Month: May 2024

Like every year, this summer Umesh sat in front of me holding a handkerchief stained with blood from his nose. This was a regular trouble he faced of nose bleeding after roaming in the sun. Due to the intense heat of summer, he faces this problem frequently. Roaming in the sun without wearing a cap and staying up late at night contribute to his trouble. Many people suffer from this problem in summer. Umesh is an example of these kinds of patients. After discussing diet and precautions to be taken in summer, we are now going to discuss the diseases that occur in this period.

For people like Umesh, who are suffering from problems like nose bleeding, the best medicine is ‘Durva’. The juice of Durva is considered to be very cool. Hence, we can put drops of its juice in our nose. It is advised to keep ice on your nose and forehead while lying on your back. We can also put sugar syrup drops in our nose to stop the bleeding. Medicines like Padmakadi Tail and Chandrakala ras are also useful in treating such problems. However, these medicines should be used only on the advice of a medical practitioner. People who frequently face this problem may start using the juice of Durva and sugar syrup from the start of summer. There is no harm in this and would help in preventing such diseases.

Another important complaint in summer is Urine infection and experiencing pain while urinating. We should consume beverages like coconut water, Lemon sharbat, Amla sharbat in more quantities. Medicines like Amala, Dhamasa, Gokshur and Nagarmotha are beneficial for such problems. Ushirasav and Chandansav are also useful. However, any medication  should be taken only after consultation with a doctor. To reduce the pain during Urination, we can boil water with coriander and cumin seeds. Consuming this water would be helpful.

During summer, some people feel a heating sensation in their hands, feet or in their entire body. Such people should include more milk, ghee and butter in their diet. Medicines such as PravalPishtha, Gairik, Jyethamadha Padmakastha, Shatavari, Pomegranate, Falasa are beneficial for this. Such medication should be used only upon medical consultation.Applying coating(lep) of a combination of sandalwood, multani mitti and sariva on the body also reduces inflammation and heating sensation in the body. Regular intake of Gulkand and Moravala are very beneficial to reduce body heat. 

Another heat-related disorder is blisters on the skin. In our local language we call it ‘Ghamolya’ or ‘prickly heat rash’ in English. Sometimes we observe symptoms such as burning sensation or itching in Prickly heat. In such cases we can apply lep(coating) of Nagarmotha, Wala and Jitsaya mixed with water. Applying Lep(coating) of ghee, Shatdhout ghrutam and butter is beneficial if the prickly heat burning sensation is increased. Continuous application of talcum powder on the skin also provides relief from such problems. Along with medicines, people facing the problem of prickly heat should use more cotton clothes, instead of synthetic clothes. This is because synthetic clothes rubbing on the skin may cause even more harm. Similarly, the use of soaps containing chemicals should also be avoided.

Sometimes we cannot avoid going out in the hot summer. Too much exposure to the sun causes ‘skin darkening’. In such cases, we should use sunscreen lotions and gels. Applying such lotions and gels before going out can help us in protecting our skin from the intense heat of the sun. These creams and lotions are very beneficial for skin problems like dryness, roughness, and cracking of skin. Another useful medicine for these complaints is ‘aloe vera’. Applying aloe vera gel provides moisture to the cells which keeps our skin fresh.  In the summer, many people get rashes on their bodies due to acidity. It causes red circular rashes on the skin which itches. We should apply kokum water immediately on the skin and this water should be consumed as well. We can also apply water mixed with edible soda on the skin. 

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

Note : Please use all the medications mentioned in this article after consultation with your doctor.

Suresh felt completely exhausted from roaming in the blazing sun the entire day. He was totally drenched in a stream of sweat. The scorching heat of summer tests our patience every day. ‘There are so many inventions happening in this world. Then why hasn’t anyone invented a handy AC or Fan?’ Suresh asked, exhausted from his everyday trouble.

In this season, like Suresh, we are all eagerly waiting for the environment to cool down. This important aspect has already been described in the old books of Ayurveda(Granth). Therefore, the use of fans, coolers and air conditioners is a must in this season. We can use Khas curtains to maintain coolness in the room. Sprinkling water on these curtains can create more coolness. The blow from fans and coolers can cause problems for some people such as a cold or feeling heaviness in the body. These people should take care that the blow of air should not be directly on their body. In this season, we should take care of one important thing. We must avoid going directly into an air-conditioned room when we have just come from the outside heat. Similarly, we should avoid going outside directly from an air-conditioned room. This sudden difference in temperature can be harmful to our body.

