Monsoons are the perfect time to savor the pleasant weather with a cup of hot masala chai and pakoras, steaming hot momos, or roasted corn on the cob. Yet, this inviting season often brings a slew of infections such as diarrhea, dysentery, colds, and fungal and bacterial infections, dampening the spirit. Enjoying occasional indulgences is fine, but maintaining regular eating habits and a healthy lifestyle is crucial. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of wellness, advocates Ritucharya—adapting our diet and lifestyle to seasonal changes. Here, we distill key Ayurvedic tips to help you sail through the monsoons healthily and joyfully.
Understanding Ritucharya
According to Ayurveda, the year is divided into two solstices based on the sun’s position relative to the Earth’s equator:
- Uttarayan (Northern Solstice): This six-month period, known as Adan Kala (taking away), includes Shishir (late winter), Basant (spring), and Grishma (summer). The strong, ascending sun and winds diminish the Earth’s cooling qualities and the energy of its creatures.
- Dakshinayan (Southern Solstice): The six months of Visarga Kala (sending forth) include Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), and Hemant (winter). The descending sun allows the moon to cool the Earth, sending forth energy to living beings.
Top Ayurvedic Health Care Tips for Monsoons
Diet Tips
- Keep Your Diet Light: The digestive fire is weak during the rainy season, making it harder to digest food. Avoid overeating and rich foods to prevent indigestion, flatulence, and bloating. Steer clear of very spicy, oily, sour, and acidic foods. A couple of pieces of ginger with rock salt before meals can aid digestion.
- Opt for Cooked Foods: Avoid cold, dry, or raw foods like salads and juices, which slow digestion. Lightly cooked or steamed foods are preferable. Avoid leafy vegetables and non-vegetarian food, as they can harbor bacteria.
- Home-Cooked Meals: Freshly prepared meals at home are safest. Street food, though tempting, is prone to contamination.
- Eat Warm: Warm foods and beverages, such as soups and warm water, boost metabolism and hydration. Sour and salted vegetable, meat, and dal soups increase immunity.
- Mind Your Meal Timings: Consume buttermilk instead of curd during the day, and have a glass of hot turmeric milk at bedtime. Prefer cow’s milk over buffalo milk as it’s easier to digest.
- Use Light Oils: Cook with light vegetable oils like olive, sunflower, or ghee instead of heavier oils.
- Embrace Bitter Foods: Vegetables like bitter gourd, fenugreek, neem, and turmeric help balance aggravated pitta and have antibacterial properties.
Start your day with an immunity-boosting tea made from boiling neem leaves, fenugreek seeds, fresh turmeric, and a squeeze of lemon with honey.
Lifestyle Tips
- Stay Dry and Safe: Avoid getting wet in the rain, but if you do, change into dry clothes immediately. Add a few drops of turmeric essential oil to your bath water as a natural disinfectant.
- Heal Naturally: Keep turmeric essential oil handy for minor injuries and infections.
- Protect Your Feet: Wash feet thoroughly after exposure to contaminated water, dry them well, and apply antifungal cream.
- Massage for Wellness: Regular self-massage with herb-infused oils nourishes the body, boosts immunity, and relieves vata. Use turmeric or ginger-infused oils for added benefits.
Remedies
- Joint Lubrication: Apply ginger-infused oil to joints before bed to relieve stiffness and pain.
- Ginger for Colds: Sip herbal tea made from ginger, tulsi, turmeric, and black pepper to clear cough and congestion. Apply ginger oil inside nostrils to relieve nasal congestion.
- Mosquito Protection: Keep your surroundings clean to prevent mosquito breeding. Use turmeric and lavender oils as natural insect repellents.
By making a few dietary and lifestyle adjustments based on Ayurveda’s Varsha Ritucharya, you can strengthen your immunity, ward off infections, and fully enjoy the monsoon season. So step out, breathe in the fresh air, and maybe even dance in the rain