Seasonal Variation (Parinam)

The three Doshas are affected by the season’s heat or cold, wet or dry, and heavy or light qualities. At certain times, the Doshas (metabolism) accumulate the effects of the season, and at other times they are aggravated or alleviated. During this month of May, we have had a sudden unseasonable heat wave, and many people have found that their metabolism was severely affected. We ourselves saw a fig tree that had been confused by the excess heat, and produced fruit. It was not the same taste or texture as the fruit that normally ripens at the end of the summer, but the fig tree responded to the warm weather and produced its fruit. In the same way, we human beings also go through the same kind of internal changes. In the mild, cool weather of spring, the body is managing, but unusual weather can produce illness. The heat wave affected young children, middle aged and old people, producing allergies, fever, cough, vertigo, body pain, back and knee pain. Normally a healthy person adjusts to seasonal change by adapting their diet and lifestyle, but there can be mood swings. I treated many of my patients for depression, anxiety and insomnia. We have to balance our metabolism to the season, such as Kapha in late winter and spring, Pitta during summer, and Vata during autumn and winter. Illness is more likely to occur at the junction of the seasons. Seasonal detoxification helps to protect us from having health problems.

So take care with these sudden changes. Try to be very loving and kind to your body, rest, reduce stress, exercise, walk, and in the early morning drink warm water with lemon juice on an empty stomach. Green juices + gourd are excellent. I recommend intermittent fasting to rest the digestive system, and to effectively burn away accumulated toxins from body and mind. Fasting cleans the tongue, eliminates gas, sweetens the breath, makes the body feel light and improves mental clarity and overall health. Be sure and drink lots of water, with mint leaves or basil leaves to flush toxins.

In any season, a good supplement with Amla such as Ayurlab’s Amla with selenium and vitamin E is an excellent booster for a healthy metabolism.

Hope to meet you all again on my next post. Wish health and luck to eberyone.

Dr. S. Mohanambal