Ayurveda

Ayurvedic Ritucharya

Ritucharya means seasonal regimens (do and don'ts) regarding diet and lifestyle. Following a specific seasonal regimen helps your body to acclimatize with seasonal enforcements without affecting the body homeostasis. The basic principle of the Ayurvedic system of medicine is given in the following Shloka:

Swasthyashya Swasthya Rakshanam,
Aturasya Vikara Prashamanancha

Translation: - We should maintain the health of the healthy individual and treat the disease of the sick by following the basic principles of Dinacharya (daily regimen) and Ritucharya (seasonal regimen).
As per Ayurveda, a year is divided into two Kalas viz.

Aadaan kaal (Uttarayana) (Northern Solstice) & Visarga Kaal (Dakshinayana) (Southern Solstice).

Each Kaal is further divided into six seasons having two months: -

Shishira Ritu (winter, dewy season) - Magha and Phalguna (Mid-January to Mid- March)

Vasanta Ritu (Spring season) - Chaitra and Vaishakha (Mid-March to Mid-May)

Greeshma Ritu (Summer season) - Jyeshta and Ashadha (Mid-May to Mid-July)

The above three seasons form Uttarayana (Northern solstice) are fire dominant. it is also called Aadaan Kaal wherein the human strength is relatively low.

Varsha Ritu (Rainy Season) - Shravana and Bhadrapada (Mid-July to Mid-September)

Sharad Ritu (autumn season) - Ashvayuja and Karthika (Mid-September to Mid-November)

Hemanta Ritu (winter season) - Margashirsa and Pausha (Mid-November to Mid-January)

These three seasons are from Dakshinayana (Southern solstice). It is also called as Visarga Kaal, wherein the human strength is relatively high.

Seasonal influence on the human body

Vata, Pitta and Kapha Doshas are described as Tristambha (basic humor of the body). With a change in a season, the Tridoshas may get vitiated due to wrong diet, activities, and routine. Hence, it is important to make some changes in our diet and lifestyle regimen according to the seasons to create balance in the Tridoshas. By practicing Ritucharya, one can build its body's immunity and avoid the adverse impact of seasonal changes on the body, failing which, may lead to Dosha Vaishamya i.e. various type of disease. As adaptations according to the changes, is the key to healthy living similarly, a balanced seasonal routine helps in attaining the equilibrium of Doshas in the body and relieves seasonal stress.

Ritu Sandhi: The buffer period of a seasonal transitions

Sandhi means concurrence. Ritu Sandhi is the period of the last 7 days of the current season and the first 7 days of the subsequent season. During seasonal transitions, the regimen that is being followed should be gradually terminated and guidelines for the subsequent Ritu are to be incorporated in the regimen.