SPRING - DOCTOR DONN's SEASONAL TIPS
Seasonal Advice according to Maharishi Ayurveda by Dr Donn Brennan, MB, BCh, BAO, MRCGP, MSCI.
1. Vedic Description of Spring
2. The Inner Experience of Balance
3. Hibernation Ends - Wake Up Kapha
4. Seasoning for the Season
5. Herbal Preparations
6. Spring Clean with Panchakarma
7. Get Out and Enjoy
1. Vedic Description of Spring
"The woods are decked with the full-blown flowers of the kinshuka, lotus, vakula, mangoe, and ashoka trees. The bee hums and the notes of the cuckoo are heard to reverberate through the skies. The south wind fans this king of the seasons and the forests are hung with the festoons of tender and sprouting leaves in his honour."
2. The Inner Experience of Balance
This description of Spring comes from the ancient classical text of Ayurveda known as Sushruta. The ancient texts continue with a marvellous wisdom describing the effects of the season on our health and how we balance mind and body at this time. It explains that this season continues the kapha increasing influence of winter and the need to balance it. Otherwise we may feel dull, lethargic and even depressed. Physically we put on too much weight and can suffer colds, allergies etc. In fact with increased kapha there is a tendency for toxins to gather and be held onto in our tissues.
3. Hibernation Ends - Wake Up Kapha
Time to spring cleanse! There are many ways we may help our body to clear its toxins. Kapha reducing foods are lighter on the digestion and therefore less inclined to cause problems. Strengthening digestion is a way to stimulate metabolism to clear toxins.
4. Seasoning for the Season - Dr Donn Brennan's seasonal tips
Use ginger more. Choose spices like cumin, fennel, pepper, turmeric or the 'Digest spice mix' in cooking. Or take the 'Herbal digest' herbal tablet before meals. Clear toxins by sipping hot water often. Consider eating very lightly for a day - choosing soups, fruit (raw and stewed), juices, herbal teas and 'kitcheri'(a rice and dahl soup).
5. Herbal Preparations
Consider using an herbal preparation to help your liver, kidneys and skin to eliminate toxins from the body. Choose 'Elimtox' or if you are pitta or have a hot pitta type problem use 'Elimtox-O' instead.
6. Spring Clean with Panchakarma
Of course the best spring clean is a good course of Panchakarma. Maharishi Ayurveda recognises the immense benefit of Panchakarma in cleaning out toxins which have got deeply ingrained in our tissues. These deep rooted toxins are what cause us to function below par and also to develop diseases. They age us. So regular panchakarma is highly recommended. This is the best time to do panchakarma. Late in kapha season the 'ama' or toxins tend to be more mobile in our bodies. So it is easier to get rid of them now with these powerful cleansing treatments. They are an enjoyable way to rejuvenate.
7. Get Out and Enjoy
Exercise is very beneficial for many reasons at this time of the year. So get out and enjoy the 'full-blown flowers', the 'festoons of tender leaves', 'the humming bees' and the scented breeze.
Kapha season: spring-early summer (approx March-June)
Kapha time: approx 6am sunrise to 10am and 6pm to 10pm
Maharishi Ayurveda notes how the changes in our environment over the year affect the three doshas in a specific sequence. The first dosha to be aggravated is Kapha, by the springtime moisture and coolness. The second is Pitta, by the summer's heat and the third is Vata, by the cold winds of late autumn and winter.
This sequence( kapha, pitta, vata) reflects Maharishi Ayurveda's central theme, that the human body and the body of nature reflect each other ('As it is in the macrocosm, so it is in the microcosm)
Note - Information provided in this page is meant solely to educate readers about Ayurveda. It is not meant to cure, diagnose, treat or mitigate any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult a health professional.
With special thanks to Dr Donn Brennan for 'Dr Donn's Seasonal Tips'.
