Seasons and the Doshas
Seasons and the Doshas
In the life of everything that exists in nature, there is always a beginning, a middle and an end in regards to time. Ayurveda uses the doshas to designate these three divisions in a way that can be easily understood and seen throughout many aspects of life. Kapha represents the creation of the beginning, pitta represents the preservation of the middle and vata represents the dissolution of the end. The cycle of nature always begins with kapha, moving into pitta, dissolving into vata and ultimately coming back into new growth as kapha once again.
[sociallocker]Seasons are one such measure of time in which there is a natural progression of the doshas. Kapha is strongest in the late winter and early spring when everything is moist, the temperature gets warmer and all the flowers and plants begin to grow. Pitta reaches its pinnacle in the late spring and summer when the weather is hot and nature is in a state of transformation between creation and destruction. Vata intensifies in the fall and early winter when the leaves fall, the plants recede back into the earth and the wind leaves us dry and cold. When we have an understanding of how the doshas flow with the tides of nature, we can adjust our diet so that the doshas remain in a state of balance. See Vata, Pitta, and Kapha Food list.
Kapha season: Late winter through early spring (or when it is cold and wet)
Pitta season: Late spring through summer (or when it is hot)
Vata season: Fall and early winter (or when it is cold and windy)
What all this means is that people with predominantly vata, pitta or kapha constitution will be especially sensitive during their season.
For example, in the fall and early winter (vata season), it is best to eat warm, nourishing foods to help balance the excess vata present in our external environment. Without vata reducing foods during the fall and early winter, we are likely to experience vata imbalances such as systemic dryness, fatigue or anxiety.
During transitions between the seasons the regiments and diet are blended. It is also the best time to do rejuvenation practices as we shift from the old energy to the new energy (see Panchakarma).
See also The four stages of life. Time; and Ritucharya-seasonal routine.
What should I start purification with?
You can do a simple home purification if there are no serious health conditions. Start with taking in Ghee(clarified butter) every morning for 3 days. Do Abhyanga for 5 days. Make the 6-th day a day of complete rest. Take pergative in the morning ( 1 Tbsp of castor oil). After several bowel movements eat some cooked white rice. Observe light diet for all 6 days of internal cleansing.
Stay well.
About the previous reply. For that clarification you mentioned, you just eat ghee for 6 days? And how much of it?
Yes,you take 1 Tbsp of Ghee with hot water first thing in the morning for 3 days. The purpose of this is to lubricate tissues inside your body so the poisons ( Ama) they are holding onto will dissolve and slide out more easily.
After that you lubricate your body from outside doing oil massage for 3 days (see Abhyanga) so the toxins can be released. Last thing – eliminate them taking purgative.
More clarification please.
Can the above cleaning process is applicable to all age people? Any restriction(s)?
After taking ghee for 3 days what needs to be done rest of the day?
After taking oil massage for next 3days (3-5? days) what needs to be done rest of the day?
After taking purgative for next 1 day what needs to be done rest of the day?
Is this applicable in all seasons irrespective of one’s prakriti and current state of dosha imbalances?
Please advise.
I find that drinking a hot cup of water mixed with lemon and cayenne helps combat the effects of vata season!
Cayenne pepper is considered to be one of the most harmful products because it has a burning after digestion effect. This can be compared with the arson of the rectum and leads to various diseases.