An Overview of Seasonal Regimen in Ayurveda
PREFACE –
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
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 –
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
–
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 of Shishira, 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 –
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 –
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.
CLASSIFICATION OF SEASONS
–
Semester
|
Season
|
Month
|
Property
|
Uttarayana or Adana Kala
(Northern Solstice)
|
Shishira
|
1. Magha
2. Phalguna
Mid January to Mid March
|
Cold and dewy season
|
Vasanta
|
3. Chaitra
4. Vaishakha
Mid March to Mid May
|
Spring
|
|
Grishma
|
5. Jyestha
6. Ashadha
Mid May to Mid July
|
Summer
|
|
Dakshinayana or Visarga Kala
(Southern Solstice)
|
Varsha
|
7. Shravan
8. Bhadrapada
Mid July to Mid September
|
Rainy Season
|
Sharad
|
9. Ashvin
10. Kartika
Mid Sept to Mid November
|
Autumn
|
|
Hemant
|
11. Margsheersha
12. Paush
Mid Nov to Mid January
|
Winter
|
TRIDOSHA STATUS IN DIFFERENT SEASONS
–
Dosha
|
Sanchaya
|
Prakopa
|
Prashamana
|
Vata
|
Grishma (Summer)
|
Varsha (Rainy)
|
Sharad (Autumn)
|
Pitta
|
Varsha (Rainy)
|
Sharad (Autumn)
|
Vasanta (Spring)
|
Kapha
|
Shishira (Winter)
|
Vasanta (Spring)
|
Grishma (Summer)
|
Vata 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 –
The following table summarizes the tastes which are more
powerful and hence can be included in the diet in each of the six seasons.
Ritu
|
Seasons
|
Powerful Taste
|
Shishira
|
Cold and dewy season
|
Tikta (Bitter)
|
Vasanta
|
Spring season
|
Kashaya (Astringent)
|
Grishma
|
Summer season
|
Katu (Hot)
|
Varsha
|
Rainy season
|
Amla (Sour)
|
Sharad
|
Autumn season
|
Lavana (Salty)
|
Hemanta
|
Winter season
|
Madhura (Sweet)
|
As adaptations according to the changes, is the key for
survival, the knowledge of Ritucharya
(regimen for various seasons) is thus important.
Dr V D Singh MD (Ay)
Ayurcare
Vijaypur (J&K)
9419180272
9622361874
Interested.... Nice.... Keep it up
ReplyDeleteThank you indeed
DeleteExcellent information blogs. Thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeleteAyurvedic massages centre in Velachery
Ayurcare massage centre in Velachery
Ayurvedic Health Centre in Velachery