According to the Hindu calendar, the seasons are being divided broadly under two AYANS i.e. solstices which are Uttarayana(Adana kala) & Dakshinayana(Visarg kala). When there is movement of sun towards the North direction which takes away the strength so called as Adana Kala it compromises Uttarayana which is compromised of 3 rtu (seasons) that are :- Shishir, Vasant And Grishma Rtu. Then starts the Dakshinayana where the movement of sun is towards the South direction which gives the strength so named as Visarg Kala which compromises of 3 rtu (seasons) that are :- Varsha, Sharad & Hemant Rtu.
According to Ayurveda, the basic concept is

“ Yat Pinde, Tat Brahmande ”

Which means that everything which occurs in the universe same process undergoes in every individual. So according to this principal, Varsha Rtu being the starting rtu for the Dakshinayana a lot of changes occur in the universe and also in our body.
So due to this conversion of adana kala to visarg kala, bala and agni is weaker for the beings during Rtu Sandhi i.e. the ending week of Grishma and starting week of Varsha rtu.
To overcome this weakness of bala and agni, Acharyas have mentioned specific regimen for each rtu according to its impact on our health at dosha, dhatu and agni level.
Therefore, following regimen should be followed during Varsha Rtu :

Do’s :-

• Consume light, freshly prepared, warm food.
• Use of old barley, rice and wheat grains.
• Use of green gram, lentils and vegetables in daily diet preferably in soup form.
• Use of cow ghee, rocksalt, honey, ginger in daily diet.
• Keep the surroundings dry and clean and protect yourself from insects.
• Keep yourself warm as virus attacks more when body temperature is reduced.
• Consume sour, salty and oily diet on a rainy day.
• Consume boiled and cooled or luke warm water.
• One can practice intermittent fasting also as it can naturally help to correct the digestive fire which gets weak.
• According to Acharya Bhavprakash, use of Haritaki with rock salt is beneficial in this season.
• Best month to take Vasti Panchakarma treatment.

Dont’s :-

• Avoid cold and refrigerated food or drinks.
• Avoid heavy, stale, junk and preserved foods.
• Avoid taking curd, leafy vegetables.
• Avoid drinking excess of fluids.
• Avoid excessive exercise and sexual intercourse.
• Avoid the use of Air conditioners or sleeping in an open space.
• Avoid day time sleeping.
• Avoid bare foot walking.
• Do not allow water to get accumulated in the surroundings.

The diet and lifestyle of the onging season should be avoided and the upcoming season diet and lifestyle should be adapted within a course of 15 days. So according to the season changes gradual change in the diet and lifestyle is recommended to compensate the metabolic impact and to live healthily.

Dr. Srishti Mehrotra Khanna ,B.A.M.S, PG Diploma (Ayu)

Centre Head- Jubilee Hills
Travancore Ayurveda