We can use cold water for drinking and bathing as well. Tools like showers and bathtubs are also useful. Wrapping a wet napkin or handkerchief on our body gives us continuous coolness. The constant cold touch makes the hot summer comfortable.

In this season, it is advisable to wear silk or cotton clothes while going out. The clothes should be loose and made of soft fabric. Dark coloured clothes increase heat. Therefore, it is beneficial to wear light colored or white clothes in this season. It is mandatory to use caps and umbrellas to protect ourselves from the sun. The intensity of heat is harmful for our eyes as well. Hence, we must use goggles while roaming in the sun. It is better to avoid going out in the afternoon heat.

Whenever we come from outside, from the extreme heat of the sun, it is necessary to take care of one important thing. We always wash our face immediately after coming from outside. This is harmful for the strength of our eyes. Therefore, after coming from outside, we must wait for some time. Once the body temperature reduces to room temperature, we can wash our face with cold water.

In Grishma Rutu, if possible, try to avoid excessive exercise as this can cause more fatigue. Among them, exercises like swimming would be more useful. It is better to just sit in the water for a long time rather than swimming too much. If you still want to exercise, slow walking in the morning and evening when it is not sunny is desirable. Doing such exercises for a long time is not recommended.

In Grishma Rutu, dryness in the body keeps increasing. We have also seen that Vaat dosha increases and loss of strength also happens in this season. Considering this, an afternoon nap is very beneficial. In other seasons, sleeping in the afternoon is not recommended in terms of health. However, in this season, it is considered to be necessary. We should sleep on the terrace or in the open courtyard, in the moonlight. The coolness of stars is very beneficial during this time. Activities like sitting or roaming in moonlight should be done frequently.

We should apply lep(coating) of cool herbs like Chandan(sandalwood), Kapur, Nagarmotha on our bodies in summer. It helps to reduce body heat. Also, these scented herbs keep our mind fresh. We can use fragrant flowers like Mogra(Jasmine), Jai and Jui for this purpose. Different types of scents, Attar and deodorants can be used freely to keep ourselves refreshed. 

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

“Doctor, you are telling me to eat curd?”, asked a surprised and curious Sameer who was sitting in front of me. This is because people have a false belief that Ayurvedic doctors do not recommend Curd, which is their favorite food. Hence, he was surprised when the I told him to eat curd. Curd need not be completely stopped or avoided at all times. Especially during the Summer Rutucharyaa, curd is definitely considered acceptable. 

Sour and fatty foods like Curd enhance our taste and appetite. It also decreases dryness. Therefore, Curd or Curd with sugar should be consumed. Like curd, Muramba can also be consumed. Kokum Saar and Tomato soup are very beneficial in this season. Tomato sauce can also be included in this period. Regular intake of sour and sweet tasting buttermilk is advised in this season.

During this season, nature also fulfils the need for sour fruits like Karavand(berry), raw Mango and Kokam. We can prepare savory dishes like raw Mango pickle or Kayras. Just consuming raw Mango with salt is beneficial. Kokum Sharbat is the most commonly consumed drink in this season. In this period, we get useful fruits like Lemon and Amla. We should consume Lemon pickle and Lemon juice. Amla, in the form of Moravala is very beneficial. As Amla is considered to be very cool, we should always keep Amla juice at home. In this season, consuming foods like raw Mango, Lemon or other such pickles provides lots of benefits to our body as they are sour and salty. We can consume mix-veg pickles made from vegetables like cauliflower and carrot.

During the summer, we should include leafy vegetables like Chakwat, Spinach, Chuka, Maath, Tandulja and Rajgira. We should also consume vegetables like Potato, Elephant foot yam(Suran), Beetroot, Sweet Potato and Carrots. Vegetables like Okra, Snakegourd(Padval), Ridge gourd(Dodka), Ghosali, Tondli, Cabbage and CaulIflower should also be included in our diet. 

We must try to avoid foods made from Lentils(Dal).This is because all types of Lentils(Dal) increase dryness in the body. If you must, it is preferable to use Moong dal as it is relatively less dry. It also has a cool property which is beneficial in Summer.

