Revitalize Your Health in Monsoon: Ayurveda’s Seasonal Therapies and Diet

In Ayurveda,Varsha ritu is known as Monsoon season ,which starts at the mid of July to Mid of September.But now a days due to the climate changes the month may vary.This season is of Rain, storm .. etc.Ayurveda is a science where Dosha is considered as fundamental principle.
So , During this season,vata will be in an aggravated state,where the Agni bala will be lower and disturbed there by indigestion, bloating, diarrhea.Due to the above factors the body strength will be at the minimal level. In Ayurveda” Karkidaka” the last month in the malayalam calendar.The mid of July – mid of August is considered to the karkidaka masam.During this time Monsoon or the rain will be at the peak, and nobody will be able to move out of their houses to earn for living as well. It’s also considered as a spiritual month in hindu mythology.

Common disorders

1. Waterborne disease– Cholera, Jaundice ..etc
2. Vector borne disease -chikungunya, fever
3. Respiratory problems – cold ,flu.

Diet

• Low calorie food intake
• Pulses – Moong dal, Rice
• Include Ghee ,Ginger ,Garlic in your Diet.
• Meat – Goat meat soup
• Intake of hot water for drinking.
• Avoid leafy vegetables,sour and acidic food items.
• Karkidaka Kanji -Its a gurel soup prepared out of various medicinal herbs advised during Monsoon season.
Ingredients are;
1. Njavara rice- 500gm
2. Fenugreek -10gm
3. Long pepper (Tippali)-15gm
4. Dry ginger( shunti)-15g
5. Black peper (Maricha)-15g
6. False pepper( Vidanga)-15gm
7. Bala root( Sida cordifolia )-15gm
8. Asali-15gm
9. Cumin seeds (Jeeraka)-15g
10. Rock salt
11. Mustard seed
12. Small onion
13. Ghee
14. Coconut milk
First powder all the ingredients from 2 to 10 and then add to a pan boil 3 Ltrs of water ,once it’s boiled filter it , then add the Njavara rice and coconut milk and keep for cooking.When it’s cooked completely then add the onion and mustard which is sauted in the ghee and do the dressing with this .And it’s ready to severe.

Lifestyle changes

Not only the diet can provide the health, can go for the lifestyle modification such as
1.Avoid sleeping during day time.
2. Avoid playing or walking in dirty water.
3. Avoid consumption of sheeta jala.
4. Ussage of fumigation – as an disinfectant to get rid of certain insects and microorganisms.The fumigation powder can be prepared out of the Neem, turmeric,Tulsi, Longpepper, Aparajita,camphor..etc.
5. Avoid getting wet in the Rain.
6. Keep your body Always warm.
7. Yoga and meditation which helps to make your body balance and boost the immunity can be performed.
8. Having a clean environment, keeping the surrounding clean.
YogaAsana Advised are:
✓ Pranayama- Nadi Shodhana pranayama.
✓ Bhujangasana
✓ pavanamukthasana
✓ uttanpadasana
✓ matsyasana.

Treatments:

The humidity in the rainy season helps to open up the pores and also softens the skin. So if we do treatment in the monsoon it will have a greater effect on the body.
1.Abhyanga
The oil massage where the body helps to reduce the increased vata . And also helps to make the body soft.Common oils that are being used are Sesame oil, Dhanwantharam oil ,Ksheerabala oil.
2.Swedana
It’s the procedure where we induce sweating in the body . It can be done by sitting in a steam chamber, sauna bath ..etc.
3.Vasti.
It’s a purificatory procedure ,one among the panchakarma in ayurveda where the medicine is being introduced through the anal route . It can be in two forms either in oil and decoction. It’s the shodhana procedure to get rid of the excess/ aggravated vata from our body.
4. Kizhi – bolus Bag
The medicated herbs are tied in a bolus Bag and it’s being rubbed over the body . It’s strengths body balances the vata .
Mainly there are 3 types of bolus Bag
a)Elakizhi- Where the vata reducing medicated herbs such as Arka ( Milkweed-Calotropis gigantica ),Eranda(Castor- Ricinus communis),Moringa(Drumstick plant- Moringa oleifera)…etc are used to prepare the leaf bolus.
b) Podikizhi- Where Dry herbs in the power form are tied in a bolus Bag .The common herbs used are Triphala ,Kolakkulathadi powder.
c) Njavara Kizhi – Where the bolus Bag is prepared with the Njavara rice, the rice is cooked in
the Bala( sida cordifolia) decoction and milk ,tied into a bolus form and rubbed over the body.
d) Karkidaka Chikitsa –The main aim of this treatment is to promote health and prevent lifestyle disorders.
This therapies are meant to make all the Doshas in a balanced state and also helps to increase the immunity and make the body fit , physically, mentally,and emotionally. So the common treatments included in this are Abhyangam(oleation), Bashpasweda(Sudation), kizhi,Nasyam , Shirodhara.