Guidelines for Varsha Ritu

(Highlights of the talk by Dr.D.S.Sandhya Kumar, B.A.M.S., M.D. (Ayu.)Udupi, Consultant Ayurvedic Physician at Dhrti Yoga Center)

Now it is the advent of Parivret Varsha Ritu which is a season mix of Greeshma Ritu and Varsha Ritu, and soon, it will be Varsha Ritu. Our immunity towards diseases is minimum during this period due to various factors like, heavy winds, less sun rays, unclean muddy water and stagnant water. As the wind, sun, and water are so, the tridoshas in our body (ie.Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) often may go into states of imbalance. Due to the unhealthy heavy winds the Vata increases which causes skin tightening, dry hair causing dandruff, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sciatica.

Vata on increasing brings about proportional increase in Pitta, which may cause Vomiting, Diarrhoea, Typhoid, Jaundice and expelling Yellow Acidic Liquid on waking up in the morning.

Kapha goes on accumulating from Parivret Varsha Ritu and finally increases during Varsha Ritu. Increase in Kapha causes illnesses due to which the Lungs and Tonsils get affected.

How to combat this situation???

To combat such a situation of weather we can address the problem at three levels Ahara, Vihara, Vichara.

• Ahara(Food)

With diet modifications we can keep ourselves healthy and free from diseases.

• The food we eat should be light (Lagu Ahara).
• Food should always be consumed hot or warm.
• Use more of Ginger, Pepper and Pippali in our food.
• Increase usage of Honey.
• Use Moong Dal.
• During heavy rains reduce fluid intake.
• List of foods which are very good during the season:
• Red Rice
• Wheat
• Millet
• Roasted Grains
• Sprout
• Jeera
• Hing
• Pudina
• Bottle Gourd (Louki)
• Lady’s Finger
• Lemon
• Butter Milk(especially Dhadi Mastu which is the water on top of curds)
• Ghee
• Milk
• List of food to be avoided during Varsha Ritu:
• Maize
• Sweet Corn
• Bengal Gram
• Spinach
• Leafy Vegetables(As lot of insects and worms grow on them during this season)
• Cabbage
• Carrot
• Potato
• Cucumber
• Buffalo Milk(as it is rich and heavy)
• Shrikhand
• Sweets
• Cheese
• Non-Veg
• Vihara (Activities)
  

The care our body requires during this season to keep it free from all kinds of skin infections is discussed here.

During the season as the Humidity is very high (bhubaspa), it is a condition favourable for growth of all micro organisms.

Udvartha while bathing will keep our body free from fungal infections. Udvartha is rubbing the body with turmeric (haldi) or elaichi or Suvarna Kanthi powder (available at Dhrti yoga centre). The direction of rubbing should be opposite to hair growth.

After bath, we need wipe our body completely dry (preferably with a turkey towel) without leaving any part of the body damp (Pragharsna).

Keeping the foot clean is very important during this season as one can get Alasha (Ulcers between the toes).

Fumigate the house using Turmeric Stick or Sambhrani which will help keep the house clean free of insects and microbes growing.

• Vichara (Thought process)

During Varsha Ritu the strength (bala) of the body can be sometimes low mentally and physical, so we need to involve ourselves in lot of spiritual activity, to keep ourselves in the right frame of mind.

Addressing the above issues will keep us away from diseases and make life more fulfilling.

Next session will be DINACHARYA for Varsha Ritu.

Compiled (as understood) by:

Rakshith Appachu