SHUNYA PRATICHI MATHUR

In sunny California, which is my home, we have become a little spoiled with expansive blue skies and warm melting golden sun that sparkles and shines and adds a special radiance to our lives, year round. And we especially look forward to summer with great anticipation. In fact the world over, we humans have developed an entire culture around summer; and its arrival is often greeted with great super sales of cooling cottons, designer beach gear, water sports, and special juices and drinks to keep us cool and hydrated.

Unfortunately, summer’s dry heat can also be trying on our system since the moisture in the environment reduces drastically; including from our body, causing loss of body fluids through sweating. We can also manifest conditions like sunstroke, dehydration, prickly heat rash, inflammatory skin disorders, bleeding from the nose, burning sensation of urine, muscle cramps and fatigue.

Ayurveda-wise, the fiery hot sun in summer activates Pitta Dosha and increasing dryness (of the wind) begins to accumulate Vata. There is reduction in Kapha Dosha within the body; Rasa Dhatu (fluid nutrition of all the body tissues) and Bala (strength) of the body are also greatly diminished. Hence, Ayurveda not only cautions external protection but also suggests inner replenishment, rejuvenation and restoration through a special protocol called Grishma Ritucharya.

Ayurveda’s Protocol for Summer – Grishma Ritucharya

In Ayurveda, the seasons and their impact on the human body have been studied carefully, and an elaborate scientific food and lifestyle protocol has been developed in response for each season under the topic of Ritucharya, which literally translates as seasonally specific recommended behavior to prevent the aggravation of doshas and ward off season specific discomfort and prevent potential disease.

The summer protocol, Grishma Ritucharya, advises specialized dietary food and lifestyle measures such as counteracting the dry heat of summer with moist, sweet and cooling liquids; flowing and slightly fatty, fragrant foods; and adapting cooling lifestyle practices such as Sheetali Pranayama, exposure to moonlight, etc.