In the summer months, we must use slightly more oil than usual as this reduces dryness in the body. As we have already seen, pure ghee is very useful for this purpose. During Grishma Rutu, our digestive power is reduced. Therefore, it is better to avoid non vegetarian food as it is heavy to digest. If you still want to eat non-vegetarian food, you can consume Fish, Chicken and Crab in less quantities. It is better to have Mutton or Chicken in soup form rather than meat.

During the Grishma Rutu, ‘Onion’ is a very useful food for maintaining good health. Since it has a cooling property, it should be included in our diet. It is beneficial to eat just Onion or in the roasted form. There is also no harm in cooking onions along with our daily food. We can include tasty Onion koshimbir(onion salad with curd) frequently in our diet. Like all these food items in our diet, another important aspect in summer is ‘liquid’! In our article ‘Summer beverages’, we have already discussed this and the foods that should be avoided during this season. 

Dr Mayuresh Aagte

During the summer, we constantly feel thirsty. Naturally, we feel like drinking something to satisfy this thirst. In such times, the main requirement is ‘water’. In this season we feel like drinking cold water. It is better to use water stored in earthen pots. We also use water stored in the fridge. However, we should keep in mind that this water is heavier to digest than the water stored in earthen pots. We can drink water that is cooled using ice cubes. Putting Khas(Wala in Marathi) in water increases its coolness. Like Khas, putting Sandalwood, fragrant flowers(clean and chemical free) such as Rose, Mogra(Jasmine), Jai,Jui and Parijatak(night jasmine) is also very beneficial.

One of the important things to keep in mind  is that in case of using water from wells and lakes, we must boil it before using. This is because such water is more likely to be contaminated during summer. It is better to use packed water of good quality.

Like water, we can use different drinks to quench our thirst. We should frequently consume drinks or Sharbat such as Panhe(raw Mango Sharbat), Khas,Kokum,Lemon, fresh Neera, Lassi and Tender coconut water. Sugarcane juice that is available in this season is also very good. If we add ginger or lemon to sugarcane juice, it not only makes it tasty but also easy to digest. Before drinking these beverages outside, we should make sure that they are of good quality and prepared in a clean and hygienic environment.

We should consume plenty of juices from various fruits. There is no harm in consuming fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, grapes, custard apple(Sitaphal), Ramphal, Pomegranate and Banana, directly or in juice form. We should include various Jams and Jelly of fruits in our diet. It is also advised to consume squashes of different fruits.

Just thinking about ‘Mango’ makes the entire summer more bearable and even comfortable. It is as if nature has compensated for all the troubles of summer in the form of this king of fruit. In this season, having Mango or Aamras is a joyful feast. We can include Mango in the form of Mango Roti, Mango Barfi and Amrakhand. Compared to other fruits, Mango has a special  property according to Ayurveda. In Ayurveda, consuming Shikran(banana mixed with milk), fruit salad, and fruit with milk is not allowed. Consuming such foods for a long time can cause various skin diseases. However, Mango is an exception to this. There is no harm in consuming Mango with milk. Therefore, during this time, various dishes like Mango Mastani and Mango Kulfi should be enjoyed to the fullest. There are many varieties of Mango such as Hapus(Alphonso), Payri, etc. All varieties of mangoes can be consumed. In particular, the Hapus Mango is more nutritious. Ice creams, Kulfi and Mastani-like drinks that cool the body can also be taken during this time.

As we recommend the food that can be consumed in this season, we also recommend those that should be avoided. We should avoid dry foods such as Bread, Fenugreek, Drumsticks and Dill as they increase heat in the body and therefore should be completely avoided. Vegetables like bitter gourd increase dryness and reduce strength in the body. Foods made from lentils also have the same effect on the body. Therefore, we should not include all these foods in our diet. Spices like Asafoetida, Mustard seeds, Cinnamon and Ajwain(Owa) are very hot and should be used in less quantities. Another food to avoid is ‘Garlic’. We should be careful while using Chilies, hot spices and red Chili powder. Dry or roasted meat is harmful in this season. We should strictly avoid stale food, fermented food like Idli, dosa, bread and fried food like Bhaji and Batate vada.

Dr Mayuresh Aagte