Autumn through the lens of Ayurveda
In Ayurveda health is fostered and sustained by seeking to harmonize the tendencies and energies of the 3 dosha types (mind/body constitutions). We all carry traits of all 3 Doshas but most of us have a dominant type - that has both strengths and weaknesses in health. Ill health comes about when your Doshas are aggravated (this again has very much to do with energy in the body, a free flow or a constriction of, which is brought on by an imbalance of the dosha - either becoming too dominant or too weak).
Since Autumn is a transition season that is represented by Vata (air & ether), the wind and dryness of Autumn can aggravate (unbalance) this dosha. Resulting symptoms and behaviours such as tension headaches, a state of overwhelm or feeling frazzled, leading to scattered and unfocused multitasking.
I have previously shared on the value of knowing your mind/body constitution in a previous newsletter, but to summarize;
A dosha is an ancient Hindu philosophy that identifies the physical, emotional, and mental characteristics that make up a person's constitution. Knowing your dosha can help you to better understand your unique needs and to make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to maintain your health, both physically and mentally.
Depending on your dosha, you may need to focus on different things in order to stay balanced and healthy. For example, if you are a Vata dosha, you will need to focus more on grounding activities that help to keep your energy and focus in check. If you are a Pitta dosha, you may need to pay close attention to making sure you get plenty of rest to ensure that your emotions and stress levels remain balanced. And if you are a Kapha dosha type, your focus should be on staying active and keeping your digestive system strong.
Food as medicine
Focusing on Autumns energetics, and to help balance (pacify) the vata dosha during this time of year, we can use food as medicine, by focusing on;
Easy to digest foods such as soups and stews.
Moistening and grounding foods such as avocados, oatmeal, lentils, root veggies, cooked/stewed apples, nut butters, almond milk, dairy.
Using ghee and sesame oil to cook your foods in.
Foods to include:
Oily (lubricating & grounding) oils such as ghee and sesame oil can help reduce excessive Vata levels, and eliminate dryness.
Heavy, well-spiced foods with sweet, sour, and salty tastes.
Hot soups, stews, cooked vegetables, nourishing meals that aren’t too quick to digest.
Spices to use regularly: warming spices like ginger, black pepper, mustard seeds, cinnamon, fenugreek, cloves, anise, fennel, also spirit lifting cardamon and Vata pacifying turmeric.
Cardamon - with excess Vata, cardamom can help aid digestion, reduce bloating, and manage gas conditions, eventually pacifying Vata. Add cardamom to your food, or tea or chew on the seeds. Also helps against bad breath.
Hing(wastak), asafoetida - is a powerful antispasmodic useful in cough, asthma, intestinal colic, and uterine spasms. It nourishes the nervous stimulating action on the digestive fire clears toxic residue from the digestive tract increasing absorption of nutrients and promoting regularity of bowel movements.
Foods to reduce:
Extremely hot spices like cayenne pepper.
Light and dry food; cold food and drinks; minimise pungent, bitter, and astringent tastes.
Ayurvedic supplements for grounding, calming the nervous system, boosting the immune + digestion and focus;
Ashwagandha - is considered particularly balancing to Vata as it has a calming influence on the nervous system. Ashwagandha lowers cortisol levels, manage stress, lowering anxiety, aiding in deeper sleep.
Brahmi (bacopa / gotu kola), is another Ayurvedic herb with stress-relieving properties, it can also help balance emotions. Can also help improve sleep quality and bring Vata dosha to healthy levels. It is also known to help improve memory and focus.
Triphala - gently supports digestion and a healthy gut microbiome while it helps relieve occasional constipation and supports regularity.
Other simple health tips for Autumn
Give attention to your digestion, as our metabolic gears are shifting it can give rise to digestive sensitivity (bloating, constipation/ diarrhoea, IBS etc).
Good quality sleep, build a night time routine that fosters relaxation. Turn down the lights, cooler bedroom results in deeper + longer sleep, shut down all screens 30min before bed.
Add in some immune fortifying foods that help support and bolster your immune system such as;
Vitamin rich foods such as; goji berries, rose hips, kiwi, brussel sprouts, broccoli (sea buckhorn, acerola, camu camu)
Medicinal mushrooms such have immune modulating properties especially reishi and turkeytail.
Astragalus is one of the great tonic herbs in TCM, as it strongly tonifies the vital Qi of the body as well as generates blood and fluids. It is a first class herb for maintaining a healthy immune system. This is a premium energy tonic for athletes and anyone looking for more day-to-day energy and vitality.
Chyawanprash, is an herbal tonic commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine made of over 50 herbs, spices and roots made into a sweet jam that is used to strengthen the immune response. It is also said to boost vitality and help remove toxins from the body. It has a high antioxidant content.
Last but not least….not very original but it has to be said;
Manage stress, find ways to offload the small daily stressors (for instance, meal planning, setting timers to help structure your workload, delegate / scrap or repriotize you’re to do list. Build in self care & stress management tools (take a bath, get a message, engage in; breath work, journaling, meditation, chi gong, yoga, etc…). Set boundaries in your private and professional life, learn to use the word NO and use it.
Don’t forget to laugh, sounds silly I know, but laugher is the antidote to stress. So wether its watching a funny movie, or listening to a comedian or asking your partner/kids to make you laugh, or fake smile…just do it!
