), salty (lavana), and sweet (madhura) tastes predominate, enhancing the strength of living beings.
Seasonal Regimens
Hemanta (Late Autumn)
• Consume fatty foods with sweet, sour, and salty tastes.
• Include masha, milk, and freshly harvested grains in the diet.
• Regular exercises, oil massage, and sudation are recommended.
• Use warm water for all purposes.
Shishira (Winter)
• Similar regimen to Hemanta due to decreased temperatures.
• Follow the same dietary and lifestyle practices.
Vasanta (Spring)
• Administer emetics, inhalations, mouth gargles, and nasal medications like Anutailam.
• Engage in exercise and oil massage.
• Consume honey, barley, wheat, meat soup, asava, arishta, and water mixed with honey.
• Avoid day-time sleeping to maintain digestion.
Grishma (Summer)
• The earth experiences rising temperatures; consume sweet and cold foods.
• Increase intake of liquids, including rice, milk, ghee, butter milk, grapes, and coconut water.
• Avoid pungent and sour tastes.
• Use water boiled with Shadanga kwatha churna and ayurvedic medicines like Nalpamaradi kerataila and Brahmarasayana.
Varsha (Monsoon)
• Strength is reduced; epidemics are common.
• Recommended foods include wheat, old rice, barley, and soup of pulses processed with ginger and oil.
• Use Arishtasavas and undergo panchakarma (purificatory procedures).
• Enhance digestion with Ashtachurna and butter milk, and use purgatives like Avipathi churnam.
• Perform Abhyanga with oils like Dhanwantarataila, Balaswagandhaditaila, and Kshirabalataila to prevent rheumatic ailments and improve strength.
• Boost immunity with Ayush kwatha churna, Chyavanaprasa, and Dashamularishta.
Sharata (Autumn)
• Ideal to take Tiktaka ghrita and purgatives to prevent pitha-predominant diseases.
• Food and drinks should be easily digestible, with recommended tastes being astringent, sweet, and bitter.
• Beneficial foods include Shashtika rice, wheat, barley, green gram, honey, patola, amalaka, draksha, and meat soup.
• Avoid sleeping during the day.
By aligning your personal care routine with the principles of Ayurveda and the changing seasons, you can maintain optimal health and prevent diseases.