Last month we discussed the diets and regimen specific to the winters. Since winter is almost over let us move on to the other coming seasons.

Spring
As the rays of sun gain strength during spring, the kapha accumulated over the winter season is liquefied by the heat of the sun and disturbs the power of digestion causing imbalance. It's advisable to avoid heavy, unctuous, sour and sweet diets as they increase kapha in the body. Also sleeping during the day is to be avoided as it aggravates kapha in the body. Both the diet and physical activities should be light; the emphasis is on cleansing the body internally as well as externally. In earlier times elimination therapies like purgation and emesis used to be administered during this time, as the weather was pleasant and body had gained enough strength during the winter season. Also, the excretory orifices should be regularly washed with lukewarm water.

Summers
This is the period of extreme dryness and dehydration as the sun rays are strongest. As pitta and vata increase in summer, intake of sweet, cold, liquid and unctuous diets are prescribed to increase kapha and maintain equilibrium. Alcohol should be avoided or taken in very little quantity and that too with plenty of water as it is hot and dry in nature. Salty, hot, sour and pungent foods are to be completely avoided. Physical labour and indulgence in sexual activities is drastically reduced in this season. Ayurved prescribes sleeping in day time only in this season as it increases kapha in the body. Application of sandalwood paste and intake of rose, sandalwood, and khus in the form of sherbets also helps in keeping the system cool.

Monsoons
During the rainy season the body is most susceptible to diseases as because of dehydration in summer the power of digestion is weakened. It is further weakened due to disturbed vata and other doshas in rains. Power of digestion also gets affected by the gas coming out of the earth, rainfall, and increase of acidity in water. Moderation in diets and regimen is advisable, one should abstain from naps during the day, excessive exercise, moving in sun, and excessive sexual activities. Extreme care should be taken about drinking water, as water in this season is extremely polluted. If days are cool due to winds and heavy rains, one should take sour, salty and unctuous food as it serves as an effective antidote to vitiated vata during this season. Most people, especially the elderly, experience joint pains round this time because rains aggravate vata. One should take old barley and old wheat. Rice in this season should be completely avoided. Massage or application of oils is advisable as it brings down aggravated vata. Intake of honey in small quantities helps overcome effect of dampness in rainy season.

Autumn
The body used to rains and cold gets suddenly exposed to the heat from sun so the pitta accumulated during the rains gets generally vitiated. In this season sweet, light, cold, and bitter foods are to be taken in proper quantity when there's good appetite. Intake of ghee prepared with bitter medicines and purgation is also prescribed during this season. One should also avoid sunbathing, fat, oil, and meat (of aquatic and marshy animals), alkaline salt preparations and curd. Sleeping during daytime is not advisable, and neither is exposure to winds and frost. In earlier times water in this season used to be considered pure as it gets exposed to strong sunrays and cool moon rays. The ancients believed that during this season the effect of the star Canopus (agastya) detoxifies water, this is known as "hamsodaka", which makes it spotlessly clear and is as beneficial as nectar for the purpose of bathing, drinking, and swimming. Wearing of garlands made of autumnal flowers and clean apparel and also the rays of the moon only in the evenings are exceedingly beneficial in this season.