Ritucharya means diet and lifestyle prescribed according to different seasons. There are six rItus (seasons) explained in Ayurveda:
Shishira(winter),vasanta(spring),Greeshma(summer),Varsha(monsoon),Sharad(autumn) and hemanta(late autumn/pre winter). One should identify the season according to their characteristics. There is a strong rule to follow some rules regarding diet and habits in order to combat the upcoming diseases. Our body is bound to face different variations of dosha, strength and agni(digestive power) while passing through six seasons. So our body is likely to get affected if the same regimen is followed in all seasons.
DOSHAS AND SEASONS:
- Kapha: Accumulates during late winter and spring(causing heaviness,sluggishness
- Pitta: Rises in summer(causing heat,irritability,acidity)
- Vata: Dominates in autumn and early winter(causing dryness,anxiety ,joint pain)
Seasonal cleansing helps to eliminate accumulated doshas and prevent seasonal disorders before they manifest.
WHY IT MATTERS :
- Modern lifestyle disrupt natural balance:
Air conditioned rooms, processed foods,erratic sleep and constant screen time disturb our biological rhythm .Seasonal cleansing helps to reconnect with nature’s cycle.
- Toxin accumulation is at an all time high:
Pollution ,pesticides,medications and mental stress overload the liver and digestive fire.Cleansing through Panchakarma treatment helps remove ama, improving digestion,skin clarity and vitality.
- Strengthen immunity:
When the body eliminates toxins and doshas are balanced, the immune system functions optimally-making less prone to infections and allergies that often come with weather changes.
- Prevents seasonal diseases:
Cold, cough, acidity ,rashes and fatigue often appear when the season shifts. Following ritucharya helps the body to adapt smoothly and stay resilient.
- Support emotional and mental health:
Ayurveda teaches that the mind too changes with the seasons. A seasonal reset through meditation, yoga and mindful eating reduces irritability, anxiety and mood fluctuations.
HEMANTA RTUCHARYA:
Diet:
- Sweet, sour and salty foods should be consumed predominantly.
- Milk products, sugarcane products, fats, oil, new rice and warm water should be taken
- Meat of fatty ,aquatic, marshy and borrowing animals should be taken
Lifestyle:
- Oil massage, applying oil on the head, fomentation, sunbath, spending time in hot underground houses, always use footwear, anoint the body with the paste of Aquallaria
Avoid factors:
- Vata vitiating foods
- Exposure of strong winds, inadequate quantity of food
SISHIRA RTUCHARYA:
Same as hemanta rtucharya
VASANTA RTUCHARYA:
- Take food which is of easily digestible preparation of old barley and wheat
- Honey should be taken predominantly to normalize the vitiation of kapha.
- Drink water processed with ginger, honey etc.,ingredients which stimulate agni and pacify the excess kapha
- SODHANA: Nasya, Vamana etc like purification should be done.
Lifestyle:
- One should do physical exercise,dry massage, medicated smoking, gargling, and collyrium to eliminate excess kapha dosha.
- Always use lukewarm water for bathing and cleaning of external orifice.
- Apply chandana paste of chandana on the body.
Avoid :
- Avoid heavy to digest, cold, sour, unctuous and sweet food items
- Day sleeping
GRISHMA RTUCHARYA:
- Sweet, cold, liquid and unctuous qualities of food and drinks are considered wholesome.
- Use cool water kept in mud pot along with camphor for drinking
- Take plenty of fruit juices and juicy fruits.
- Buffalo milk mixed with sugar
- Digestible should be taken regularly
Lifestyle:
- Should sleep in a cool shelter during day time
- During night apply chandana on the body and sleep
- Wear light, thin dresses.
Avoid:
- Salty, sour, pungent, hot foods
- Physical exercises
VARSHA RTUCHARYA:
- Take sour salty unctuous food
- Consume easily digestible foods from old barley, wheat and rice along with soup as per digestive capacity.
- Food processed with carminative drugs
- Always use boiled water for drinking
Lifestyle:
- Practise friction massage, dry massage, bath, use of fragrance garland
- Wear light and clean fumigated clothes
- Do purification procedures like asthapana vasti(enema) to normalize vata dosha
Avoid:
- Excess liquid diet
- Sleeping during day
- Exposure to dew, river water physical exercise sunrays
SHARAD RTUCHARYA:
- Sweet, light, cold and slightly bitter taste
- One should eat only when there is appetite
Shodana:
- Intake of tikta ghee
- Use of purgatives.
- Blood letting
Lifestyle:
- Garlands of seasonal flowers.
- Exposure to moonlight
Avoid:
- Exposure to sun and dew.
- Intake of oils and muscle fat
- Curd
In the current era, we saw the effects of global warming on seasons also. One can identify the particular season by its characteristics not depending on months. In disease condition, application of ritucharya depends on one’s condition. Diet and lifestyle which are followed according to season maintain healthy status and also improve immunity of individuals.
Adoption of RItucharya is important in fulfilling the aim of ayurveda: maintenance of health and prevention from diseases.
It helps you to unplug, reset and realign our body, mind and spirit with nature’s flow.
Dr ARDHRA PRABHAN