Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda

THEAYURVEDAWAY Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda
Written and Edited by Dr Vikram Singh (Md, Ayur)
Founder of Ayurcare

Monsoon is a season of romance. The cool breeze and damp smell of the earth after a long roasting summer turn the mind ecstatic. Jumping in the puddles, dancing in the rain, going for a long drive etc add to the pleasure. However, it continues to remains so until an individual holds good health as rainy season brings a plethora of diseases along with. It has been observed that there is an increased occurrence of air and water-borne diseases in the rainy season.

Ayurveda lays emphasis on prevention of diseases rather than to cure them. Based on the analytical reasoning, Ayurveda recommends different regimens of diet and lifestyle for different seasons to ward off the imbalances in the body and thereby helps in boosting immunity and maintaining good health. This concept of following a specific diet and lifestyle modification in a specific season to prevent various diseases is described as Ritucharya.
Ritucharya is derived from two words –


1. Ritu (Season) and
2. Charya (Regimen or routine to be followed).


monsoon diet Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda

Monsoon season is categorized as Varsha Ritu in Ayurvedic texts. It ranges from the month of Shravana toBhadrapada (Mid July to Mid September) and denotes the onset of Visarga Kala or Dakshinayana or Southern Solstice. During this season, the sky is covered by clouds and rains occur without the thunderstorm. The ponds, rivers, etc are filled with water.

Ayurveda describes the aggravation of Vata and accumulation of Pitta in Varsha Ritu. Constant raining, moisture in the atmosphere and cold weather results in aggravation of Vata which was accumulated during the dry and dehydrating heat of the summer; while Pitta accumulates following the conducive acidic conditions of the atmosphere as the predominant Rasa is Amla (sour) and Prithvi and Agni are predominant Mahabhutas in the rainy season.

According to Ayurveda, Agni is responsible for the digestive & metabolic activities of the body. During monsoon, the digestive fire or Agni weakens, leaving digestive system most vulnerable to various ailments. Diet thus followed during this season should balance the vitiated doshas and stimulate Agni to perform proper digestion.

Monsoon is the time when body’s immunity drops, thus proper care should be taken to prevent possible illnesses like general debility, blood and skin related problems, pain and swelling of joints, ringworm, fever, malaria, dysentery etc. In addition, other virus and bacteria related diseases may also emerge.

Here are few simple guidelines recommended by Ayurveda that should be followed during the monsoon season. By following these dos and don’ts, you’ll be able to celebrate the monsoons without fearing its adverse impact –

