Do you often suffer from cold & flu when the season changes? Have you ever observed rashes all over your body during this season? If your answer is yes, check out this article for some effective Ayurvedic monsoon tips.

Ayurveda has given prime importance to the seasonal regimens known as Ritucharya. According to Ayurveda, there is a total of six seasons, namely- Shishira (winter), Vasanta (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharada (autumn), and Hemant (late autumn/ early winter). Among these six seasons, the monsoon is Varsha Ritu which occurs between mid-July to mid-September in most regions in India.

During monsoon, the sky is cloudy, and the weather is rainy. As per Ayurvedic principles, in this season, Vata dosha is naturally aggravated due to the effect of the season. You may also observe weak digestion and feel less strength compared to other seasons. So, it is essential to consume food items that will help you pacify Vata dosha, improves your digestion, and help you gain some strength.

Here are the effective tips for maintaining your health during monsoon:

1. Diet

Consume honey water, curd, black gram, old grains like wheat, rice, old barley, meat soup, and pulses soup with dried ginger.

On the windy & rainy days, indulge in food items with more sour, salty taste, and unctuous quality. In this context, a perfect example is pakora or bhajiya with anardana chutney. But, always remember to consume in limited quantities. It is beneficial to consume on rainy & cold days because it helps to balance Vata dosha, which ultimately helps to prevent joint pain, digestive issues, fatigue, cramps, etc.

Avoid cold water, cold drinks, ice cream, frozen food, raw food items like salads and sprouts.

2. Lifestyle

Avoid walking barefoot, drenching in the rain, overexertion in the gym, using an air conditioner, and damp clothes.

You must also avoid sleeping in the daytime because it hinders digestion and may lead to bloating, gas, or other digestive ailments.

3. Water

During monsoon, many people get diarrhea & other digestive ailments due to dirty water intake. So, it is essential to drink boiled and purified water in this season.

How to boil water?
Boil water for 10 to 15 minutes over a low flame and drink it lukewarm or once it’s cool down to room temperature.

If you are bloated or feel gassy, you can add one teaspoon to one liter of water and give it a boil. Sip it throughout the day, and as a result, you will observe improvement in digestion and ger relief from such symptoms.

4. Prevent cold & flu

Ayurveda advises gradually changing your diet and lifestyle before the weather changes. It gives your body a better chance to acclimatize to the changing weather. So, before the rainy season arrives, it is better to make a slight change in your diet & lifestyle. As a result, it will help you prevent a common cold or flu that could occur due to seasonal changes.

What can you do?
Avoid ice cream, cold beverages, refrigerated food items, and cold food items even before the rainy season arrives. You can start doing it in the late summer, i.e. the start of July or at least 15 days earlier than the rain is expected in your region.

5. Bathing water:

During monsoon, it is essential to apply ubatan (paste) made of chandana or kesar all over the body. After applying this ubatan, you can take a bath with warm water. You can use ubatan twice or thrice a week according to your skin condition (better to consult an Ayurvedic doctor).

Apart from this, you can add neem leave powder, turmeric, or rose to your bathing water. It helps to prevent rashes and other skin ailments that could happen due to the rainy & humid weather.

Monsoon relieves us from the scorching heat, but it may cause joint pain, cold, cough, fever, or flu in people with weak immunity. So, it is essential to be cautious and save yourself from such symptoms by following the above-mentioned tips.