SEASONAL TRANSITIONS, DIGESTION, AND HEALTH
/We are coming into May which is considered in Ayurveda a point where the seasonal transition (“Ritu Sandi”) occurs. We will be leaving the spring months behind and entering into the summer months. May is that time of year, one of three (January, May, September), where people tend to become ill.
I’m not sure if you have noticed, but as we have been gradually retreating from winter’s coldness and heaviness and entering into the warmer, lighter, and dryer months that the state of healthy appetite and hunger has been also shifting with the seasons. It isn’t uncommon to notice your appetite decreasing to some extent as the summer approaches. It isn’t uncommon to notice when the summer is left behind and colder months follow that the state of a healthy appetite and hunger increases again. According to Ayurveda, agni/jatharagni (state of metabolic digestive functioning and health) performs according to physics involving centripetal and centrifugal forces. Centripetal forces are directed from the periphery to the center. Whereas, centrifugal forces operate from a center point outwardly. In the case of digestion, as heat in the external atmosphere increases as summer months occur, the body’s innate intelligence and physiological functionality adapts where the heat surrounding the digestive system redirects towards the extremities (centrifugal), causing the heat to dissipate in such a way and the main digestive organs lose their potency. Similarly, as the months begin to cool down, the body redirects the heat towards the main digestive organs (centripetal) in order to support stronger digestion causing an increase in healthy appetite and hunger. We can use the analogy wherein the summertime we open the windows and doors to let the cool air in and require less cooking of our foods because it is too hot to cook over a stove, and we eat lighter foods that have been cooked externally by the summer son in the garden, but when it gets colder out we close the doors and windows and turn the heat on in the home so that we can focus the heat within and our appetites increase and we can eat heavier foods such as ground vegetables, increased fats, and proteins.
It is important to consider these facts and observe them for yourself. I have included a classical Ayurveda reference pertaining to explaining dietary guidelines as per seasons but it is important to understand how to dissect this information and apply it to our local geography and climate since these Ayurvedic core principles (siddhanta) were originally applied to the Indian subcontinent. In this case, being a westerner in the New England area of the United States of America, it is important to notice what qualities are presenting in the atmosphere with regard to our climate, notice what our current state of digestion is, and observe what is currently growing locally (as much as possible) to get an understanding of how nature is supporting us in our health and well-being. We can continue to include in our diet the tastes of bitter (tikta) and astringent (kashaya), and as the temperature continues to increase steadily above 80 degrees to 90 and even around 100, we should include the pungent (tikshna) taste. When there are heavy cold rains, sour (amla) is the taste used in general. The reason for mentioning these various tastes is because Ayurveda suggests that even under the context of the primary season when we have daily fluctuations in temperatures/climate, we should adapt the diet that day to meet that specific need even though a particular season may be governing for that time period. This applies to all seasons, whether in transition (sandi) or simply the full expression of the season itself (ritu.)
Pay particularly close attention to your health, well-being, and maintenance plan during the month of May, September, and January (and in general) since the relationship of your health depends much on cause and effect (Karya Karana), causative factors of disease (hetu/nidana), and the prevention of the causative factors known as Nidana parivarjana. View the below links regarding transitioning in May, as an example of how to tailor your seasonal and daily practices in order to reduce the chances of becoming affected or afflicted by any kind of ailment.
References:
SEASONAL PRACTICES (Ritucharya)
SEASONAL REGIMEN AND DIET GUIDELINES
DISCLAIMER: This information is meant for educational purposes only and not considered medical advice. Any changes in lifestyle should be reviewed with a qualified practitioner and/or primary care physician if you are currently under their care for specific conditions.