DIETARY REGIMEN 
 
Ayurvedictreatmentsanddietinthemonsoonseason Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda
ü One of the foremost rules in monsoon in Ayurveda is to eat according to the ability of one’s digestion. One must use spices such as pepper, ginger, asafoetida (Hing), garlic, cumin powder, coriander and turmeric for enhancing digestive capability. A small piece of ginger with rock salt before every meal is highly recommended. These help in improving immunity too.
ü Consume warm, light and fresh foods prepared from barley, rice, wheat, gram flour, corn or oats. Brown rice and bread are the best food items to go with during monsoons.
ü Avoidance of curds, red meat and any foodstuff, which takes longer time to digest, is good during the monsoon. One may have buttermilk instead of curds. Include cow’s ghee in daily diet to kindle the digestive fire.
ü Consumption of uncooked / raw leafy vegetables and salads should be avoided. You may consume their sour and salted soups instead. However, if you want to have them raw, they should be washed thoroughlyto ensure removal of bacteria and dirt before eating. The leafy vegetables contain larvae too and you need to be very careful in finding them while washing. The vegetables recommended in this season include yam (Suran), snake gourd (Turi), pointed gourd (Parwal), bitter gourd (Karela), cluster beans (Gavaar), apple gourd (Tinda), pumpkin, brinjal, bottle gourd and garlic etc.
ü Drinking boiled water with a dash of honey, or sipping on hot and herbal tea is ideal for this season. Drink small portions of lukewarm water throughout the day for good digestion. Pure water should be taken. If the water is taken from well, pond or river, then alum should be applied before using it. Water should be consumed within 24 hours of boiling. Avoid drinking excess fluids at this time as this further slows down the metabolism.
ü Among fruits, stick to pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, apples, lychees and cherries. Stick to seasonal fruits during monsoons as the unseasonal ones can easily get infected with microbes and worms during the monsoons.
ü Avoid non-vegetarian foods in monsoon. The possibility of germ content is highest in non-vegetarian foods.Those who can’t should go for lighter meat preparations like soups and stews rather than heavy curries.
ü Increased intake of sweet, sour and salty food is recommended while excessive pungent, bitter and astringent tastes should be avoided. Food, which contains acid, salt and greasiness, should be taken.
ü Although it is difficult to resist snacks in the cool weather, your diet should mostly consist of cereals and vegetables cooked in minimum of oil. If you want to snack, there is no dearth of healthy options. In rainy season, prefer grilled items such as bhutta (corn), chana (black gram), etc as humidity is very high and these food items are relaxing to the system and will not lead to accumulation of doshas. Having oily food would create problems in digestion.
ü Eat food cooked at home always. Excellent road side temptations like pani puri and bhel puri are not prepared hygienically and thus may cause stomach aches. So it would be better to control yourself till the end of the season so as to keep yourself healthy and fit to enjoy the monsoons to the fullest.
Avoid eatingchaats, fried items such as pakoras, pre-cut fruits and juices from roadside vendors
Avoid foods such as pasta, soups, and other such foods which are meant to be good host for the growth of bacteria. Avoid fermented foods which include idli, dosa, uttapam, etc. People tend to eat a lot of junk and fried food during the rainy season. This can lead to weight gain and lethargy.
ü Excessively spicy foods such as tamarind and pickles should be avoided. They add taste to your food but can be very heavy in the monsoon.
ü Don’t consume food which is stored in cold storage or a refrigerator.
ü Fasting is especially recommended in the monsoon season, particularly for people fond of erratic eating. You can gain a lot of health benefits simply by observing a weekly or fortnightly fast during monsoon. It helps to improve your digestive fire.
 LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS
monsoon ayurveda treatments Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda
Consumption of healthy diet only may not provide desired results unless supported by lifestyle modifications. Following are the tips for important changes in lifestyle of rainy season –
ü Avoiding daytime sleep is good as it hampers digestion and slows down the metabolism. Similarly, waking during night too is a bad thing to do as it further vitiates an already aggravated Vata.
ü Over exertion or over work will lower your metabolic rate and hence must be avoided. Perform only moderate exercises such as light walks and simple yogasanas. Do not tire yourself.
ü Keep the surrounding dry and clean and do not allow water to stagnate at places near you as it offers mosquito, flies and many microorganisms which may cause many diseases like malaria, typhoid, common cold, conjunctivitis, cholera and a variety of skin diseases.
ü Avoid getting wet in the rains. Always carry an umbrella. However, if it happens, it is better to take a bath with clean water and change into dry clothes as soon as possible in order to avoid exposure from infections as immunity is naturally low during monsoon. Keep body warm, to protect any attack from viruses as and when body temperature goes down.
ü Dampness breeds fungal and bacterial infections. Hence home as well as workplace should be damp free.
ü Oil massage followed by a warm water bath regularly is recommended.
ü Fumigation with likes of loban and dry neem leaves for drying cloths and killing insects / bacteria is recommended.
ü Use of Perfumes is advocated in this season.

PANCHAKARMA

panchkarma Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda

Varsha Ritu or Monsoon season is considered as the best to go through Ayurvedic treatments since the moist climate opens up the pores in the skin, making it more receptive to all the medications and treatments. Ayurvedic treatments are highly recommended during this season in order to prevent any kind of disorders and to boost immunity.
Here are few key benefits of Ayurveda during the Monsoon season 
0 Happy Monsoon and the Lifestyle according to Ayurveda

 

Balances the vitiated doshas
Increases immunity
Cleanses & detoxifies the body
Rejuvenates body & mind 
Prevents lifestyle disorders like diabetes, blood pressure & stress
Conclusion
In this season, more especially, people of vataja prakriti and likewise people suffering from vataja disorders like arthritis (rheumatoid as well as osteoarthritis), backache, lumbar and cervical spondylosis, insomnia, swelling in joints, sciatica, body aches etc are major sufferers. They must consult an Ayurvedic consultant so as to avoid a Vata imbalance.
If the above-mentioned diet and lifestyle is followed during the Monsoon, one can do their best to balance the body and mind.

