The change in weather from summer to rain affects living beings in several ways. The impact of a sudden dip in temperature is most acutely felt in the digestive mechanism. The sweat glands become less active. Body loses the healthy look and weight. Other changes include a slump in immunity and vulnerability to diseases.
Ayurveda mentions the methods that can be adopted to prevent diseases caused by change of seasons. Care should be taken to consume food that is easily digestible. Steamed items like idli, idiyappam and puttu should be preferred. A soup can be prepared with vegetables, green gram and horse gram. Ginger, pepper, fennel seeds and shallots can be added to it. Stress should be given to sour, salt and sweet tastes.
Vegetables should be thoroughly cleaned and boiled before using. They can be kept immersed for one hour in warm water in which salt and turmeric powder are dissolved, before washing. Fruits also can be cleaned using this method. Rotten or in any other way damaged fruits and vegetables should not be consumed. Fried items should be avoided as far as possible. Stale food should never be even touched. Another health tip is to drink water boiled with dried ginger and coriander.
While having a head bath, take oil on one hand, rub both hands together and apply the oil all over the body. However, oil bath should be avoided when one is suffering from cold, body ache or indigestion.
Those who engage in exercise should reduce the time spent in this regard. This is because the body would be weak. While going out for a walk, those having long hair should tie it. Mask can be worn in view of the humidity and to prevent disease-causing organisms from entering the body.
(The author is chief physician at Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala)
