Spring DO's and Don'ts

Spring is a time to let loose and have fun, but spring is the time of the year when many things change—including the weather.

Spring is he best of all seasons but, is the transition from winter to summer so spring time has been called as the ‘father of all diseases’ in Ayurveda.

Everybody impatiently wait for spring to arrive with all its flamboyance to appreciate the beauty and bounty of Mother Earth and to bounce outdoors after the long, dark days of winter.

However, we also need to be prepared to protect our health during this exceptionally dynamic season. Rapid changes that are manifesting in the nature during spring time are also reflects in our own body.

 In this season, the Kapha that accumulated during the winter starts melting under the impact of hot sun rays. It makes the digestive system weak that gives rise to diseases like colds, coughs, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

Kapha is the Mucous membranes which line our digestive system, respiratory system and most of the external orifices in our body.

Therefore we should take precautions in this season.

According to Traditional Ayurveda   and Chinese Medicine human bodies function differently with season changing.

Spring is the season of growing, which Chinese medicine says is the liver season. It's very important to take care of the liver.

Our digestive system is the head office of our health so above all we need to take dietary precautions in this season.

It’s very important to avoid food that helps increase the mucous levels in the body.

Spring is the season of growing and blooming so let’s start our spring life to stay healthy and enjoy.

That means we'd better change our drinking, eating and living style for spring.

Drinking:

The following three recipes are often used to help us from catching cold and helps to flush out the excess mucous from our body.

Soup:

Chicken Soup- In a large soup pot add diced celery stalks, diced jalapenos, and diced onion, diced carrots, chicken pieces (drumsticks and thighs) and water (for three drumsticks and 3 thighs add 6-8 cups of water) then add spices and herbs such as salt, cumin powder, bay leaves, cloves of all spice( star anise), fresh rosemary, freshly crushed black pepper and little amount cayenne paper, fresh parsley or coriander leaves, minced garlic and minced ginger. Allow to come to a boil then lower heat and allow the soup to simmer for at least 90 minutes. Scoop out chicken. Let cool slightly so it is easier to remove meat from bones, and then add the chunks of meat again into the soup and serve with a squeeze of lemon juice to the bowl will also up the vitamin C content.

Ginger Tea

Thinly sliced fresh ginger

Water

2 cinnamon sticks

Honey

Lemon wedges for garnish if desired

In a saucepan, simmer ginger, cinnamon, and water 20 minutes, or more for stronger tea. Add honey or sugar and strain tea through a sieve.

Eating:

Don’t take heavy foods (that are not easily digested).

Avoid foods cold in effect like ice cream, yogurt, oily, sour and sweet dry foods. Take easily digestible, low-fat, bitter ( neem), astringent ( cucumber).

As Indian diet Bottle gourd( lau), neem(Margosa) leaves, drum sticks( sajne data) is essential to have in our diet during Spring to prevent Chicken pox.

Allergy

If you are dreading spring allergies from weeds to spores to grass and tree pollens, start your spring health care. The warm weather is almost here, driving airborne allergen levels through the roof. That means your allergy symptoms -- the sniffling, sneezing, and itchy eyes -- are in overdrive and apt to stay that way for months, so ask your health care advisor for precaution   .

Skin care:

As a new season is approaching, many of us start making various changes in our routines. Preparing our skin for the new season is essential in order to be able to look our best.

Springtime is to say bye-bye to winter and welcome summer season. So, it is better to opt for a body lotion that come with a sunscreen teamed up with good SPF UV protection ensures to protect your skin that supposed to be exposed to sun from being tanned and making you appear prematurely old .

It is very essential to protect your skin from the powerful UV rays.

Exercise:

Winter inactivity and overeating lead to weight gain during the winter months. So let’s take the benefit of the spring and go for a walk. Walking is the best and easiest exercise. Walking gets you out in the fresh air and lifts the mood.