Note: Article is Originally Written by Dr VD Singh and Author can be reachable at https://drsinghspeaks.blogspot.com/

With Regards,
Dr V D Singh MD (Ay)
Ayurcare, Vijaypur (Jammu)
Mobile : +91- 9419180272 | +91- 9622361874
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Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr Vikram

Ritucharya: Ayurvedic Seasonal Regimen for Healthy Living

ritucharya2 Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr Vikram

Written and Compiled by Dr Vikram Jasrotia (Ayr, MD)

Founder of Ayurcare

PREFACE


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Ayurveda is the ‘Science of life’. Its fundamental and foremost principle is to maintain the health of a healthy individual by following proper diet and lifestyle regimen rather than to treat or cure an ailment. To achieve this goal, Ayurveda explains various protocols as per the need and necessity of an individual. These protocols vary from person to person as Ayurveda doesn’t accept ‘one-size-fits-all’ as true. As per Ayurveda no two persons are exactly alike in the given time. Hence the treatment is recommended keeping a variety of aspects of ailment and ailing individual in mind.
Apart from age, sex, constitution etc of the sick, various other external factors too are taken into consideration while treating a person, which may intermingle with the wellness of that individual. For example, the environmental factors including temperature, humidity, wind, rain, clouds, the nature of the land, water of the given place etc are kept in mind while designing a treatment protocol. To be more precise, the treatment plan for an individual dwelling in the mountainous terrain of Kashmir will be different from a person residing in tropical Punjab. Likewise choice of drugs varies from season to season.
TRIDOSHA
 
Ayurvedic principles Panchamahabhuta and Tridosha Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr Vikram
This whole Universe is composed of five basic elements called Panchamahabhuta or Panchatatva viz., Ether (Akash), Air (Vayu), Fire (Agni), Water (Jala) and Earth (Prithvi); and man being the microcosm of this Universe, too is made up of these five basic elements. These five elements interact in specific patterns constituting Vata, Pitta & Kapha collectively called as Tridosha.
Tridosha are basic humors or bio-entity of the body. However, they can’t be seen being a non-physical entity, yet are evident through their bodily functions and typical symptoms. The balanced state of Tridoshas symbolizes health and imbalance of the same is considered as illness.

RITUCHARYA 
 
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Ayurveda advocates that our body is affected by seasonal changes. As stated above, man is microcosm of the Universe. Vata, Pitta &Kapha govern all bodily activities of human as Air, Sun and Water do in the ecosystem of earth. As we see various changes in ecosystem such as scorching heat in summers, biting cold in winters etc, man being a part of the same ecology, his body is also influenced by such alterations in external environment. With the change in season, the change is evident in the environment we live in. If body refuses to adopt the stressors arose because of the changes in specific traits of seasons, it may lead to imbalance of Tridosha, which in turn may render the body highly susceptible to one or other kinds of disorders. To avoid this imbalance of Tridosha, Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) has been mentioned in the classics of Ayurveda.
Lifestyle diseases are a result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. Ayurveda has depicted various rules and regimens regarding diet and behavior to acclimatize seasonal alterations and thus prevents the derangement of homeostasis which may cause various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cancer etc. Ritucharya is a mode of living one’s life in context of the seasons. It is an ancient Ayurvedic practice literally meaning ‘seasonal regimen’. It recommends different diets and lifestyle schedules in each season which help in retaining the health. This could range from obvious choices such as wearing warmer clothes during the winter to seasonal eating habits. The importance of Ritucharya in Ayurveda is that the principles from it can be applied daily to benefit one’s body.

