RITUCHARYA - Seasonal Regimen

Ritucharya is an Ayurvedic practice, it’s literal translation means seasonal regimen. Our bodies are affected by seasonal changes. Therefore Ayurveda, ancient and comprehensive system of healthcare lays great on preventive and promotion of health. Ayurveda perspective of an ideal lifestyle include following Dinacharya, Ratricharya, Ritucharya, Dharneeya & Adharneeya vega, Sadvritta, Rasayana practices.

Grishma Ritucharya
This is the hottest season, as the sun is nearer to the Prithvi, and so the rays are short and sharp, giving more heat. There is tremendous loss of sweat, as well as energy and power. The person gets easily exhausted after a light work also. The Kapha dosha decreases and the Vata dosha increases. The atmosphere becomes very stagnant and dry (Ruksha) producing Katu rasa (Pungent). The Pitta Prakriti persons are more affected due to Ushna and Tikshna guna. In short to protect from heat and Sunlight the various methods to be adopted from time to time. The Grishma (summer) being Vata chaya kala, the Vata persons should take care about the Vata dosha. He should not practise Vataja Ahara and Vihara. Bowels should be kept normal with Snehan (ointing) or Basti (enema) Shodhana. The Kaphaja persons should behave according to Ritucharya.
Diet	Cereals:	Wheat, Jawar, Sathi sali Rice.
	Pulses:	Masoor (lentils) Moog (mung beans), Matara (pea)
	Milk Products:	Curd, Ghee, Buttermilk and milk.
	Vegetables:	Karela (bitter melon), Cucumber, Chuka (green sorrel), Methi (fenugreek), white onion, Tondali (ivy gourd) etc.
	Non-veg:	Jangal Mamsa rasa without spices, meat of goat, deer, rabbit.
	Fruits:	Watermelon (unripe), Kharbuja (sweet melon), Jambhul, grapes, bananas, amalaki (emblica officinalis), pomegranate, lemon.
	Drinks:	All cold drinks prepared from fruit juices (Panhe and Panake), added with sugar and lemon, Sugarcane juice, Cold water stored in earthen pots added wala, Musta. No alcoholic drinks are advised. If at all, add more water and take very dilute and small quantity.
	Miscellaneous:	Honey, Cow's urine (Gomutra)
Behaviour	One should adopt such a behaviour that the heating process will be minimized.
Bath	Bathing with cold water and swimming, after baths apply the paste or plaster of Chandan (sandalwood), Agaru (aquillaria agallocha), Ushira (vertiveria zizanioides) etc. the cold substances.
Clothing	Thin soft cotton clothes with garlands of scented flowers, pearls and jewellery.
Exercise	Minimum exercise.
Sexual Activities	Omitted or rarely.
Residence	It should be cold, apply curtains of Mango leaves and Ushira. Spend the time in the gardens where there is a thick dense forest without Sun rays.
Sleep	Outside the house or on the terrace in the calm and cold moonlight, on the bed which is very smooth and light and perfumed with flowers.
During Hotness	Fans can be used in olden days prepared from feathers of Peacock and Ushira (vertiveria zizanioides).

Varsha Ritucharya
Due to the rain, the rivers, tanks, wells are full of water. The whole surroundings become green due to development of grass and trees. The flowers are blooming. The atmosphere is cold and damp. There are no thundering clouds, but the rain is more. Whole sky is cloudy and there is a gloomy atmosphere. Due to Adana Kala (summer solstice) the strength and power is diminished. The damp and cloudy atmosphere, make the appetite and digestion power poor. So, the cloudy weather is responsible for increase in Vata due to Sheeta guna. The new rain water is fresh, cold and muddy and so is Amla Vipaki which is reason for accumulation of Pitta dosha (Sanchay). So, during this season the chances of diseases are more and hence one must keep his Agni normal.
Diet	Cereals:	Old Wheat and rice, Jawar, Yava.
	Pulses:	Masoor, Moog.
	Oils:	Coconut oil or Groundnut oil.
	Milk Products:	Fresh Buttermilk, Butter Ghee and milk- Goat milk.
	Vegetables:	Karela (bitter melon), White onion, Methi (fenugreek), Parwal (snake gourd), Gheva (broad beans), Sweet Potato, Cucumber etc.
	Non-veg:	Meat of goat, Deer, Rabbit.
	Fruits:	Mango, Ber, Pomegranate, Amalaki (emblica officinalis), Grapes, Sugarcane.
	Drinks:	Well water, Lemon juice and Yusha (soups) made up from meat.
	Miscellaneous:	Honey.
Behaviour	One should not be in the Sunshine for longer period.
Exercise:	No excessive exercise.
Bath:	With warm water. Massage perfumes and scented powders with the cloth; after bath.
Clothing:	The clothes must be dried and with fumes of scented wood. Flower garlands are used.
Residence and Sleep:	Stay in dry place. Day time sleep as well as sleeping outside the house or open air is avoided.
Sexual Activities:	Minimum enjoyment.
Shodhana Karma:	Vamana (vomiting), Virechana (purgation) and Basti (enema) as required.

