The body, which was previously exposed to rain and cold wind in "Varsha-Ruthu" (rainy season) suddenly gets exposed to severe and intense sun in this "Ruthu", which leads to "Pitta-Prakopa" (vitiation of 'Pitta dosha'). Thus there will be tendency towards occurrence of "Pittaja-Rogas" in this season.

"Aahara and Vihara" (foods and deeds) to be followed in "Sharad-Ruthu":

1. One should always intake such foods, which are 'Tikta' 'Kashaya' and 'Madhura' (bitter, astringent and sweet respectively) in taste.
2. One should always consume ghee especially 'Tikta grtha' and undergo 'Virechana' therapy (Purgation) and 'Rakta-Mokshana' (blood letting or vein puncture) if there is severe vitiation of blood.
3. Everyone should consume light (for digestion) and cold foods.
4. Always eat food only when you feel hungry. Eat especially 'Shali' rice (red coloured rice), wheat, barley, green gram (Bot-phaseolus mungo), sugar, honey, 'patola' or snake gourd (tricho santhus cucumerina), 'Amalaki' (embilica officinalis), 'draksha' (vitis viniferous) and eat flesh of those animals, which are habitant of tropical regions (Jhangla pradesha).
5. Drink such a water, which has been heated in sun rays during mornings and cooled in moon rays in night, which is done 'Nirvisha' (purified) in 'Agasthya Nakshathra' (a type of star) called as 'Hamsodhaka' and which is said to be the purest water.
6. Always wear light and clean clothes and wear garland of flowers.
7. Apply lepa of 'Usheera' (viteveria zizaniodes) to the whole body and sit under moon during night to bath in moon rays.

Prohibited 'Aahara-Vihara' in 'Sharad-Ruthu':

1. Avoid eating heavy (for digestion) meals.
2. Avoid eating curds, 'vasa' (muscle fat) oily stuffs and alcohol.
3. Avoid direct sun and eastern winds.
4. And avoid day sleeping.

These are some of the tips about "Ruthucharya", which should be followed by everyone to prevent oneself from seasonal diseases (kalaja-roga), which if neglected makes it difficult to cure. So it is always better to prevent the disease than curing it after its onset. This is where our science-Ayurveda is said to be different from modern approach of medicine, whose aim (Ayurvedic) will always be prevention as well as cure, and 'Ruthucharya' comes under the first category-i.e. Prevention onset of disease.

To be continued….

By: Dr.Smitha. C. Yavagal, Mysore.