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Seasonal Regimen

Painting by Amir Ali Alibhai

Seasonal Regimen

The influence of the solar cycle, or the time it takes for the earth to complete one orbit around the sun, can be divided into two equal periods, each of which begins and ends with the winter and summer solstice. Ayurveda recognizes these two periods, calling them dakshinayana (southern movement) and uttarayana (northern movement), each corresponding to the shift in the position of the earth relative to the sun.Please login or register to see the full article

Winter Regimen

Ayurveda states that it is during winter that the health potential is at its greatest due to the extrinsic cold of that contains the expansive nature of the digestive fire (agni). Thus the agni becomes concentrated and the digestive capacity becomes strong to such an extent that if precautions are not taken its catabolic qualities will extend to the digestion of the body itself.

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Spring Regimen

The cold weather of winter coupled with the necessarily heavy and nourishing foods consumed during this time promotes a general increase in kapha. With the increasing influence of the sun and the warm weather of this natural increase in kapha undergoes vitiation. This process is mirrored in the natural environment, when the snow that has accumulated in the mountains over winter begins to melt and flood the streams and rivers with water.

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Summer Regimen

According to Ayurveda, with the moist heat of spring pitta dosha undergoes increase, and this increase coupled with the intense heat of summer leads its vitiation and the potential for pitta-type diseases including skin rashes, heatstroke, and gastroenteritis.

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Autumn Regimen

In autumn the weather changes from the heat and dryness of summer to become cool, windy and wet, following the relative movement of the sun away from the earth (dakshinayana). The life-giving energy of summer fades from the flower to the fruit, falling to the ground to rot and provide nourishment and protection for the seed of next year’s growth.

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