Basant Ritu

“Basant ritu” or spring is the time between “Shishir” and “Grishma”, typically from mid March to mid May. Indians have festivals for every season and spring starts with “Holi”. It is celebrated on the last full moon day of winter or “Shishir Ritu”. During this season, air is drier than “Shishir” and the Sun is stronger. The “Kaffa” accumulated in the body during Hemant/Shishir starts to melt in Basant which diminishes the “Jatharagni” or digestive fire of the body leading to “Kaffa” related ailments.

(Kaffa present in the body is responsible for lubrication in the body. For instance, smooth and lustrous skin indicates a balanced “Kaffa” in the body. Someone coughing out phlegm indicates aggravated “Kaffa”)

Lifestyle tips for Basant Ritu:

·       “Vaman” or detoxification through vomit. Person is made to drink medicated water in empty stomach and vomit afterwards. It should be done in proper supervision.

·       Workout

·       Use “Ubtan” on body. Typically a paste of turmeric and chickpeas flour in water applied on body before bath. Barley and wheat flour can also be used.

·       Nasal medications or “Nasya”

What to eat and drink:

·       One year old wheat, barley and honey.

·       Smoking (Yeah, ayurveda is only for cool guys). But it is NOT about the branded cigarettes available in market.

·       Gargle

·       Use warm water for bath and other external uses (NOT for drinking)

·       Eat roasted flesh of dry land animals and birds like rabbit, reindeer, deer, wood pecker, quail etc.

·       Wine made of grapes (Enjoy). “Asava” and “Arista” are two fermented medicinal preparations of ayurveda which are also recommended per the nature of body.

The Shloka below from Charak Samhita says it all. Smoking is mentioned in Charak Samhita.

Don’ts:

·       Avoid food which are hard to digest and cold

·       Do not sleep at daytime

·       Fatty, sweet and sour foods should be avoided

All above increases “Kaffa” in the body.

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