summer
Summer is dominated by the qualities of heat, sharpness, brightness, intensity, oiliness/dryness (depending on the heat) and lightness.
Organs and tissue that can get affected easily in this season are eyes, liver, spleen, blood, heart and skin.
As a result common health problems in summer are skin rashes, sunburn, heat rashes, eye sight issues, conjuctivitis, headache, liver disorders, high blood pressure, hyperacidity and diarrhoea.
As temperatures outside rise, internally we can feel heat build too. You may end up feeling burned out, irritable, and flushed in this hot season.
Some Ayurvedic practices that could be incorporated into your daily dinacharya for summer:
(Please note that we recommend seeing an ayurvedic practioner when thinking about incorporating new practices)
Morning detox drink
1 /4 tsp grated ginger
1/4 tsp fennel powder
1/2 tsp lemon juice
When no longer 'hot' add 1/2 tsp raw honey.
This helps to flush toxins from the gut before they are reabsorbed. Fennel helps shift additional heat out of the gut to stabilise excess pitta in the body which aids assimilation and absorption of nutrients in small intestine.
Walking on the green grass in the morning
This practice can help keep heat from affecting the eyes while calming the nervous system and removing excess heat from the blood.
Get bare foot on the green grass first thing in the morning when the grass still holds the morning dew in summer.
There are important marmas on the feet that are connected to the eyes and heart when you step onto the dewy grass you bringing grounding and cooling effects to stabilise.
Avoid hot showers
Ayurveda believes pita intelligence is disrupted by hot showers, particularly when hot water is placed on the top of the head.
Opt for a cooler shower in summer, especially on the heat.
Eye care
Soak eye pads in organic rose water then place them on your eyes and leave for two minutes at least twice daily.
This helps take excess heat from eyes.
Add to meals
Add fresh lemon juice some coriander leaves and 1/4 tsp black salt to meals if appropriate.
Lemon and black salt will help to stimulate your digestion without aggravating pitta.
While the coriander is cooling and can aid assimilation of nutrients.
Seasonal summer foods.
In summer favour Sweet, Bitter, Astringent / Cool, Heavy
Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beet greens, beans, capsicum, Bitter Melon, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, coriander, Cucumber, Fennel, lettuce, Snow Peas, Watercress, Zucchini, eggplant, sweetpotato
Fruit: Peaches (ripe and/or peeled) Pears, Persimmons , Pineapple (sweet) , Plums (ripe) , Pomegranates (sour) , Raspberries, Strawberries, Grapes, Guavas, Mangoes, Melon, Apples, Apricots, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries (ripe), Cranberries
Adzuki, Black Gram, Fava, Garbanzo, Mung, Split Pea, Tofu Chicken, freshwater fish, turkey,
Coconut oil , olive oil (unheated), ghee
Milk
Chamomile, fennel & coriander
Rice & barely
Chicory, Dandelion, Hibiscus, Mint Pumpkin & Sunflower seeds
References:
Knowledge graciously handed on through studies with Dr.Ajit at AIAS.