Sharada Ritucharya
In Sharada (autum), the Sun is very hot so the atmosphere is also very hot and penetrating. Somehow the night is clear and cold. The Pitta dosha which aggravates in Varsha ritu (Pitta Sanchay) is provoked by the hot and penetrating Sun leading to Pitta Prakopa. The blood is also vitiated due to Pitta dosha as both are having same faculties. The Agni is also deficient (Agnimandya) due to vitiated Pitta dosha. In Sharada (autum) the wind from Eastern side is in motion, which being damp in nature may aggravate the Vata Vyadhi and so is not advisable. So, in Sharada ritu (autumn) one should practice sweet, light, astringent and bitter diet which will not increase Pitta dosha.
Diet	Cereals:	Rice, Wheat, Jawar, Java of more than one year old.
	Pulses:	Moog, Tur (yellow pigeon peas), Chana (chickpeas), Masoor (lentils), Beans.
	Meat:	Jangala meat of Goat, Rabbit, Chicken, Pigeon, Peacock.
	Fishes:	From stream.
	Oils:	Ghee medicated with bitter medicines.
	Milk Products:	Buttermilk, Plain milk, Sugar, Curds contra indicated.
	Fruits:	Grapes, Amalaki, Kismis, Kushmanda (white gourd melon), Banana, Apple, Chiku.
	Vegetables:	Methi (fenugreek), Chakavata (goosefoot), Dudhi (bottle gourd), Sweet Potato, Karela (bitter melon), Cucumber, Cabbage, Tandulja.
	Drinks:	Water in Moonlight when Agasti shinning in the sky (Hansodaka), Wine of Sugarcane-Sidhu-Honey-Cold drinks.
Vihara:	Omit Sun heat as well as eastern wind. Night should be spent in moonlight, with lite white clothing and flower garlands.
Bath:	Cold water bath with Ushira is advised.
Sexual Activities:	Enjoy sex once after 3, 4, 5 days.
Exercise:	Mild exercise advised.
Shodhana:	Rakta mokshana (bloodletting) is advised to keep the Pitta and Rakta Dhatu normal. Virechana (purgation) is advised to keep the Pitta and Agni normal especially in Pittaja Prakriti.

Hemanta Ritucharya
In Hemanta (fall winter), the atmosphere is very cold, so the air, water and other subjects become very cool and cold. The nights are longer than day. This coldness affects the skin. The blood vessels, which gets constricted, to prevent heat loss of the body. So, the internal body heat increases, due to which the Agni (fire) is increased, resulting into increased appetite- digestion and thereby strength and power of the body. As the nights are longer, the man gets hungry early in the morning. So, in Hemanta (fall winter) one should practice to take food in the morning containing Madhura, Amla, Lavana rasas (sweet, sour, salty) and Guru (heavy), Snigdha (oily) diet, otherwise there are more chances of increase in Vata Dosha. In Hemanta (fall winter) especially the Vata prakriti person should observe about Dinacharya (daily lifestyle) as there is more chance of Vata Prakopa. This Kala (season) is beneficial for increase in Kapha Dosha (Kapha Sanchaya) which is going to affect in Vasanta ritu (Kapha Prakopa). So, the Kapha prakriti individual must be cautious during this Ritu for the increase in Kapha i.e. he should not enjoy sweeter, oily and heavy food and more rest. Pitta Prakriti person can enjoy except excess of Amla (sour) and Lavana rasas (salty).
Diet	Cereals:	Rice,Wheat,Jawar
	Pulses:	Udad (black gram) Kulitha (horse gram), Watana (pea)
	Oils:	Til, Groundnuts, Animal fats, Coconut
	Milk Products:	Milk, Curds, Buttermilk, Butter, Ghee, Cheese.
	Vegetables:	Potato, Sweet Potato, Onion, Cabbage, Flower, Dudhi Bhopala (bottle gourd), Tondali (ivy gourd), Drum Sticks etc.
	Fruits:	All sweet fruits, Mango, Banana, Grapes, Figs etc.
	Drinks:	Hot water, wine (sura made from cereals) fruit juice and its preparations.
Abhyanga:	To massage the oil into the hair and body before bath.
Exercise:	Like various games, Yogasana and gymnastics.
Bath:	Before bathing application of Keshara (saffron), Lodhra (symlocos vacemosa), Kasturi (musk) and Shikekai (Acacia concinna) powder to vanish oiliness of skin.
Clothing:	Cloths made up of warm wool and animal leather.
Vihara:	Should stay in warm and close houses, Sunbath is appreciated.
Sexual Activities:	Enjoy more lustful sex as the nights are cold and long.

