Ayurveda Seasonal Regimen

A season is a division of the year characterised by particular conditions of weather,

temperature etc. Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the earth around the sun
and the tilt of the earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution.
According to Ayurveda a year is divided into two parts (kaals) according to the position
of the sun:

Aadaan kaal (Uttarayan) : When sun takes North Way course.Aadaan means taking
away.During Aadaan kaal which is considered Hot (Aagneya) the sun and wind are powerful. The sun
takes away the strength of the people and the cooling qualities of the earth. It is the period when
body strength is weakened. This period consists of three seasons-Shishir,Vasanta and Grishma.

Visarga kaal (Dakshinayaan) : When sun takes South way course.Visarga means
giving.During Visarga kaal which is considered Cool (Soumya) , the sun releases the strength to the
people. The moon is more powerful, the earth becomes cool due to the clouds, rain and cold wind.
This period consists of three seasons-Varsha, Sharad and Hemant.
Ayurveda also delineates the ascendant and descendant of strength as per Ritu (Season)
which is as follows:
Low Strength

Medium Strength

Beginning of Visarga Kaal

Mid of Visarga Kaal

End of Aadaan Kaal

Mid of Aadaan Kaal

In Ayurveda season is referred as 'RITU' and year as 'SAMVATSAR'. One year

(Samvatsar) consists of six Seasons (Ritu) i.e. each ritu consists of two months. The
Ancient seers of ayurveda highlighted the relation between season and health and have
recommended proper seasonal regimens. The Season affects the physiology of human
being, so if appropriate regimen is not followed then one may not cope up with the
seasonal changes and fall ill. So to attain the maximum benefits from the good qualities
of the Season and protection from its bad effects, Ayurveda prescribes certain rules in
regard to diet, behaviour and medicines which is called seasonal regimen or
RITUCHARYA(Seasonal regimen).

S
No.

1.

2.

3.

4.

Name of
Ritu
(Season)

Recommended
Month

Diet

Regimen

Restricted
Diet

Regimen

Maagh and
Phalgun
(About Mid
January to Mid
March)

Unctuous, Sweet, sour

taste diet. Meat of
animals of damp region
Wine, honey, Milk, milk
products, sugarcane
products, New Cereals,
edible oils ,hot water.

Vasant

Chaitra and
Baishakh
(About Mid
March-Mid
May)

Emesis (Vaman)
Physical exercise.
Dry massage.
Barley, old wheat,
Medicated smoke
honey, roasted meat,
inhalation
Heavy, sour,
Beverages such as asava
Keeping
sweet,
(fermented infusion),
medicated liquid unctuous food
sidhu (fermented
in mouth
sugarcane juice),
APPLY camphor
or sandalwood
Intercourse.

Grishma

Jyasth and
Aasadha
(About MidMay to Mid
July)

Sweet, cold, unctuous,

light, liquid food
Beverages with sugar.
Meat of birds,
quadrupeds,
cold water
milk

Sleep in day time

at a cool place
sour , salty and Exercise,
Apply
spicy food
intercourse
sandalwood paste
on body.

Shraavan and
Bhadrapad
(Mid July to
Mid
September)

Food and drinks should

be taken with honey
Sour, salty, fatty food
Old cereals
Like barley, wheat, rice
Meat of Arid animals
Vegetable soup
For drinking use boiled
cool water

Rub the body

Take bath
Wear aromatic
garlands
Wear light and
clean apparels
Live in a place
devoid of
humidity

Sleeping in
day
Excessive
Groat diluted in
exercises
excess
Moving in
Water of rivers
Sun
Sexual
intercourse

Ashvin and
Kaartik
(About Mid
September to
Mid
November)

Sweet, light, cold and

bitter food and drinks
Meat of Common quail,
antelope, sheep, rabbit
etc
Cereals like wheat, rice,
barley
Ghee medicated with
bitter herbs
Water exposed to the
sunlight for whole day
and to the moonlight in
night in this season is
called as 'HANSODAK'
and this water should for
drinking, Bathing and
swimming

Purgation
Blood letting
Clean cloths for
wearing
Garlands made of
seasonal flowers
Staying in
moonlight in
evening

Oil
meat of aquatic
and marshy
animals
alkaline salt
preparations
curd

Margshirsh
and Pausha
(Mid

Unctuous, sour and salty Massage

taste food
Apply hair oil
Meat of borrow dwelling Fomentation

Shishir

Varsha

5.

Sharad

6.

Hemant

Massage
Sudation

Much Spicy,
Bitter,
Much
Astringent taste
travelling
diet Light and
cold food

Light food and

drinks
Intake of gruel

Sleeping in
day time.

Sun bath
Sleeping
during day
time
Exposure to
easterly
wind and
frost

Exposure to
cold wave

November Mid January)

animals and aquatic

animals and animals
who eat food by
snatching
Wine with honey
Milk and milk products
Sugarcane and its
products
Oil
New rice
Hot water

Live in basement
or inner heated
house
The vehicles,
seat and bed
should be
properly covered
starvation
by silk cloth or
blanket etc
Wear heavy and
warm cloths
May indulge in
sexual
intercourse

Ritusandhi : Ritusandhi is of fifteen days, it the time of last seven days one season and
seven days of commencement of next season. To adapt the changes between two
seasons ritusandhi charya is mentioned i.e. during this time the regimen of previous
season should be discontinued gradually and that of subsequent season should be
adopted gradually.