Ayurvedic Rainy Day: Tips for Healthy Monsoon Season

Welcome to “Ayurvedic Rainy Day Tips”

As the monsoon arrives, it come with a new set of challenges to our health and well-being. Let the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda to help you stay healthy during the monsoon season. Here’s how you can find natural remedies, dietary suggestions and lifestyle practices to fight with challenges of monsoon.

Learn the Monsoon in Ayurvedic Terms

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In Ayurveda, the monsoon which is known as “Varsha Ritu”. Three main doshas in our body – Vata, pitta and kapha. During this season, Vata doshas increase which leads to increase in pitta dosha. The body’s internal balance may shift, and body becomes weak.

Balancing monsoon with a Light Diet

During the monsoon, the increase in doshas can lead to inactive digestion. To overcome digestion problems some Ayurvedic recommendations are here:

Spices and Herbs: Include warming spices like ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and cumin in your meals. These spices help stimulate digestion and reduce excess mucus. Masala Tea (chai) is best option to include in our morning and evening snack routine. Ginger tea, Lemon tea are famous herbal tea option also available. You can go for medicated water (kadha) as well, if you don’t like tea. We are familiar with medicated water (kadha) since corona period.
Light Soups and Stews: Option for easy-to-digest foods like clear soups and vegetable stews that are nourishing yet not heavy on the stomach.
Avoid Cold and Heavy Foods: Minimize the intake of cold, heavy, or oily foods, as they can aggravate doshas and lead to digestive discomfort. Avoid eating oily snacks in the stall which are best invitation of digestion problems.

Boosting Immunity with Ayurvedic Herbs

The monsoon season can be a prime time for infections due to increased humidity and exposure to damp environments. Strengthen your immune system with the following Ayurvedic herbs:

Tulsi (Holy Basil): Known for its immune-boosting and antibacterial properties, Tulsi tea can be a soothing and health-promoting beverage.
Amla (Indian Gooseberry): Rich in vitamin C, amla helps enhance immunity and detoxify the body.
Ginger: Often used in Ayurveda to support the immune system, ginger can help prevent common cold and flu symptoms.
Lemon: helpful in digestion purpose and rich in vitamin C.
Turmeric: It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It helps to boost immunity. Turmeric milk is good option in monsoon to avoid any kind of infection.

Staying Active and Energized

Even though the monsoon might make you feel more lethargic, maintaining physical activity is crucial Engage in moderate exercise such as:

Yoga: Practice yoga poses that energizes, such as Sun Salutations (surya namaskar) and poses that stimulate circulation and digestion.
Walking: Regular walks, especially in dry environments, can help counteract the dampness and keep your energy levels up.

Maintaining Skin Health

The high humidity of the monsoon can lead to skin issues such as acne and fungal infections. Ayurvedic skin care tips include:

Cleansing: Use gentle, natural cleansers to keep your skin clean and free from excess moisture. You can use besan or red lentil powder (Lal masur) for cleansing purpose.
Exfoliation: Regularly exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores. Rice, coffee are best natural exfoliators.
Hydration: Keep your skin hydrated with light, non-oily moisturizers that won’t clog pores. Drink water as much as you required. Don’t stay dehydrated.

Practicing Daily Routine (Dinacharya)

Adjusting your daily routine to align with the season can help maintain balance. Ayurvedic practices include:

Abhyanga (Self-Massage): Perform self-massage with warm oils like sesame or coconut oil to keep the skin nourished and to help maintain circulation.
Skin care: Monsoon causes fungal infection due to moisture and lack of sun exposure. You can avoid fungal infection by taking herbal bath such as neem bath, simply adding neem leaves in water.
Hair care: Monsoon leads to dandruff and oil deposition on scalp. Use natural remedies like curd honey mask (yogurt/curd + honey + Aloe vera), Shikekai powder on hair. Do head massage with coconut oil or any your favourite oils (Almond oil, Sesame oil).
Routine: Follow a consistent daily routine including regular sleep patterns, balanced meals, and mindful relaxation practices.

Mental and Emotional Balance

The monsoon season can sometimes bring about feelings of heaviness. To maintain mental and emotional well-being:

Meditation: Practice meditation to stay grounded and focused, helping to balance any emotional baggage. Do atleast 20 minutes mediation daily.
Positive Environment: Surround yourself with positive influences and engage in activities that uplift your mood. Spend your time with your loved once, friends and family. Avoid excess screen time.

Conclusion

The monsoon season, with its unique challenges and opportunities, can be balanced through Ayurvedic principles. By adjusting your diet, adding beneficial herbs, staying active, and practicing self-care routines, you can tackle monsoon challenges.