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Ayurveda has depicted various guidelines and regimens (Charya), regarding diet and lifestyle to acclimatize seasonal enforcement easily without affecting body homeostasis. These guidelines and seasonal regimens are known as ‘Rutucharya’. Observance of such behaviour and diet modifications is extremely important in order to prevent diseases developing due to seasonal variations and poor immunity. Thus, Rutucharya forms integral part of preventive healthcare described in Ayurveda. Main theme of this topic is to make people aware concerning the methods to live in accordance with the environment.  

Ayurveda has put forward various guidelines and regimens including diet and lifestyle components to acclimatize to seasonal enforcement easily, without affecting body homeostasis. These guidelines and seasonal regimens are known as ‘Rtucharya’. Observance of such behavior, lifestyle and diet modifications is extremely important in order to prevent diseases developing due to seasonal variations and poor immunity. Thus, Rtucharya forms integral part of preventive healthcare described in Ayurveda. Main theme of this topic is to make people aware concerning the methods to live in accordance with the environment.  

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Rutucharya has been described in almost all the authoritative Ayurvedic classics. Ayurveda believes that every change in the environment and season affects the internal environment of the human body. This leads to imbalance of Doshas which control all the mechanism in the union of body, mind & life energy. This imbalance further leads to development of diseases which occur as a result of inability of an individual to balance the changes occurring in the internal environment of body. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of seasonal variations in diseases development as well as the measures to correct this imbalance and achieve right balance of bodily elements. Under the topic of Rutucharya, Ayurveda acharyas have provided such measures in the form of dietary and lifestyle modifications, to maintain the equilibrium of internal environment of body even in the presence of fluctuating external environment and climatic conditions. These measures have been put forward after keen observation of seasonal characteristics and their effect on the state of Doshas and Dhatus in the Purusha. In the clinical settings, observance of such regime has been found extremely useful in the cases of individuals falling sick frequently because of seasonal variations due to poor immunity.

Rtucharya has been described in almost all the authoritative Ayurvedic classics. Ayurveda believes that every change in the environment and season affects the internal environment of the human body. This leads to imbalance of Doshas which control all the mechanism in the union of body, mind & life energy. This imbalance further leads to development of diseases which occur as a result of inability of an individual to balance the changes occurring in the internal environment of body. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of seasonal variations in diseases development as well as the measures to correct this imbalance and achieve right balance of bodily elements. Under the topic of Rtucharya, Ayurveda acharyas have provided such measures in the form of dietary and lifestyle modifications, to maintain the equilibrium of internal environment of body even in the presence of fluctuating external environment and climatic conditions. These measures have been put forward after keen observation of seasonal characteristics and their effect on the state of [[Doshas (दोषाः)|Doshas]] and [[Dhatus (धातवः)|Dhatus]] in the [[Purusha (पुरुषः)|Purusha]]. In the clinical settings, observance of such regime has been found extremely useful in the cases of individuals falling sick frequently because of seasonal variations due to poor immunity.

Practical utility of following Rutucharya

Practical utility of following Rtucharya

Acharya Charaka says,

Acharya Charaka says,

== Etymology ==

== Etymology ==

The word Ritu means “to go.”  

The word Ritu means “to go.” {{Citation needed}}

It is the form in which the nature expresses itself in a sequence in particular and specific in present forms in short, the seasons.[6]

It is the form in which the nature expresses itself in a sequence in particular and specific in present forms in short, the seasons.

Charya means regimen  

Charya means regimen{{Citation needed}}

== Classification of season ==

== Classification of season ==

|Shishira

|Shishira

|Winter

|Winter

|

|Cereals and pulses, wheat/gram flour products, new rice, corn, and others, are advised. Ginger, garlic, ''Haritaki'' (fruits of ''Terminalia chebula''), ''Pippali'' (fruits of ''Piper longum''), sugarcane products, and milk and milk products are to be included in the diet.

|

|Foods that can aggravate Vata dosha should be avoided in order to keep check on naturally aggravating Vata due to increasing cold. Thus, foods that are pungent, astringent and bitter in taste, cooling in nature and light on digestion should be avoided.

|

|Various Panchakarma procedures like Abhyanga i.e. Massage with warm oil, scrubbing with herbal powder or pastes are considered to be beneficial if followed on daily basis in this season. Use of warm water for bathing, exposure to natural heat or sunlight, wearing warm clothes is also advisable.

|

|Exposure to cold wind of this season, staying awake for late nights may further aggravate Vata dosha in this time. Thus its advisable to avoid these lifestyle factors.

|-

|-

|2

|2

|Grishma

|Grishma

|Summer

|Summer

|food and drinks having sweet, cold, liquid and unctuous qualities are considered beneficial

|Foods and drinks having sweet, cold, liquid and unctuous qualities are considered beneficial

|One should stop taking salty, sour, pungent and hot food

|One should stop taking salty, sour, pungent and hot food

|Enjoy the coolness of gardens, cold water and flowers whenever possible to negate the fatigue developing from excessively hot and dry climate.

|Enjoy the coolness of gardens, cold water and flowers whenever possible to negate the fatigue developing from excessively hot and dry climate.

|Sharad

|Sharad

|Autumn

|Autumn

|

|Foods that are sweet or bitter in taste, cooling in nature and light on digestion should be consumed to remain fit. These foods can then pacify vitiated ''Pitta''. Wheat, green gram, sugar candy, honey, , flesh of animals having habitat in dry land (''Jangala Mamsa'') can be consumed.

|

|In order to keep a check on naturally aggravating Pitta dosha, it is advised to avoid hot and spicy food. Few food stuffs which are to be avoided - fat, oils, meat of aquatic animals, curds, etc.

|

|Medical procedures, such as ''Virechana'' (purging), ''Rakta-Mokshana'' (blood letting) are ideally performed in this season. It is recommended to observe the natural urge for food and eat only after having the natural desire for food. Its best to avoid overeating. It is also recommended to take water purified by the rays of sun in day time and rays of moon at night time for drinking, bathing, etc. Use of fresh, cooling flowers in surrounding, use of cooling fragrances like Sandalwood can be made as scents and also for local application on body. It is said that moon rays in night are conducive for health. On this ground various rituals wherein staying awake late nights is expected are followed like Kojagiri pournima.

|

|Exposure to sunlight, heat, Daytime sleep and  excessive eating is to be avoided.

|-

|-

|6

|6

|Hemanta

|Hemanta

|late autumn

|late autumn

|

|One can have more of sweet, sour, and salty foods this season. This season also  necessitates intake of food that is unctuous in nature. Naturally sweets, desserts and creamy foods can be enjoyed in this eason with little health risk. Cereals and pulses, new rice, flour preparations, green gram, Black gram, etc. should be used. Various meats, fats, milk and milk products, sugarcane products, ''Shidhu'' (fermented preparations), ''Tila'' (sesame), and so on, are also beneficial at this time.

|

|Any type of diets which possess capacity to develop feeling  of lightness, cold, and dryness in body should be avoided.

|

|Vyayama (Exercise), abhyanga (body and head massage), use of warm water, sunbath, application of fragrant herbs having hot potency can be used, sufficient warm clothing, sexual indulgence with one partner, residing in warm places is recommended

|

|Must avoid exposure to strong and cold wind. Better to avoid diwaswapa daytime sleep.

|}

|}