Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, places great importance on Ritucharya, the seasonal regimen that guides how one should adapt diet, lifestyle and daily practices according to the changing rhythms of nature. Speaking about its relevance in summer, Ayurvedic physician Dr R Vatsyayan tells Manav Mander how aligning with seasonal cycles can prevent disease and promote balance in life.What is Ritucharya?Literally speaking, ‘ritu’ means seasons and ‘charya’ stands for regimen or routine. So, Ritucharya denotes the regimen or the healthy daily routine to be followed in different seasons.How does Ayurveda assess the seasonal variations of the year?According to Ayurveda, the year is divided into two greater parts — Adaan Kaal and Visarga Kaal, which are also known as Uttrayan and Dakhshinayan, respectively. This division is done according to the positioning of the earth towards the sun. As ‘adaan’ means taking away, so during this period the sun and the wind are powerful and they take away the strength of people and the cooling qualities of the earth. In other words, it is the debilitating period.The sun releases the strength to the people in Visarga Kaal. It is the time when moon is more powerful and the earth becomes cool due to the clouds, rain and the cold wind.How many ‘ritus’ are there in a year?A year consists of six ‘ritus’ or seasons. Each season has two months and three ‘ritus’ make one of the above-mentioned ‘kaal’. Shishir, Vasant and Grishma — starting from mid-January to mid-July — come under Adaan Kaal, whereas Varsha, Sharad and Hemant — from mid-July to mid-January —make Visarga Kaal.Why Ayurveda emphasises on different types of ‘dincharya’ (daily routine) for different seasons?Proper daily routine is essential for maintaining a good health. Biological forces or vata, pitta and kapha, also known as three doshas, undergo various stages of accumulation, aggravation and decline during different seasons. Keeping in view all these variations, Ayurveda advises different type of lifestyle and diet right from the moment we rise to the time we go to bed in these six seasons. By adhering to certain rules one can enjoy good and healthy life.How does Ayurveda describe the summer season?Generally speaking, India is a hot and tropical country. Still there is a lot of variation of seasons at different places at a single time. The Himalayan range will always be cold, whereas in most places south of Vindhyas, the temperature will never be below 30 degrees Celsius even during winter. But practically, the months of Jyestha and Asharha are considered to be the time of summer season. It is the approximate time from mid-May to mid-July. During the period, the sunrays become powerful resulting in evaporation of moisture of the earth and also causing decline of kapha in the body.What illnesses can heat cause?As per Charak Samhita, anshughat jwara is heat fever or heat exhaustion. It is the milder form. The second one or the more dangerous form is known as anshughat sannipat or heatstroke.What is the healthy diet and right conduct in this season?As kapha is on the decline in the summer season, so Ayurveda advises sweet, cold and unctuous food and drinks. One should take plenty of water, seasonal fruits with cardamom powder, but avoid food with pungent and acidic taste. Instead of aerated soft drinks, it is better to beat the heat with homemade drinks like butter milk, lime water, decoction of dry barley popularly known as sattoos and sharbats of khas and chandan. Panna or sharbat of raw mango is also very effective in cooling the system. During the hot summer months, try to avoid excessive use of alcohol, besides avoiding laxatives and purgatives. These tend to encourage fluid emission, which could increase chances of dehydration.Regarding lifestyle, one should take bath twice a day with cold water. It is advised to stay in a cool place and wear a light dress.When out in the sun, take particular care to keep head and back of the neck covered. One should not opt for a routine of heavy or strenuous exercise. Getting up early in the morning, taking a short nap at noon, going to bed an hour or two after the dinner and avoiding much of late nights is recommended dincharya for the summer season. Much of it is practical and simple and there is no reason why all of us cannot follow it.