Seasonal Dynamics

Ayurveda divides the year into two periods or Ayanas based on the movement of the sun. There are two Ayanas -

Uttarayana or Northern solstice: There is northward movement of the sun. In this period the sun and the wind are powerful. The sun takes away the strength of the people and the cooling quality of the earth. It brings an increase in the Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent), and Katu (pungent) Rasa (taste), respectively, which brings about dryness in the body and reduces the Bala (strength). It is also called Adana Kala.

Seasons under uttarayana:

• Shishira (winter)

• Vasanta (spring)

• Grishma (summer)

Dakshinayana or Southern solstice: There is southward movement of the sun. In this period, the wind is not very dry; the moon is more powerful than the sun. The earth becomes cool due to the clouds, rain, and cold winds. 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. It is also called Visarga Kala.

Seasons under Dakshinayana:

• Varsha (monsoon)

• Sharata (autumn)

• Hemanta (late autumn)

Seasons in the Northern hemisphere (North America and Europe)

• Winter

• Spring

• Summer 

• Autumn

Each of the seasons contains different elements and energies, the imbalance of which creates diseases and illnesses. If an individual follows a seasonal routine that is aligned with their Prakriti and keeps maintaining it based on the seasons, the body will stay healthy.

In other words, the correlation between nature and human bodies is so important.

Universe is  made up of 5 elements- Ether, Air, Fire, water, and Earth and these 5 elements make three Doshas: Vata, Pitta, Kapha

Vata, Pitta, and Kapha govern not only our own constitution but everything as well in the cosmos. So instead of winter,  spring, summer, and fall; the year breaks down into-

Doshas shows three types of responses (Ritu Kriya Kala) based on the seasons and seasonal changes.

1. Chaya/Sanchaya (Accumulation): Natural accumulation of Dosha in particular season favourable for their accumulation

2. Kopa/ Prakopa (Aggravation): Natural aggravation of Dosha in next season favourable for their accumulation

3. Prashamana/ Shamana (Pacification): Natural decrease happens  in doshas towards their normal state.

Fig 1: Implications of Seasons on Dosha

Individuals who follow the seasonal regimen and those having a good immune system, above mentioned stages will occur and settle down. Those who do not follow the seasonal regimens and low immunity, Doshas will get vitiated and will go through with further stages of pathogenesis

Ritucharya: Seasonal Regimens

Ritucharya comprises with 2 words; Ritu translates with season and Charya states Regimen

So Ritucharya defines the list of activities which are meant to be done as well as those activities which should be avoided.

There are a couple of definitions and explanations on Ritucharya. According to Vagbhata, “ the regimen which is wholesome for an individual with respect to diet and practices in various seasons is called Ritucharyra.”

Spring Season:

A season of the year between winter and summer during which temperature gradually rises with more sunshine. During this time the tree grows leaves again and flowers bloom everywhere. 

During winter Kapha consolidates and in spring due to strong sun rays kapha melts and moves and starts locating other parts of the body. In result, various disorders such as asthma, cough, cold, and indigestion, allergies trigger which comes under the prakopa stage.

Ayurvedic therapies in Spring season:

Nasya: Instilling drops in nostrils is recommended to expel kapha doshas for the diseases above the collarbone. For e.g.,Anu Thailam, Shadbindu Thailam etc. During congestion Nasya is strictly prohibited.

Dhoomapana: It keeps the upper respiratory tract disorder away. It helps to clear the phlegm, and to relieve sinusitis. For e.g., Turmeric, Pepper, Shunti etc.

Gandusha: is recommended  to strengthen the teeth, gums, and oral health

Udvartana: using several herbs including chickpea flour, Barley flour, sandalwood powder, saffron, Triphala powder, etc. based on an individual.

Vamana: To eliminate kapha dosha Vamana is very good, FYI- In US is not allowed to induce Vamana

Anjana: useful to relieve the heaviness of eyes

Yogasana: Forward bending poses, and chest opener poses helps

Pranayama: Bhastrika, Kapalabhati, Deep Belly Breathing, Surya Bhedana etc.

