This is the season when the body becomes weak and energy or ojas levels are low. The rainy season is the time when the pitta (fire in the body) has been weakened by the summer. The rainy season unbalances this pitta due to high vata in the atmosphere. The pitta imbalance can spread to the rest of the body if not taken care of.
During this season, one can heal and balance the vitiated doshas by correct treatment, nutrition and therapies which invigorate and strengthen the body.Nutrition during the monsoons
One should consume natural diuretics like barley water, jasmine tea, rose decoction and barley sattu. Due to the high humidity, the body does not naturally lose water as it does in the summer, as a result a lot of people may experience water retention and swelling, which can be quite bothersome.
This is the season when the pitta is already impaired, so one should consume foods that are light on the liver and digestion. Such foods are:
* Foods which are drying and light. Foods like boiled corn, brown rice poha with soya, roasted channa, moong dal khichri, steamed moong sprouts are drying for the body and also easy to digest.
* Non-greasy, non-fried food. Oil, grease and frying make the food very heavy for digestion and this also ultimately results in ama (undigested food turning into toxins). Oily foods like chips and namkeen should be avoided.
* Foods which are not very refined. Refined and processed foods like maida, sooji and all products made from refined flours are detrimental to one’s health.
* Herbal decoctions like tulsi tea, floral teas and other pitta-pacifying teas.
* Herbs like neem, tulsi, triphala, amla, saunf, elaichi, which are cooling and vata pacifying.
Therapy during the monsoons
* Herbal oil massage (abhayanga) with special medicated oils is very relaxing and rejuvenating.
* Dry herbs massage is also good to get the lymphatic channels moving and to get the toxins flushed out of the system.
* Medicated steam is recommended for body pain and joint pain.
* Nasyam and shirodhara once a week can get the body to liquefy the stuck toxins and move them out of the system. We can utilise the rainy season for healing, balancing and relaxing the mind and body.
This is the season when the pitta is already impaired, so one should consume foods that are light on the liver and digestion. Such foods are:
* Foods which are drying and light. Foods like boiled corn, brown rice poha with soya, roasted channa, moong dal khichri, steamed moong sprouts are drying for the body and also easy to digest.
* Non-greasy, non-fried food. Oil, grease and frying make the food very heavy for digestion and this also ultimately results in ama (undigested food turning into toxins). Oily foods like chips and namkeen should be avoided.
* Foods which are not very refined. Refined and processed foods like maida, sooji and all products made from refined flours are detrimental to one’s health.
* Herbal decoctions like tulsi tea, floral teas and other pitta-pacifying teas.
* Herbs like neem, tulsi, triphala, amla, saunf, elaichi, which are cooling and vata pacifying.Therapy during the monsoons
* Herbal oil massage (abhayanga) with special medicated oils is very relaxing and rejuvenating.
* Dry herbs massage is also good to get the lymphatic channels moving and to get the toxins flushed out of the system.
* Medicated steam is recommended for body pain and joint pain.
* Nasyam and shirodhara once a week can get the body to liquefy the stuck toxins and move them out of the system. We can utilise the rainy season for healing, balancing and relaxing the mind and body.
From HT Brunch, June 24
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