In Āyurveda we know this as Ṛtucaryā. The food habits and conducts during different seasons. That is because seasons and environment also affects our health as much as our dietary or sleeping habits. The condition of the doṣas in the body changes with the seasons, one doṣa will aggravate during one season while the other will decrease in power. This means that seasonal changes are intricately related to the health of a person. Just think how many of your friends have allergies in Spring.
Due to the accumulation, aggravation and pacification of the doṣas Āyurveda recommends different foods and behavior patterns for different times of the year, following these rules will be crucial to maintain health and to protect oneself from various diseases.
The Seasons according to Āyurveda
The seasons are defined according to the 2 directions in which the sun appears to be moving. As the Earth makes its annual trip around the sun, we’ll experience 6 seasonal changes.
The northward movement of the sun is known as: Ādāna, it begins at the winter solstice and ends at the summer solstice. During this phase the sun’s energy is at it’s strongest and sucks moisture from the earth, leaving it dry. During this half of the year the body tends to be weakened because just as it makes with the earth the sun will absorb all body’s moist.
The three seasons in Adana are:
~ Late winter
~ Spring
~ Summer
The absorbing effects of the sun and wind increase progressively until their culmination in the summer solstice.
The southerly phase known as: visarga is more influenced by the moon, due to this it will mostly relief with a cooling effect the earth. Because the sun and wind are restrained by the clouds more moisture is realized on the earth and on our bodies. During these seasons we will enjoy of more strength and vitality because our digestive fire will be stronger.
The three seasons in Visarga are:
~ Early Fall or Rainy season
~ Fall
~ Winter
The end of Visarga and beginning of Adana mark the most important junction of the changing seasons. This junction is known as ṛtusandhiḥ
The way seasons affect our body
According to Āyurveda all diseases begin at ṛtusandhiḥtherefore were urged to cross these periods with care. Details for transitioning from one season to the next are set in the core āyurvedic texts.
At the end of Ādāna and beginning of Visarga the body will become weak, it will lose weight and experience debility. At the end of Visarga and beginning of Ādāna the body will gain maximum strength. For this Āyurveda recommends different diet and lifestyle.
Doṣas affected during these transitions are mostly Kapha and Vata due to the qualities present in the environment during these times of the year. The reason is because the qualities of the envinment are almost the same as the qualities of the doṣas.
Conclusion
As Āyurveda follows the laws of nature we only need to observe our environment and the answer will be given, if it is always better to go see an Āyurvedic Practitioner you can start by trying to implement new habits in your life by just following your intuition and the environment that surrounds you.
If you observe with attention your cravings change from season to season, for example you don’t crave a hot soup during summer right. That is due to the hot weather that surrounds you, your body doesn’t need more warm what it needs is freshness so a good lemonade will be best.
Changes are great! We should modify our diet and our routines according to the seasons. However, never try to change all at once because the new year’s affect will strike you, you know when you say you will change your entire life all of a sudden and 2 weeks later your old habits creep again into your life. Same happens with Āyurveda but also we risk of depleting our heath, we should start implementing the new diet and lifestyle little by little so it will be suitable and sustainable for us.
Resources:
Charaka Samhita
Ashtanga Hdrayam
A Practical Approach to the Science of Ayurveda. Acharya Balkrishna. Lotus Press.2015
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