pitta pacification, and the seasons

[Guest guest]

ayurveda, "Shirish Bhate"

<shirishbhate> wrote:

> Members,

>

> Summer is just round the corner. We have a jump in temperature in

> most regions of tropical countries. Pitta disorders become aggravated

> in summer. Increased temperature reduces water element in environment

> and also our body. Hence we feel more thirsty. The reduced water in

> blood also increases the concentration of toxins. The pitta dosha

> means disorders in blood. Let us be prepared to face them. Chaitra

> and Vaishakha months according to Indian calendar (Two months

> starting 21st March) is best period for blood detoxification. This

> fact is already pointed out by Todd in a reply to Mr Vinod Haritwals

> post.

 

of course here in temperate regions the seasonal scheme is somewhat

different than what is related in the ancients texts, i.e. that of six

seasons (hemanta, shishira, vasanta, grishma, varsha, sharat)

 

in temperate regions like Europe and Canada we have four seasons (or in

Alberta, where I live, we actually have two, winter for 8 months,

summer for two, and a month each of weird transitional weather)

we also don't have sharat, the hot season just after the monsoons

 

the following is my take in the seasonal scheme, but in order to

understand it, its important too understand the difference between

chaya (increase) and kopa (vitiation)

 

increase (chaya) occurs when factors are present to cause a dosha to

become imbalanced - symptoms are negligible or minimal

 

vitiation (kopa) usually occurs after the dosha has been increased, at

which time it begins to manifest specific symptoms

 

during winter, kapha and/or vata are increased, depending upon the

nature of winter (lots of snow = kapha, dryness = vata)

 

with the moist heat of spring, the dry, light and cold properties of

vata is pacified and kapha undergoes vitiation as it "melts" and floods

the body, just as the snow melts in the mountains during the spring run

off

 

this is why it is helpful to cleanse just prior to spring, before kapha

begins to flood, to avoid seasonal cold/flus, hayfever etc.

 

as the heat of spring intensifies, pitta is increased, and kapha is

gradually decreased

eventually summer comes, and the light, hot and sharp properties of

pitta are increased by summer

 

if cleansing has been implemented in spring, there are no toxins to

vitiate pitta further, and typical cooling foods and therapies are

employed

 

if ama is present however, it is a more complex scenario, and the

patient will often feel miserable

 

also during summer, vata begins to become increased, esp. near the end

of summer as the sun wastes away and dries up the moisture of the earth

 

with the arising of the cool weather of autumn, pitta is pacified, but

vata is vitiated due to the dryness of summer complexed with the

coldness of autumn

 

vata of course regulates elimination generally, and to ensure that

apana functions normally, late summer/early autumn is another time to

cleanse, to render away the impurites to preserve the "seed" that will

keep life alive during winter

 

the cleanse is somewhat different in nature, and should be followed

with rasayana herbs to preserve ojas, as the energy of the earth

descends from the living creatures back down into their roots

 

during winter, the health is said to be best b/c the cold without

itensifies agni within, and a strong agni means good health

 

this intense heat could dry out the body and vitiate vata, and thus

heavy, greasy foods are recommended during winter to feed agni and keep

vata in check - of course this causes an increase in kapha, which needs

to be dispelled before spring arrives again

 

of course some people forget to stay active in winter, and thus the

heavy/greasy food consumed during winter promotes ama

 

Caldecott

phyto

http://www.wrc.net/phyto