Shishira Ritucharya

Generally, the atmosphere in the Shishira ritu (winter) is just same as that of Hemanta (fall winter) one. The only difference is the Adana Kala (summer solstice) begins from Shishira and so the Ruksha (dryness) guna is increased due to cold. The Vayu (air) and Megha (clouds) of the Adana (summer solstice) are supported by dense mist and rains and so the atmosphere is colder and shivering. This helps to increase Vata and Kapha (Prakopa) doshas. So, the Ritucharya (seasonal lifestyle) is like that of Hemanta ritu (fall winter) only. But one must practice warm and without air-breezy. He should eat sumptuous hot food and drink hot water and other drinks too. The Tikta (bitter) rasa is produced in this Ritu (season) and so Vata dosha start increasing. The Tikta, Kashaya rasas (bitter, astringent) along with cold and Laghu (light) diet should be omitted. Some way in Shishira ritu (winter) the Kapha prakriti person should not practice Kaphaja Ahara and Vihara to prevent Kapha-chaya. He must take Katu,Tikta and Kashaya rasas (pungent, bitter, astringent) in diet. The Pittaja person should behave as the body demands according to the atmospheric changes.

Vasanta Ritucharya
This ritu (season) is supposed to be the most charming, due to natural beauty in the surrounding nature. All the nature is full of beautiful flowers, fruits, and green leaves. Even the birds are happy and singing e.g. Kokila, which enhances the charming atmosphere. Even the air is clean. The Sun shines bright making the atmosphere hot. This hotness is a causative factor for melting of the Kapha dosha, which was increased in the body due to misbehaviour in Hemanta ritu. So, in Vasanta ritu, Kapha Prakopa is prominent causing various Kaphaja diseases. In Kapha Prakriti person these changes are more remarkable. The Drava guna (liquid) of Kapha increases in this period which results into loss of appetite and poor digestion (Agnimandya). So, this season is mainly for Kapha dosha only, which should be controlled by Ritu charya (seasonal lifestyle).
Diet	Cereals:	Yava, Vari, Old Wheat,Jawar
	Pulses:	Masura (lentils), Chana (chickpeas), Mung, (mung beans), Matki (dew beans)
	Oils:	Mustard, Karadi oil, Til oil
	Milk Products:	Only Buttermilk
	Vegetables:	Karela (bitter melon), Brinjal, Raddish, Pumpkin, Drum Stick and dry vegetables, Suran etc.
	Non-veg:	Roasted Mutton of goat, Chicken.
	Fruits:	Lemon, Betel nut, Pomegranate, Jambul.
	Drinks:	Oil, wine and Hot drinks, Asava and Arista.
	Miscellaneous:	Plenty of honey - the Katu Tikta and Kashaya rasas (pungent, bitter, astringent) should be accepted freely.
Smoking:	After meals smoking is advised (Not tobacco, cigarette). Dhumrapan of haldi with ghee is advisable.
Exercises:	Gymnastics and hard work.
Massage:	Before bath massage the body with dry powder (Utane) of Chandan (sandalwood), Ushira (Vetiveria zinzanioides) etc.
Hot bath:	Hot water bath followed by application of scented plaster (Lepa) to the skin.
Sexual Activities:	Can enjoy sex at night. (Twice or thrice in a week)
Shodhana Karma:	To control the Kapha dosha, Vamana (vomiting) is advised under supervision of specialist, especially in Kapha Prakriti.
Nasya	Nasal application and dhumrapana also help for melting the Kapha, Anjan Kawal etc. should be practised during this ritukala (season).
Avoid:	The day time sleep is strictly prohibited. (except children and old age person)
Miscellaneous:	In the afternoon one must spend the time with his wife in the gardens surrounded by flowers.