Lifestyle during Rainy Season - Varsha Ritucharya

Everybody is enjoying the Rain. Rain is beautiful gift to mankind to get fresh, its season of Romance.  During the rainy season, our digestive fire is weakened and so digestive system need special precaution in this time. This is the season where so many diseases can occur in our body due to imbalanced Vata dosha particularly. 

Along with Vata dosha, Pitta and Kapha also imbalanced causing various diseases. . Little precaution and some good habits makes this romantic season more enjoyable.

In India, Some habits and precaution are told in all religious holy books.  They says, To be spiritual, we must be Healthy. Good healthy body is the 1^st step to achieve status of spirituality.

शरीरं आद्य खलु धर्म साधनम्...I

They told some habits of food to follow in particular manners, they advised some things to avoid for this four months of Monsoon ( called Chatur Maas) to have healthy body, mind and soul as well. But all this indication of various religions like Hinduism, Jainism etc are for better Health.

चातुर्मास्ये  नरो यो वै त्यजे अन्नादि भक्षणं I
स गच्छति हरि  सायुज्यं न भूयस्तु प्रजायते II

It’s told by the medium of God so the person on this earth will believe in it and follow it sincerely. But all this things also told in Ayurveda and now these things are proved scientifically also.Ayurveda told these things as a Rutu Charya( tips on how to behave in perticular season) for Beautiful Health, Physically as well as mentally.

Ayurveda texts says in the adhyaay of RutuCharya---

आस्थापनं शुद्ध तनु जीर्ण धान्यं रसान कृतान I
जाङ्गलं पिशितं युषान मध्वरिस्तं चिरन्तनं II
मस्तु सौवर्चल आध्यं व पञ्च्कोलव्चुर्नितं I
दिव्यं कौपं शुर्तं च अंभो भोजनं तवतिदुर्दिने II
व्यक्तंललवन्स्नेहं संशुष्कं क्षौद्रव्ल्लघु I
अपद्चारी सुरभि: सततं धुपितंबर : II

During this season Ayurveda recommends some list of Do and Don’ts, to make our body and Mind Healthy. Let’s have a look on some tips ---

वर्षा ऋतु में वात दोष कुपित होता है अतः बुजर्गों और वातजन्य रोगों के मरीज़ों को विशेष रुप से  वातवर्धक खानपान और रहन सहन से बचना चाहिए।

सम्भवित रोग - पाचन शक्ति का कम होना, शारीरिक कमज़ोरी, रक्तविकार, वायुदोष, जोड़ों का दर्द, सूजन, त्वचा-विकार, दाद कृमिरोग, ज्वर, मलेरिया, पेचिश तथा अन्य वायरस एवं जीवाणुजन्य रोग होने की सम्भावना रहती है।

प्रयोग करें-

• अम्ल, नमक, चिकनाई वाला भोजन करना हितकर है।
• पुराने चावल, जौ, गेहूँ आदि का सेवन करना चाहिए।
• घी व दूध का प्रयोग भोजन के साथ करना चाहिए।
• कद्दू ,परमल, करेला, लौकी, तुरई, अदरक, जीरा, मैथी, लहसुन का सेवन हितकर है।
• छिलके वाली मूंग की दाल का सेवन करना चाहिए।
• बाहर से घर में वर्षा से भीगकर लौटने पर स्वच्छ जल से स्नान अवश्य करें।
• वर्षा ऋतु में भोजन बनाते समय आहार में थोड़ा सा मधु(शहद) मिला देने से मंदाग्नि दूर होती है व भूख खुलकर लगती है। अल्प मात्रा में मधु के नियमित सेवन से अजीर्ण, थकान और वायुजन्य रोगों से भी बचाव होता है।
• तेलों में तिल का सेवन उत्तम है। यह वात रोगों का शमन करता है।
• भोजन में नींबू का प्रयोग प्रतिदिन करना चाहिए। नींबू वर्षा ऋतु में होने वाली बीमारियों में बहुत ही लाभदायक है।
• फलों में आम तथा जामुन सर्वोत्तम माने गए हैं। आम आंतो को शक्तिशाली बनाता है। चूसकर खाया हुआ आम पचने में हल्का वायु तथा पित्तविकारों का शमन करता है।
• वर्षाकाल में रसायन के रुप में बड़ी हरड़ का चूर्ण व चुटकी भर सेंधा नमक मिलाकर ताजे जल के साथ सेवन करना चाहिए।
• मच्छरों के काटने पर उत्पन्न मलेरिया आदि रोगों से बचने के लिए मच्छरदानी लगाकर सोएं। चर्मरोग से बचने के लिए शरीर की साफ सफाई का भी ध्यान रखें।
• वर्षा ऋतु में सूती व हल्के वस्त्र पहनें।

