Hour 52 Ayurveda – Ritucharya V

Regimen of Autumn Season (Sharad Ritucharya)

Mid-September to Mid-November

• Sharad Rtucharya refers to the seasonal regimen for Sharad Rtu i.e. autumn, which follows the monsoon season (Varsha Rtu).
• Sharad Rtu is a period of transition where the weather starts to cool, but the remnants of Pitta dosha, which accumulated during the hot and rainy seasons, tend to get aggravated.
• The person would have become accustomed to the cold of the rainy season. When he suddenly gets exposed to the warmth of the Sun, the Pitta which is accumulated suddenly gets greatly aggrevated during the Autumn season.

Dietary modifications

• The person should consume food that is bitter, sweet, and astringent in taste.
• The food should be easily digestible like green gram, rice, sugar, gooseberry, and snake gourd.
• Foods that are coolant and sweet in taste should be consumed.
• Drink cool water and herbal drinks: Drink water that has been boiled and cooled, as well as herbal decoctions with cooling herbs like coriander, fennel, or sandalwood, to maintain balance.
• Milk and milk products: Cold milk or lightly boiled milk with a dash of cooling herbs like fennel or cardamom can be consumed.

Lifestyle modifications

• Dry powder massage with pastes of sandalwood, camphor, khus-khus grass.
• One should wear garlands and gem stones to pacific the heat in the body.
• Wear light clothing: Prefer light-colored, breathable clothing made from cotton to stay cool.
• Moonlight exposure: Exposing oneself to moonlight can have a calming effect on Pitta.

To be avoided

• Avoid heavy, oily, salty, spicy foods, use of curd, animal fats, sour and wine.
• Avoid sour, salty, and pungent tastes: These aggravate Pitta. Avoid pickles, excess salt, sour fruits like tamarind, and spicy foods.
• Avoid daytime sleep.
• Avoid sunlight exposure.

By following Sharad Rtucharya, you can maintain balance and prevent Pitta-related disorders during this seasonal transition, promoting overall well-being.