Ayurvedic advice isn’t static but changes according to the time of year. As the days stay warm and bright, we can finally announce the arrival of summer. But, how can we stay cool and calm during the hot, dry summer environment? This is how Ayurveda can help with summer health.
Understanding your Ayurvedic constitution, or dosha, can really help you to determine how to cope with seasonal changes.
Here is a little insight into how each of the main types can be affected by summer
Vata predominant constitutions (or those with a vata imbalance) are exposed to higher levels of dryness in the summer, which can increase their already dry bodies. However, this type also tends to feel the cold (cold hands and feet anyone?) so the increased heat can help in this regard. These conditions can aggravate hot, dry itchy skin conditions such as eczema or dry coughs.
Pitta predominant constitutions (or those with a pitta imbalance) are most affected by the summer as they have higher levels if heat in their system which can aggravate ‘hot’ conditions such as heartburn, high blood pressure, fevers and skin rashes. You may also notice a change in their temperament, becoming more irritated, angry and frustrated in the ‘heat of the moment’.
Kapha predominant constitutions (or those with a kapha imbalance) are most aggravated in cold and damp environments. So, they can really benefit from hotter and dryer environments and may feel more energized during summer. But, remember that kaphais constitutionally cool and damp, so they may struggle with intense heat and find it uncomfortable.
Remember, we’re all a mixture of the three dosha so we’ll show characteristics of each but one or two will tend to dominate. If you haven’t yet explored your’s, why not try our dosha quiz here.
Tips for Vata predominant constitutions (or those with a vata imbalance)- keep calm and hydrated
To balance the cold and airy tendencies of vata, you need to increase its opposing qualities of warmth and moisture. Warmth should be in abundance now, so focus more on the moisture side by increasing hydrating food and drink and keeping the skin surface fully moisturised. This helps prevent dryness causing concerns with constipation and a tendency towards irregularity.
- Use oils such as ghee and coconut oil to cook with and drizzle oils such as hemp and olive oil over your meals.
- Steer clear of dry foods such as crackers, crisps and bread.
- Increase your intake of refreshing herbal teas that will hydrate the system such as licorice, peppermint, fennel and rose.
- Ensure that you are eating and drinking regularly; routine is key for keeping vata in balance.
- Increase self-massage rituals to keep the skin moisturised and hydrated
- Introduce relaxation techniques and calming yoga practices into the beginning and end of the day to keep the mind cool and calm (around 6am and between 4-6pm is ideal as vata dosha dominates these times of day)
Tips for pitta predominant constitutions (or those with a pitta imbalance)- keep cool and calm
Balancing pitta dosha is all about keeping cool, calm and collected. It’s important to help the body clear excess levels of heat through efficient cleansing practices. It’s equally important to introduce calming and balancing practices such as mindfulness or yoga to stop the flames spreading out of control.
- Favour foods with a sweet, bitter and astringent tastes, which are more cooling in their nature, e.g. organic milk, mint and coriander herbal teas, sweet seasonal fruits, pears, apricots, grapes, plums, watermelon and sweet berries (not citrus fruits).
- Avoid foods that generate heat with spicy, salty and sour tastes
- Keep topped up with cooling liquids such as aloe vera juice and cool herbal teas including herbs such as peppermint, aloe vera, licorice and rose.
- Begin and end the day with a cooling massage of the feet with coconut oil. This will help draw the heat down and out of the body. You can also enjoy a full body massage with coconut oil each week, wash off with a cool shower afterwards, avoiding hot baths and showers, saunas and steam rooms.
- Walking barefoot on cool grass coated with dew is one of the best ways to cool the body, as is lying under the ways of the moon in the cool of the evening.
- Avoid sun exposure between noon and 3pm, especially with a tendency to have freckles, moles and paler skin
- Make sure you resist the temptation to stay up too late most of the time, by ensuring your in bed around 10pm when pitta starts to rise in the body.
Tips for kapha predominant constitutions (or those with a kapha imbalance)- keep warm and active
Luckily, if we have a good summer, the weather will naturally support a reduction in kapha due to the warm and dry weather. However, that is not always the case. So, the best way to tackle this is through sticking with warming, drying and stimulating foods whilst getting out into the great outdoors and increasing physical exercise to create a level of internal heat.
- Increase naturally bitter, drying and spicy foods to help remove any built-up cold and damp congestion from the winter months.
- Dry spicy curries and warming stimulating herbal teas that include spices such as ginger, rosemary fennel, turmeric and cinnamon are ideal.
- Try and stay clear of cold, damp and refrigerated foods such as dairy products and raw foods.
- Keep physically active and make the most of exercising in the energising sunshine!
- Try an invigorating massage or skin exfoliation to get the blood flowing.
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