This is in reply to a query from a regular reader of my blog, who is from Poland. He asks – “Doctor, can you write an article about basic elements of healthy lifestyle for people living in northern parts of the globe? For example in my country, from mid October to mid March there is very limited sun light. Sun is very low, usually covered by low clouds and temperature reaches below zero degrees Celsius. In December day last from 8AM to 3PM. From October to May, there is no fresh vegetables, the nature totally sleeps. We can buy vegetables imported but usually chemically preserved and old.
This is very hard time for people (October-March). Winter affects people’s mood, feelings, health condition…. Doctor, can you give some advice how to keep energy in the body and how to take advantage of low light time? Some animals sleep during that time. Shall we limit our activity?”
This is a brilliant question. Ancient text books of Ayurveda are written keeping India and surrounding part of the world in view. But Ayurveda is deep and wide enough to derive lifestyle advice for people from any part of the world. Let us explore.
Cold Climate Countries - Ayurveda Tips
A. During onset of Summer -
Ayurveda explains the transit period from one type of weather to other as ‘Rutu Sandhi’.
Special precaution needs to be taken in this period.
Due to extreme winters, Kapha and Vata will be increased and collected inside the body. This gets liquefied and starts spreading all over the body during the onset of Summer. This leads to Kapha and Vata increase and may worsen asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, other types of arthritis such as gout, body heaviness, migraines, indigestion, allergic skin and respiratory conditions, etc.
Hence use more of ginger, pepper, garlic, turmeric, vegetables and food stuff that are hot in nature.
Keep your stomach light. avoid over-eating.
Avoid oily and heavy non veg food stuff.
If you have an Ayurveda center nearby, Panchakarma therapies such as Vamana and Basti come in handy.
B. During sunny days and summer -
From the query, I assume that life is normal and easy in this period.
Just do all those things which you can not do during winter.
Allowing body to sweat is important. Keep away from air conditioners as much as you can.
Expose your skin to early morning Sun and get some vitamin D. Because you will be starving for Sun on the other half of the year.
Throughout the day also, I would recommend to expose arms and legs to external atmosphere as much as possible. The skin needs Sun and wind exposure, which is not possible for you during winter. So, make the most out of Summer. Wearing coats & ties, making yourself warmer and overusing air conditioners does not make much sense to me. (However, this may not apply to people with extremely sensitive skin.)
You can have light oily food and fried food in this period. Enjoy cold food stuff at this period, periodically.
The food can be little heavy, since your body will be more active and can burn extra calories.
Oil massage and exercise will keep the body and skin toned and good.
Effect of Dosha: Pitta and Slight Vata will be dominant.
Hence digestion power, skin health will be good.
If you are tired during the day, day sleep for just 15 – 30 minutes, before food is permitted.
Exercise in the morning is better than during evening.
If you feel too much heat, use rose water to wash face.
Enjoy cold water bath (on days when you are not applying oil to the body).
C. During early part of winter
- Eat ginger, long pepper, neem, cinnamon, cardamom, clove and turmeric. This will keep the body warmth.
- If you have the habit of wine, drink it only to the extent that it does not make you excess sleepy.
- Avoid day-sleep. Remember, laziness is a byproduct of Kapha, we need to work against to it, to keep it in balance.
- Exercise is a must. To keep up good muscle tone, to keep up good blood circulation and to keep mind active.
- Oil massage with slight hot oils like mustard oil, is good.
- If you take oily food, make definitely sure to drink warm water.
- Coffee or tea – as stimulative is good.
- Avoid much of milk, curds and dairy products or have them quite limitedly.
- Even if you are not accustomed to massage, apply a little ghee or sesame oil, once or twice a day. This helps to avoid skin dryness.
- Do not sleep for more than eight hours at any cost.
- Follow Brahmacharya and convert your energy into productive work.
- If fresh vegetables are not available, then take the available vegetables, keep it in hot water for two minutes, and then use it. That way, at lease some preservatives are washed out.
- Pranayama and Yoga are good for any season.
Thank you very much for the article!! I think more questions will arise in the winter period. One more question – do you think that travel to some sunny countries in the middle of winter, can be good?
Best regards
Shoot those questions to me as and when they arise.
If travelling is in your plans, then it is a good idea to travel during middle winter. Why not.
Thanks for the article. I am planing to go to Badrinath (India) during this October. I am very much worried about my father health. He is 64 years and having Diabetic and Hypertension. Please advice what should be done in case if he finds very cold and starts shivering finally gone to hypothermia. The temperature at that time will be below 0 degree Celsius.
Wrote an article about it. Read it here – http://easyayurveda.com/2012/06/02/travelling-to-a-very-cold-place-health-tips-for-you/
In the case where one happens to ‘overdo’ heat inducing foods during a winter, and thus starts getting itchiness all over the body like prickly heat in the Ritu Sandhi of Spring, then is there some advice on what would help (since consuming heating foods/spices seem to make the condition worse)? [As you might have guessed, Vata is also a little exaggerated].
Thank you,
1. Overdoing of heat inducing food may cause prickly heat, internal burning sensation etc. Under those circumstances, a combination of one teaspoon of Amla powder plus 1 pinch of Turmeric powder with honey, in the morning is beneficial. Amla helps to calm Pitta, and relieves internal burning sensation. Turmeric takes care of skin health.
2. If excess prickly heat is causing sweating, then if it leads to itching, then, a simple self massage with coconut oil followed by bath would help it. If there are any skin conditions, associated with it, then a pinch of turmeric and a pinch of neem can be added to coconut oil, mixed well and that oil can be used for taking bath.
Hope I am clear.