प्रयोग न करें-

• आलू ,अरबी जैसे कन्दशाक, चावल, भिन्ड़ी, मटर, पत्ता गोभी, फूलगोभी आदि का सेवन नहीं करना चाहिए।
• गरिष्ठ, बासी, अधिक मसालेदार व ठंडी तासीर वाले भोजन का सेवन न करें।
• दही, मांस, मछली का सेवन नहीं करना चाहिए।
• अधिक तरल पदार्थ व मदिरा का सेवन नहीं करना चाहिए।
• दिन में सोना व रात्रि जागरण नहीं करना चाहिए।
• ओस में व खुले स्थान में नहीं सोना चाहिए।
• अत्यधिक ठंडा पानी, कोल्ड ड्रिंक व आइस्क्रीम के सेवन से बचना चाहिए।
• अधिक व्यायाम, अधिक शारीरिक श्रम व अधिक धूप का सेवन न करें।
• स्नान के तुरन्त बाद गीले शरीर पंखे के हवा में नहीं जाना चाहिए।
• भोजन निश्चित समय पर ही करना चाहिए, अधिक देर तक भूखे नहीं रहना चाहिए।
• पित्तवर्द्धक पदार्थों का सेवन नहीं करें। गाय भैंस कच्ची घास खाती हैं। इसकी वजह से उनका दूध दूषित रहता है। अतः श्रवण मास में दूध एवं पत्तेदार हरी सब्जियां तथा भादों में छाछ का सेवन करना स्वास्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक माना गया है।
• सीलन भरे, बदबूदार, अन्धेरे और गन्दे स्थान पर रहना या ज्यादा देर ठहरना इन दिनों में उचित नहीं होता।

वर्षाकाल में सबसे जरूरी और ध्यान देने योग्य काम है जल की शुद्धता पर ध्यान देना क्योंकि इन दिनों नदी तालाब आदि का जल दूषित, मटमैला और गन्दा हो जाता है। इन दिनों यदि जल दूषित और मैला हो तो इसे उबाल कर और ठंडा करके पीना चाहिए। बाहर का पानी देख कर ही पीना चाहिए। अगर पानी गन्दा हो तो पीना ही नहीं चाहिए।

Probable diseases- 

Reduction in digestion power, physical weakness, blood-related problems, vayu dosh, pain of joints, swelling, skin problems, ringworm, cankerworm, fever, malaria, dysentery. In addition, other virus and bacteria related diseases may emerge.

Use recommended-

• Food, which contains acid, salt and greasiness, should be taken.
• Consume very simple food
• Old rice, wheat and barley should be taken.
• Ghee (clarified butter) and milk should be taken with the food.
• One can go for rabri of millet or maize made in buttermilk.
• Pumpkin, brinjal, pointed gourd, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, ginger, cumin seed, fenugreek
• and garlic are very helpful for health.
• Pure water should be taken. If the water is taken from well, pond or river, then alum
• should be applied before using it.
• It is better to boil the water in rainy season. One should save himself/herself from rains
• in the process of earning livelihood.
• Don’t go in mud or wet dust bare feet.
• Applying oil is beneficial.
• Use kitchen spices in food to correct your digestive fire
• Garlic, pepper, ginger, asafetida (hing), jeera powder, turmeric and coriander help enhance digestion and improve immunity.
• Consume food according to your digestive fire
• Having fruit or vegetable salads outside is also harmful because germs can easily grow there, always try and take home-made food during this season.
• Wheat, Wheat floor is good in this season,  Moong dal is easy to digest and should be the dal of choice for the season.
• Vegetables recommended during the rains are the non-leafy ones such as — snake gourd (turi), gourd (dudhi), pointed gourd (parwal), yam (suran), cluster beans (gavaar), apple gourd (tinda) and bitter gourd (karela).
• It is better to stick to seasonal fruits because non-seasonal ones tend to get infested with worms during the monsoons. Among fruits, stick to pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, apples, litchees and cherries.
• Non-vegetarians should go in for lighter meat preparations like soups and stews rather than heavy curries
• Brown rice and bread are the best food items to go .with during monsoons.
• avoid foods such as pasta, soups, and other such foods which are meant t o be good host for the growth of bacteria
• When eating out, choose restaurants that conform to basic standards of quality and hygiene, in order to avoid contracting serious infections such as viral fever, diarrhea and other water borne diseases
• Avoid eating chaats, fried items such as pakoras, pre-cut fruits and juices from roadside vendors
• Freshly prepared radish juice is a good remedy for colds. A pinch each of herb pipli, , and rock salt mixed in warm water also help reduce mucous formation.
• In the starting of Monsoon, do Panchkarma -  Vaman and Virechan, for body detoxification
• Do course of Basti Chikitsa during Monsoon to avoid aggravation of Vata dosha
• Ubatan – application of Herbs in particular manners is advisable
• Seek Ayurveda Doctors advise for Panchkarama, Medicaation and ask them about food also
• Dry yourself after getting wet in Rain properly
• Do  Dhupan / Fumigation of herbs as prescribed by Ayurveda Doctor
• Be it residence or workplace, one should not live in damped places.
• One should wash the feet and dry it properly after coming back from outside.
• Mosquito net should be used to keep insects, bee moth and mosquitoes away.
• If you get wet from rainy water, it is better to take a bath with clean water.
• Food in this season should be easily digestible
• Drink only boiled and filtered water, and make sure that it is consumed within 24 hours of boiling.
• Take fresh and fresh prepared food and in little amount
• Consume food within 2 hours of preparing it