SEASONS
 
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Ayurveda describes six seasons, each of two months duration, namely Shishira, Vasanta, Grishma, Varsha, Sharada and Hemanta in a year. A year (Samvatsara) is further divided into two semesters (Ayana), consisting of six months with three seasons each.
(1) Uttarayana or Northern Solstice – It indicates the ascent of the Sun or when the Sun appears to move northward. It comprises ofShishira, Vasanta & Grishma seasons. It is Agneya (Fire-like property) in nature.
(2) Dakshinayana or Southern Solstice – Dakshinayana indicates the descent of the sun or when the Sun appears to move southward. It comprises of Varsha, Sharad and Hemant seasons.
Uttarayana or Adana Kala or Northern Solstice 
 
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Uttarayana is also called Adana Kala. Adana means ‘to take away’. In Indian subcontinent this period may range from mid – January to mid – July when warmness and dryness in atmosphere increases and reaches its peak. The Sun and the wind become extremely powerful during this half of the year. The scorching heat of the Sun takes away the moisture and cooling quality of Earth leaving it dry and rough. Likewise energy and strength of the creatures also dries up leaving them debilitated. Adana Kala brings increase in the Tikta (bitter),Kashaya (astringent), and Katu (pungent) rasa (taste) respectively, in the successive ritus, which brings about dryness in the body and reduces the Bala (strength).
According to modern science this can be compared with the movement of Earth around the Sun to the position in which the rays of the Sun fall perpendicularly at 30 degree meridian of the North Pole on June 21st every year, called as summer solstice.


Dakshinayana or Visarga Kala or Southern Solstice 

 
Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr Vikram
Dakshinayana, also known as Visarga Kala is for giving of strength and vigour in all living beings. During this period, Moon dominates the Sun and anabolic activity dominates over the catabolic activity in the environment. The Sun releases the strength to the people while Earth is cooled down due to the clouds, rain and cold wind. Unctuousness sets in the atmosphere and Amla (sour), Lavana (salty), and Madhura(sweet) Rasa are predominant, so the strength of person enhances during this period. This period ranges from mid – July to mid – January in the Indian subcontinent.
According to modern science, this can be compared with the movement of the earth around the sun to the position in which the rays of the sun fall over 30 degree meridian of the South Pole perpendicularly on December 21st every year, called as winter solstice.

Seasons1 Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr Vikram
CLASSIFICATION OF SEASONS

TRIDOSHA STATUS IN DIFFERENT SEASONS

Tridoshainseasons Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr VikramVata dosha accumulates during the dry or dehydrating heat of the summer. In rainy season, due to constant raining, the moisture and cold weather aggravates Vata. The apetite (Agni) becomes low and causes indigestion.

Pitta accumulates during the rainy season due to the acidic conditions of the atmosphere and a weakened digestion. It is aggravated during autumn when the heat returns .This occurs after the cooling spell of the rainy season.
Kapha accumulates during the cold season due to the cold and dampness caused by the winds, clouds and rain. It gets aggravated during the spring when the warm weather liquefies the accumulating Kapha.
SEASONAL VARIATION IN HUMAN STRENGTH 
In the beginning of Visarga Kala and ending of Adana kala, i.e., during Varsha and Grishma, strength gets weak and debility occurs. In the middle of the solstices, that is, during Sharata and Vasanta, strength remains in moderate grade and during the end of Visarga Kala and in the beginning of Adana Kala, that is, during Hemanta and Shishira, maximum strength is seen.
SEASONAL VARIATION IN POTENCY OF TASTES 
 
Season2 Ritucharya: An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda by Dr Vikram

The following table summarizes the tastes which are more powerful and hence can be included in the diet in each of the six seasons.

Conclusion:
As adaptations according to the changes, is the key for survival, the knowledge of Ritucharya (regimen for various seasons) is thus important.
Note: Article is Originally Written by Dr VD Singh and Author can be reachable at Ayurcare.
With Regards,Dr V D Singh MD (Ay)
Ayurcare, Vijaypur (Jammu)
Mobile : +91- 9419180272 | +91- 9622361874
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