The human body is gravely affected by the change in the seasons making it a storehouse of health problems. Let’s explore more about Monsoon and its effect on our five-foot-tall body.
Table of Contents
Introduction
While everyone is relishing every drop of rain after a prolonged hot season, our body is getting affected internally. After the first shower of the monsoon, the environment is filled with humidity due to the already stored heat and moisture in the environment.
This increase in humidity leads to weakening of the digestive fire, resulting in the conversion of ingested food into sour components, leading to indigestion and stomach issues.
Bloating
Bloating is the feeling of air inflated in the abdominal cavity, wherein the abdominal girth seems to be increased along with the heaviness and tightness of the involved muscles. There is an obstruction in the passing of burps and flatus leading to a sense of discomfort. This discomfort is relieved only by the passage of Vata through burps and flatus.
Medicines that will kindle the digestive fire and regulate the passage of Vata prove beneficial. This is the reason food ingredients, like ginger, garlic, asafetida, ajwain, and ghee should be included in the diet during the monsoon.
Not following a healthy and light diet during monsoon can also lead to gastritis, stomach ulcers, constipation, and high-grade fever. Ayurvedic treatment for Bloating may vary as per individual’s body type and formation.
Acidity
The improper action of Agni results in acidity and indigestion. Some individuals can have a burning sensation in the chest and abdomen, whereas watery burps with a sour and bitter taste are experienced by many.
Headache is another presentation of acidity complained by most people in this season. Headache due to acidity is usually experienced at the temporal region of the head, which is generally relieved after vomiting. People with chronic acidity usually have a hard time during monsoon.
Indulging in the right food which is easily digestible and boosting the digestive fire is the ideal way to prevent indigestion and Acidity. With the first rain, cravings for fried, salted, and spicy food are in the demand, this is because Monsoon brings with it aggravated levels of Vata.
Pitta also starts vitiating but the sudden lowering of temperature, only lets it accumulate at its desired level without having much adverse effect on the body and its tissues. All these fluctuations cause an imbalance of doshas and weaken the Agni. This weakened Agni is unable to convert the food ingested, into the desired Dhatus and Doshas.
Constipation
Constipation is a general health problem that people face all year round; however, it aggravates during monsoon due to increased Vata and digestive issues.
The increased Vata causes dryness in the digestive system and leads to hard stools and more production and accumulation of Vata in the abdominal cavity. This disturbs the regular bowel movement and slows down the process of digestion, leading to indigestion, stomachache, headache, and heaviness of the body along with nausea and loss of appetite.
Liberal use of ghee is advised with freshly cooked hot food, dals, and soups tempered with herbs like pepper, saunf, ginger, asafetida, and a dash of lime.
Choose Saindhav salt over the regular table salt. Saindhav salt facilitates the movement of Vata and softens the stools. You can cure the problem of constipation only through the right diet consumption and medication.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is also known as “Atisaar” in Ayurveda is digestive trouble characterized by frequent passing of semisolid or watery stools. It is generally associated with abdominal pain and a foul smell.
The weakened digestive fire makes it unable to metabolize the food into nutrition for the body tissues. This partially digested food is further passed on and eliminated from the body. The impure water in this season adds to the trouble.
The weakened digestive fire makes it unable to metabolize the food into nutrition for the body tissues. This partially digested food is further passed on and eliminated from the body. The impure water in this season adds to the trouble.
During monsoon, Diarrhea is a common issue that can be treated by correcting the digest. One should resort to rice gruel, semisolid khichdi. Adding dry ginger to food preparation enhances digestion and reduces the frequency of motions.
Water should be boiled and filtered. It is advisable to medicate the water with dry ginger, coriander seeds, and seeds of Nagarmotha also known as “Nutgrass” or Cyperus Rotundus.
One Solution for All Your Health Issues
As Monsoon affects one’s digestive system, Ayurveda presents multiple solutions for restoring the balance between the doshas and increasing the Agni for the digestive system to work properly. I generally suggest my patients –
- To take freshly cooked homemade food.
- The food should be seasoned with ginger, garlic, pepper, asafetida.
- Saindhav salt should be preferred.
- Ghee and honey should be liberally included in the diet. Ghee pacifies the Vata, kindles the digestive fire, and provides the necessary lubrication to the body, whereas honey takes care of the excessive moisture and dampness in the body, thus strengthens the Agni.
(Note – Honey should never be heated or consumed with hot/warm food).
- Water should be boiled, filtered, and medicated as mentioned above.
- Keep away from cold, stale, and fermented food.
- Herbal tea and turmeric milk are the immunity booster of the season which handles digestion.
- One should exercise for at least 20-30 mins a day as per the individual’s stamina.
The seasonal panchakarma – “Basti” takes care of all the seasonal complaints. It pacifies Vata dosha, regulates its movements and functioning by lubricating the entire body. Basti also helps to eliminate the excess pitta and other toxins produced due to digestive issues. Basti strengthens the Asthi dhatu or the Bone tissue and relieves joint problems. Ayurvedic texts quote that – “Basti is almost the Half treatment.”
Basti Panchakarma
Vata plays a pivotal role in the overall functioning of the body, bodily movements. It also governs the other essential processes like –
- Ingestion of food, water, air.
- Retaining the digested food, and malas during the process of digestion.
- The elimination of stools, sweat, and urine, menstrual flow.
Since Vata is predominantly active in the areas like large intestine, rectum, and lower extremities, it is recommended to normalize it via Basti – the rectal route of medicinal administration.
Basti is one of the effective Ayurvedic Panchakarma procedures, especially advised in Vata-related disorders like constipation, joint pain, disturbed menstrual problems, sciatica pain, and as a seasonal panchakarma suggested for all the individuals in Monsoon. Basti Panchakarma, as per the ancient Ayurvedic texts, plays a broader therapeutic action on all tissues of the body to rejuvenate, curate, prevent and promote health.
Based on the medicines used, Basti is of two types – Anuvasan Basti and Niruha Basti, wherein medicated oil and medicated decoction is administered respectively, on alternate days.
Medicines for Basti are selected for a patient depending on the dosha & dhatus involved in the disease. It should be executed under the supervision of an Ayurvedic doctor.
Consult an Ayurvedic Doctor
Other Medication
I always suggest people understand their body type and its functioning to decide the diet, exercise, and medication they are going to take. Whether it’s season change or your constant health issue, one can select medicines and diet only by comprehending your body type.
Thus, before choosing your diet and exercise, do consult an Ayurveda doctor. To understand the dietary items for monsoon, you can read my last blog that talks about the 5 Superfoods for Monsoon that suits everyone and can be taken mixed with general food items.