The 10 Most Useful Ayurvedic Tips To Cope With Monsoons

The monsoon season is finally upon us, as most parts of the country enjoy the frequent spells of rain, the lush greenery all around and the calming climate. Monsoon is a season of much joy and fun for most of us. Unfortunately though, it also brings with it a lot of seasonal illnesses, and makes us more susceptible to insect bites, seasonal colds, flu, stomach problems and joint problems.

Instead of popping pills to cope with these, it’s better to try natural, side-effect free Ayurvedic remedies and habits. Read on to know how you can safeguard yourself against these seasonal illnesses –

1. Prevent skin infections: Add 1-2 spoons of neem oil to half a cup of sesame oil for an easy massage before taking a hot water bath at least once a week – this helps safeguard your skin from infections and keeps it healthy and supple. A hot water bath is preferable during the rains as it helps curb vata.
2. Take care of your feet: Since the feet tend to get wet frequently during the rains, people, especially diabetics need to take extra care not to let feet remain wet. Wear slippers when you’re indoors as well, and use footwear with a good grip to avoid slipping. Keep nails trimmed and dry at all times.
3. Eat these foods: The best food for digestion and overall health during the rainy season include honey, curd, wheat, lentil soup, water strained from curds and sour, sweet or salty foods. Avoid foods that are spicy as they lead to vata and pitta imbalance.
4. Drink this for better digestion:  Make an Ayurvedic drink that helps aid digestion. Add a pinch of salt, pepper, long pepper and some ginger to hot water and have it once a day.
5. Reduce joint pains: Those prone to joint pains should avoid sitting or lying down on the floor, as skin contact with a cold surface can aggravate joint pains further.
6. Don’t avoid exercise:Since outdoor activities need to be limited, don’t stop being active. Do some yoga poses, skip rope, or do some freehand exercises to stay active. Exercise improves blood circulation and makes you stay healthy and strengthens muscles.
7. Get proper sleep: Ensure that you get at least 6-8 hours of sound sleep at night. Avoid napping during the daytime – especially after having your meals. It worsens the digestion process.
8. Follow hygienic habits: Try covering up as much as possible to avoid insect bites. Trim your nails regularly and keep them dry to avoid fungal infections.
9. Do a Panchakarma treatment: Panchakarma is a cleansing, rejuvenating programme that calms your body and mind and relaxes all the 5 senses. It also detoxifies the body, strengthens your immune system and helps your body relax. To know more about this Ayurvedic treatment that is useful during the monsoons, visit this page. We also have a specialized Ayurvedic centre in Kochi that deals in Panchakarma treatments.
10. Drink lots of herbal tea: Many herbal teas have anti-bacterial properties, including ginger tea and green tea. They also help soothe the throat and keep you warm during the cool and wet weather in this season.

The above tips are very beneficial for maintaining good health during the monsoon. In addition, following even a few of these will get you used to developing healthy lifestyle habits.