Dietary and Lifestyle measures based on the six Seasons

We shall look at some of the broad features of the dietary and lifestyle measures in each of the six seasons:

1. Winter (hemanta and śiśira)

[During this season, there is strengthening of digestive power.]

Dietary recommendations—high fat content with sweet, salt and sour tastes; meat of aquatic, swamp and burrowing animals; cow’s milk, cane juice, new rice, etc.;

Lifestyle recommendations—massage, unction, application of oil on the head, fomentation, while living in an underground residence and inner heated chamber; use of heavy warm clothing and silks; application of aguru on the body; non-exposure to the cold, etc.^[1]

Thus, the diet and other aspects of the winter regimen should provide warmth to the body.

2. Spring (vasanta)

[There is diminution of digestive power in spring.]

Diet—Heavy, unctuous, sweet and sour diets to be avoided; barley, wheat, meats of śarabha, rabbit, eṇa (antelope), common quail (lāva), and grey partridge (kapiñjala); sīdhu and mṛdvīka types of wine;

Lifestyle recommendations—physical exercise, unction, smoking, gargling, application of collyrium in the eyes, sandal paste and aguru on the body, etc.^[2]

3. Summer (gṛṣma)

[Digestion is affected further.]

Diet—Sweet, cold, liquid and unctuous food and drinks; meat of animals of the arid region, śāli rice, little or no fermented drinks;

Lifestyle recommendations—smearing of sandal paste on the body, wearing garlands of lotuses and lilies, living in cooled chambers,^[3] avoidance of physical exercise, exertion, sexual intercourse, etc.^[4]

4. Rainy season (varṣā)

[Digestive ability is weakened by vitiation of the doṣas; hence, moderation is advised in diet and regimen.]

Diet—the heavy tastes, that is, sweet, sour, salty beneficial^[5]; old barley, wheat and śāli rice, meat of animals of the arid region, vegetable soup; mādhvīka or ariṣṭa type of fermented drinks; pure rain water or boiled water mixed with honey; honey to be included in diet;

Lifestyle recommendations—Avoidance of excessive physical exercise; application of unction, sleeping during the day; use of light and clean clothes, etc.^[6]

5. Autumn (śarat)

[There is aggravation of pitta.]

Diet—should contain sweet, light, cold and bitter food and drinks that can alleviate pitta; ghī with bitter medicines; rice, barley, wheat, meats of śarabha, rabbit, eṇa (antelope), common quail (lāva), and grey partridge (kapiñjala), sheep; avoidance of fat, oil, meat of aquatic and swamp animals, alkaline preparations and curd;

Lifestyle recommendations—Avoidance of sleep during the day, protection from frost and easterly wind, exposure to the moon in the evenings; purgation and bloodletting are beneficial.^[7]

Each season induces disturbance of a particular doṣa. Diseases of vāta are prominent in the rains and winter, of pitta in autumn, and of kapha in spring. Adherence to the specifics this regimen in each season ensures protection from any serious disease arising from seasonal variations.^[8]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 6.19-21.

[2]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 6.22-26.

[3]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 6.27-32.

[4]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Uttaratantra 64.41.

[5]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Uttaratantra 64.46.

[6]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 6.33-40.

[7]:

Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 6.41-48

[8]:

Suśruta Saṃhitā Uttaratantra 64.55/2-56/1.