Christmas season according to ayurveda
A lot of time you must have read about the
importance of various festivals like Deepawali, Makar Sank rant in
propagating health trends. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian science
which in the first part aims to heal the sick and in the second part
maintain the health of a healthy person. It is this second part in
which festivals and traditions play an important role.
So what about
Christmas. Strictly speaking this is a festival where Christians
celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. Along with prayer and
devotion it also includes festivities and having various nutritious
foods is a part of any festive occasion.
Have you
observed that most festivals in this part of the world (Indian
subcontinent) are during the winter season? Why is this so?
There may be
theological and traditional reasons for the same, but from ayurvedic
point of view also winter season is a festive season. As per
ayurvedic theory this is the time of the year when the digestive
power as also the immune system of humans is at its peak. This is
the time when even if you eat hard to digest food it is easily
digested. This is the time when the body builds itself. This is the
time to build up good health so that you remain healthy all year
round. All this happens because in this season there is an increase
in kapha constituent of the body.
Kapha
constituent not only builds up the body but also improves the immune
system. So is only eating nutritious food and making merry the only
thing to be done in this season. Certainly not. Let us see what all
we can do to improve our health so that we remain generally healthy
all year round.
Though I have
mentioned the Christmas season, the winter season as per ayurveda
extends from November to February and includes the two Indian rutus
of Hemant and Shishir. So whatever is mentioned further can be done
from start of winter (roughly mid November) to start of summer
season (roughly mid February)
Food: - As mentioned before digestive power is
at its peak. So you can safely eat all types of nutritious foods
which may be hard to digest at other times. This includes
non-vegetarian food (only for those who consume the same), milk
products, butter, fermented foods like idli (or more correctly
sannas), dosa, dhokla. Also use of seasonal fruits, vegetables, all
types of pulses, wheat, rice etc. which you would normally not eat
in summer or rainy season can be consumed. Dry-fruits, sweets,
chocolates, confectionaries etc. also can be consumed.
I am sure by
now many may be wondering if all these would not lead to obesity.
Surprisingly not. Ayurveda believes that if food is digested
properly it does not lead to weight gain (or rather fat deposition)
and since it is the property of this season that digestive power is
at its peak eating all of the above mentioned food which normally
dieticians would warn against will not lead to obesity.
I must again
emphasise here that this does not mean you eat enormous quantities
of the above, but judicious quantity. It is the quality that
matters. That is why many of the festivals where a good spread is
expected occur in this season. Isn’t it good that Christmas is also
a part of this season.
Exercise: - Many of those who are very happy reading
the above part will now squirm at the mention of exercise. But since
kapha which builds up the body is more dominant in this season it is
but natural that any attempt at body-building (not only of the WWF
type) will yield good results in this season. So even if you are not
planning to beat Schwarzenegger moderate amount of exercise will
certainly help you build up stamina and immunity which will last all
year round. Also because of the effect of the season you won’t get
tired easily. Anything from moderate walking to working out in the
gym will be helpful.
Massage: - Today the world is in the grip of
Panchakarma fever. Everybody is running to do Panchakarma without
knowing what it means. One of the preparatory parts of Panchakarma
is an oil massage. When it is done independently of Panchakarma it
is called as Abhyanga. It simply involves rubbing the body with oil.
You can use any locally available oil like sesame, coconut or even
olive oil. Medicated oils are also available, but it would be better
to consult your doctor before using this. Massage done during this
period shows all year effect. It is especially beneficial for the
aged people and for those who have joint pains, muscular pains,
arthritis. It also improves the tone and texture of the skin. There
are many more benefits of massage but that would require an entire
article. If you can get a trained massagist to massage you once a
week it would be more better. Also a steam bath after the procedure
can leave you feeling fresh as never
before.
Rasayan: - As mentioned at the start of the
article, ayurveda also mentions what all should be done to maintain
the health of a healthy person. Ayurveda treatment was divided into
8 specialties and the specialty which dealt with increasing and
improving the immune system is called as rasayana. The most famous
rasayana known to everybody is Chyavanprash. Today because of the
commercial angle it is advocated to each and everybody. But
basically it is meant to improve the immune system and maintain it.
So if you are healthy and follow the above mentioned advice of good
food, exercise, massage etc. than you can fortify your immune system
with a rasayana (not necessarily chyavanprash). Also for people
suffering from chronic ailments like cough, cold, asthma, irregular
bowels, skin diseases, joint pain, back aches or other problems and
who have their illness under control, but would like to prevent
recurrence of the same should consult their ayurvedic doctor for
choice of proper rasayana.
Conduct: - Last but not the least comes the conduct
part. They say a healthy mend resides in a healthy body. But
vice-versa is also true. So all the above mentioned procedures are
for the body, but what about the mind. To provide nutrition to your
mind you should have good conduct. This normally means being a good
citizen of a good society. But meditation, prayer, inculcating good
habits, giving up vices (if any) help fortify the mind. Retreats,
the sacrament of reconciliation, celebrating the holy Eucharist,
saying the Holy Rosary - all can be said to be the Christian aspects
of nourishing a healthy mind. It is no wonder that almost all the
festivals in this season have a religious background. And what
better than celebrating the joyous occasion of the birth of our Lord
Jesus Christ. If you have started following the above regimen for a
healthy body I am sure you will feel very very glorious swaying to
the tunes of “Silent Night, Holy
Night”.
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