Preferred Food during Spring:

• For balancing the Kapha Dosha, it is important to avoid heavy, fried, fatty,  sweets, and sour foods. Incorporate Pungent, Bitter, and Astringent

• Incorporate old grains (easy to digest) like wheat, barley etc.

• Meat of goat, chicken (desert landed) is ideal.

• Day time sleep aggravates Kapha, it is advised to avoid day time sleep.

Summer Season:

Summer is the warmest season of the year, falling between spring and autumn. During summers sun rays become so prominent, Pitta starts aggravating and Kapha slowly starts going in its prashamana stage.

Ayurvedic therapies in Summer season:

Shirodhara: It’s a great therapy which instantly balances and calms the mind. It also helps to reduce anxiety, purifies the mind, reduces stress and helps to increase awareness. 

Moon Bath: Walking in the moonlight is really a great choice for Pitta to avail the cooling energies.

Lepas/ Packs: Application of cooling herb paste on your face and body will help to calm the vitiated Pitta.

Abhyanga: The wind is very hot in this nature and this season reduces the mild qualities from the earth and takes away the strength, therefore Abhyanga is suggested to hydrate the body as well to regain the strength.

Preferred Food during Summer:

• Incorporate sweet, cold, unctuous and liquid foods.

• Takra (Buttermilk) is a great choice to add lunch time.

• Avoid salt, sour, pungent, alcoholic beverages.

• Avoid strenuous physical exercises and exposure to sun.

• Avoid excess spicy food

• Include cultured ghee, raisins, cucumber, coriander seeds, soaked and peeled almonds, and dates in your diet.

• Drink Coriander cold infusion (Soak 1 tsp in 1 cup of water and keep it overnight) first thing in the morning

• Avoid drinking Alcohol, may cause inflammation and make the body

Fall Season:

Autumn/ Fall is a very pleasant season that comes in between summer and winter during which temperature  gradually decreases. Lots of trees shed their leaves at this time. 

The season comes under Dakshinayana where the sun moves in a southern direction and is influenced by the moon’s cooling effect rather than the hot rays of the sun. In this season of Fall, dryness and coldness are prevalent which are the qualities of Vata dosha. Vata-dominant people tend to become out of balance because they are less tolerant of cold weather and frequently experience cold hands and feet.

Diet and lifestyle activities should also primarily aim at balancing or pacifying Vata dosha, Hence cold, dry and light food can further vitiate the Vata and cause troubles. Therefore, the diet should be warm, unctuous and a bit denser or nourishing to combat the negative effects of Vata.

Preferred Food during Fall:

• Vata comprises an element of space and air,  therefore it is always suggested to ignore salads, raw vegetables, cold drinks, and anything dry and crispy should be avoided. Foods like popcorn and chips that have the same Vata qualities, Since “Samanya Vishesha Siddhanta” (like increases like), Vata doesn’t need more of this light, airy energy.

• Include warm, unctuous and a bit denser or nourishing to combat the negative effects of Vata. 

• Vata balancing diet should have sweet, sour, and salt as predominant tastes as these three decrease Vata dosha. All grains and cereals are sweet to taste predominant and they also serve as nourishing dietary sources as favoured during this season, For e.g., brown rice, basmati rice, amaranth, wheat, oats, and quinoa. Add seasonal fruits and vegetables in your meals.

• Spices play an important role to  aid digestion and this is the perfect season to use spices. Add warming digestive spices like turmeric, ginger, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, oregano, etc. in your soups, Khichri, sauteed/ steamed veggies.

Ayurvedic therapies in Fall season:

Abhyanga: There are so many herb infused oils available in Ayurveda for abhyanga to combat dryness. These can be decided based on an individual. Generally Vata Prakriti can choose sesame oil, Pitta dominant people can go with coconut oil and Kapha can  choose either sesame or mustard oil. Utilising some time with massaging the body and after a few min take a warm shower. 

** Never take head bath with hot water 

Nasya: Instil 1-2 drops of oil in each nostril as Nasya to keep lubricated and nourished the mucosa of nasal linings.

