Ayurveda’s Rainy Season Rules: Do’s and Don’ts You Need Now

Monsoon marks a refreshing shift in the environment. The rain cools the air, the soil breathes again, and everything around feels more alive. But while the season brings relief and beauty, it also affects the body in subtle but significant ways. According to Ayurveda, the timeless 5,000-year-old science of life, monsoon isn’t just a change in weather, but a delicate transition where the body’s inner balance trembles. Digestion slows, immunity dips, and the doshas stir, making us more vulnerable than we realize.

You may crave hot pakoras and naps by the window, but your body craves grounding, warmth, and rhythm. This season, let us rediscover what our ancestors always knew ,the rain outside must not disturb the fire within.

Let’s explore Ayurvedic secrets to keep your health vibrant, your immunity strong, and your spirit uplifted during the rains.

In Ayurveda, the year is divided into six seasons (Ritus), and the monsoon is known as “Varsha Ritu”, which falls between mid-July to mid-September.

According to the classical text Ashtanga Hridaya by Acharya Vagbhata:



— Ashtanga Hridaya, Sutrasthana 3.5

Translation: "During the rains, Vata dosha increases; hence one must eat less and follow disciplined food habits."

• Vata Dosha (air and space elements) becomes aggravated
• Agni (digestive fire) becomes weak, leading to poor metabolism
• Accumulated Pitta from the summer starts getting provoked
• Immunity is at its lowest ebb

Hence, Varsha Ritu requires grounding, warmth, and restoration — the very essence of Ayurvedic living.

Food in monsoon should ignite the digestive fire (Agni) and pacify Vata and Pitta doshas.

• Warm, light, and cooked meals: Khichdi, moong dal, old rice (purana shali), seasonal veggies
• Digestive spices: Ginger, turmeric, cumin, coriander, black pepper
• Ghee: Nourishes tissues and balances Vata
• Soups and stews: Easy to digest, warming
• Herbal teas: Tulsi, cinnamon, clove, ajwain

• Curd: Increases Kapha and causes cold/cough
• Leafy greens: Likely to carry worms/bacteria in monsoon
• Fried or fermented foods: Disturb digestive fire
• Cold, carbonated drinks: Suppress Agni
• Heavy sweets or dairy: Increase mucus and sluggishness

• Abhyanga (oil massage): Use warm sesame oil to calm Vata
• Udvartana (herbal powder massage): Removes toxins and improves circulation
• Warm water bath with neem leaves or Triphala decoction

"One should do oil massage regularly; it removes Vata and strengthens the body."

• Light yoga: Focus on grounding postures like Tadasana, Vajrasana, Paschimottanasana
• Avoid excessive exertion: Too much activity may further disturb Vata
• Practice Pranayama: Especially Anulom-Vilom and Bhramari for balance

• Avoid sleeping during the day, take herbal tea in the evening
• Light early dinner with warm food
• Foot massage with ghee before bed

In monsoon, the body's Ojas (vital energy) is low. These age-old remedies can rejuvenate and strengthen your immunity.

• Chyawanprash: Boosts lung health, immunity, and energy
• Ashwagandha: Reduces Vata, improves stamina
• Guduchi (Giloy): Known as Amrit in Ayurveda, balances all three doshas
• Pippali + Honey: Great for lungs and digestion

“Guduchi is bitter, pungent, astringent, sweet, and light. It balances all doshas, kindles digestion, and acts as a Rasayana.”

• Use herbal ubtan made of multani mitti, turmeric, sandalwood, and neem
• Apply Triphala decoction or aloe vera to fight fungal infections
• Avoid heavy creams , opt for light oils like jojoba or coconut

• Scalp oiling with bhringraj or amla oil once a week
• Use shikakai or neem-based shampoos
• Avoid tying wet hair, encourages dandruff and fungal infections

Monsoon brings an army of illnesses, cold, flu, diarrhea, dengue, typhoid, malaria. Ayurveda offers preventive wisdom.

• Burn sambrani (resin), neem leaves, or camphor at home
• Sprinkle turmeric + rock salt in water for floor cleaning
• Use mosquito-repelling oils like citronella, eucalyptus
• Take trikatu churna (ginger, black pepper, long pepper) with honey every morningTrikatu balances Vata and Kapha and ignites Agni — your best friend this season.

The rainy season can stir restlessness or lethargy. Yoga stabilizes both body and mind.

• Vajrasana – Aids digestion
• Paschimottanasana – Relieves bloating
• Balasana (Child’s pose) – Grounding and calming
• Viparita Karani – Supports lymph drainage

• Nadi Shodhana – Cleanses energy channels
• Bhramari – Calms nervous system
• Sheetkari – Cools excess Pitta

The monsoon is not your enemy, it’s nature’s way of slowing us down, purifying the earth, and cleansing the air. But to stay aligned, you must also shift your rhythm. Ayurveda offers that compass, a beautiful synergy of food, rituals, herbs, and mindfulness to walk gracefully through every drop of the rainy season.

So next time it rains, don’t just reach for a hot chai and a blanket. Also reach inward, to your roots, your Agni, your . Because when your inner weather is calm, no storm outside can touch you.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do I feel more anxious or low during monsoon?Increased Vata can cause mood swings. Try grounding foods and calming pranayama.
2. Are Ayurvedic supplements safe without a doctor?Mild ones like Triphala or Chyawanprash are fine. For stronger herbs, consult a practitioner.
3. Why do I feel more bloated or gassy in this season?Weakened digestion (Agni) in monsoon slows metabolism. Avoid raw foods and prefer warm, spiced meals to prevent bloating.