Don’t use-

• One should avoid rice, potato, colocasia, ladyfinger and other things, which are difficult to digest.
• Avoid Sour, Fermented food
• Don’t consume food which is stored in cold storage  refrigerator
• Avoid dry food and Sprouts
• Don’t consume water of any lake or River or Waterfall
• Avoid Butter Milk, Curd, yogurt, etc heavy digestable food
• avoid eating raw foods, instead go for stir fried vegetables because it is difficult to know whether raw foods are properly washed, cleaned or stored
• Excellent  road side temptations like pani puri and bhel puri are not prepared hygienically and thus can cause stomach aches. So it would be better to control yourself till the end of the season so as to keep yourself healthy and fit and to enjoy the monsoons to the fullest.
• Avoid sleep  in Day time
• Don’t over work in these days
• Always take precaution of your foot and Skin
• Don’t get wait frequently in Rain, it may cause infection
• Drinking water form pond or river is disadvantageous.
• Don’t go for stale food, curd, meat and fishes.
• One should avoid highly liquid things and alcohol.
• Sleeping during daytime and waking during night is bad thing to do.
• Don’t sleep in ons and under the open sky.
• Avoid exercise and sun bath.
• Don’t do much physical exercise.
• Don’t try to swim or to take bath in any unknown pond or river.

HEALTH TIPS FOR RAINY SEASON

Varsha ritu is the season for prakopa of vatta dosha, also pitta and kapha dosh are also high. The digestive power i.e agni is very low.Thus maximum precautios should be taken.

• Be particularly careful about keeping your food and water clean. Wash your vegetables and fruits thoroughly to ensure removal of bacteria and dirt. The leafy vegetables contain larvae too and you need to be very careful in finding them while washing.
• Although it is difficult to resist snacks in the cool weather, your diet should mostly consist of cereals and vegetables cooked in minimum of oil. Having oily food would create problems in digestion.
• Vegetables preferable during monsoon are neem, torai, pointed gourd (parwal), turmeric, tinda,methi, and cluster beans.
• The amount you eat should be balanced, but if you have to , do so by eating less not more. It is important to put the digestive system at ease.
• Some of the easily digestible spices during monsoon are garlic, hing, pepper, ginger, turmeric, jeera powder and coriander. They are very nutritious in monsoon.
• Non-vegetarian food is especially avoidable in monsoon. Those who can’t should stick to soups  and avoid curries of fish and meat.
• Excessively spicy foods such as tamarind and pickles should be avoided. They add taste to your food but can be very heavy in the monsoon.
• In this season, , people of vattaj prakriti, old age people and people suffering from vattaj disorders like jointpain, arthritis, backpain, insomnia,  swelling in joints, sciatica, body pain etc., dont eat raw vegetables like onion , cucumber etc. always consume cooked or steamed food.
• Perhaps the most important precaution during monsoon is to avoid having outside food. Eat food cooked at home always. Foods such as raitas, sandwiches, salads are particularly avoidable as they contain raw vegetables and you cannot be sure of the hygiene in their storage. So, apart from salads, juices, cut fruits, chaats and golas from street vendors.
• If you want to snack, there is no dearth of healthy options. The grilled corn (bhutta) that is available everywhere when it rains is preferable. But do not let the street vendor apply his masala on it. Corn is rich in fibre and when roasted on coal, it makes for a very healthy snack. In rainy season prefer grilled (bhune) items such as bhutta, chana, etc as humidity is very high, and these food items are relaxing to the system and also will not lead to accumulation of doshas.
• Monsoon is a season of mainy diseases like malaria typhoid, common cold, conjunctivitis, cholera and mainy skin diseases . thus to avoid this maintain proper hygiene at places near you and does not allow water to stagnate , as it offers mainy mosqouito and flies.
• Drink boiled and filtered water .  boiled water should be used within 24 hrs .
• Try not to go out in rain. Carry a umberella always. If you get wet , dry yourself properly and do not remain damp for a longer time.
• Clean your feet properly and dry them after coming to home from work
• Tastes to be preffered are sweet, sour and salty and excessive pungent, bitter and astringent tastes should be avoided
• People of vatta –pittaj and vatta kafaj prakriti should take more precautions as their chances of getting ill is more with respect to others.