Sleep: As per Ayurvedic principles day time sleep (divaswapna) is not advisable 

Mind: Meditation, Yoga practice, Pranayama practice help to rejuvenate, and calm from the effect of Vata. Pranayama is such a beautiful tool to calm the excess stress anxiety.

Exercise: Choosing the right pace of exercise is really important for Vata. Since the nature of vata is movement, therefore during Vata season it is appropriate to keep an eye on the pace of workout to stay balanced all year long. Few examples of slow paced exercises are Yoga, Pilate, walking etc

Winter Season:

Winter comes after the summer and fall. It is characterised by cold weather, a sense of heaviness, increased moisture, cloud-covered days. These are all qualities of kapha dosha therefore winters are considered as Kapha season.

However, in some cases, winter also has a cold and dry spell which bears signs of the Vata dosha. You’ll have to balance out the Vata dosha otherwise you’ll end up feeling isolated and depressed.

Preferred Food during Winter:

According to Ayurveda every individual is different, and therefore following suggestions will be administered based on body type and the overall state of balance. 

It is really important to remember while deciding the supportive winter diet needs to be aimed at pacifying kapha without increasing vata or vice versa.

• Avoid processed food, canned, frozen, and packaged food, they disrupt the functioning of the digestive system and the immune system. 

• Avoid refrigerated cold beverages and cold food because they have  adverse effects on the immune system. Eat cooked food, unctuous, use spices  while cooking and warm beverages can help balance the Vata and Kapha perfectly for this season.

• Incorporate sweet, sour, and salty foods instead of bitter, astringent, and pungent tastes. 

• Eat small legumes like green mung, and they should be well-cooked, well-spiced, and cultured ghee so as not to aggravate vata.

• Warm Turmeric milk with spices like a pinch of cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, saffron, dried ginger before bed, which supports sound sleep. In general Milk has cooling properties but after adding all these spices it should not provoke congestion.

• Incorporate CCF tea in  your diet which will help in digestion.

Ayurvedic therapies in Winter season:

Winters bring cold, flu, fever, joint pains. Here are few effective medicines that can support to survive during the winter season 

• Abhyanga: Gentle massage on the painful  joints with herb infused medicated oil

• Nasya: Instil 1-2 drops of oil in each nostril as Nasya to keep lubricated and nourish the mucosa of nasal linings. In case of active congestion it is strictly prohibited.

• Dhoomapana: It keeps the upper respiratory tract disorder away. It helps to clear the phlegm, and to relieve sinusitis. For e.g., Turmeric, Pepper, Shunti etc.

• Upanaha: Upanaha is derived from the Sanskrit word upanahana, meaning bandage. The procedure of applying warm herbal paste to the affected part of the body followed by bandaging is referred to as Upanaha sweda.

• Yogasana: During winters things slow down which creates an environment of heaviness and stagnation. To overcome this feeling, it’s important to provide stimulation to the body. Yoga has a great role here. To balance out the cold weather with warm heat-producing movements. You can start your practice with a few Surya Namaskar and move on to a Vinyasa. Listening to your body is the general rule. If you feel exhausted, then you can go for Vata-pacifying exercises such as walking or gentle yoga, whereas if you’re feeling lazy and heavy, then it’s best to go for a more vigorous regime such as jogging or skiing.

Conclusion: Humans are inseparable from nature, that is why Ayurveda gives importance to nature and all  the seasonal regimens. Each season has its own qualities, we all have to closely follow the transition from one season to the other with the help of subtle changes that take place in the environment. This transition phase in Ayurveda is known as ritu-sandhi

Ritu Sandhi is the junction between two seasons when you gradually avoid the habits of the previous season and adapt to the regimen of the upcoming season. The last 7 days of the previous season and the first 7 days of the upcoming season constitute a Ritusandhi.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. If you have serious, acute, or chronic health problems, please consult a trained health professional. If you are seeking the advice of a trained Ayurvedic professional, email us at holisticavenues@outlook.com We will provide you with information to consult with Ayurvedic professionals. Always check with your doctor before taking herbal protocols.