Ayurvedic Ritucharya - Seasonal Regimens

In Ayurveda, for maintaining the body healthy, seasonal regimens had been told. Season is divided into 6 according to Ayurveda

1. Shishira: January - March
2. Vasantha: March – May
3. Greeshma: May - July
4. Varsha: July - September
5. Sarath: September - November
6. Hemanta: November - January

Malayalam month karkkidaka (cancer) is considered as the most challenging month of the year in the terms of spiritual, mental, and physical health. It's known for rain, joblessness, and disease and due to damp climate, this has been identified as the period for the preventive and rejuvenation therapies. During this time the person will be having weak digestive power and the atmospheric water is also turbid, so because of the weak digestive power and the atmospheric pollution the toxins (aama) accumulate in our body. So this is the best time to cleanse the body with panchakarma therapies i.e., 5 therapies - emesis, purgation, bloodletting, nasal drops, and enema to remove the toxins from our body.

Goals of karkkidaka chikitsa

1. Detoxify: over days and months we ingest toxins and pollutants and accumulate in our system. These toxins accumulate in our body and reaches a certain level it gives rise to the diseases like skin diseases, allergies, body pain, autoimmune disorders. The karkkidaka chikitsa attempts to mobilize the toxins in our body and eliminate the toxins.
2. Boost immunity: the medicated gruel which is prepared with herbs proven to enhance and strengthen the immune system will complement the detoxification strategies to boost the immunity
3. Rejuvenate: the massage therapies will improve circulation and increase oxygen and nutrient level in the tissues to rejuvenate and refresh the body
4. Shed the fat deposit: the therapies will also help to shed the fat deposit and toning the body

Karkkidaka practices

1. Enchanting or listening to the spiritual scriptures
2. Special healing diet (oushadha kanji) to enhance the immunity
3. Eliminative therapies to alleviate the existing health status and prevent the illness
4. Healthy routines – example: all the members of the family are advised to come back by evening, and drink only medicated lukewarm water
5. Satsanga - social gathering for spiritual dialogues to keep everyone close and positive frame of mind to support mutually