Adapting to the Climate’s Whispers and Extremes

Climate change and Āyurveda left – Mike McMillan/USFS, center – Tomas Castelazo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, right – NASA

Āyurveda teaches us weather is far more than just a backdrop to our lives. It is an essential factor constantly influencing our health and well-being. By understanding how weather patterns impact us, we can make better-informed choices to help maintain balance amidst shifting climate patterns.

Āyurveda and the Climate

Āyurveda views the external environment as intrinsically connected to our internal states. Each season (ṛtu) is governed by specific doshas:

• Vata (air and ether) dominates during the late fall and early winter.

• Pitta (fire and water) reaches its peak in the summer months.

• Kapha (earth and water) prevails in the late winter and spring.

Seasonal changes influence our health by creating predictable imbalances in the doshas. For instance, the drying winds of autumn can aggravate vata, leading to issues such as dryness, anxiety, or joint pain.

Ṛtusandhi refers to the transitional period between two seasons. This phase is crucial because the body is particularly vulnerable to imbalances during these shifts. Often likened to bookends on a season, Ṛtusandhi acts as a liaison, guiding the body from one seasonal state to another. During Ṛtusandhi, it is essential to gradually adjust your diet and routine to align with the incoming season. For instance, as summer transitions to autumn, begin incorporating more grounding and moistening foods to prepare for vata season.

Neglecting this transitional period can lead to doshic disturbances and reduced immunity.

In addition to seasonal transitions, Āyurveda recognizes the disruptive power of unusual weather patterns. This is referenced in the concept of Janapadodhvansa, which describes the breakdown of natural harmony due to widespread environmental disruptions, such as droughts, floods, or epidemics. These disturbances, according to Āyurveda, can trigger health crises at both individual and community levels.

When seasons become unseasonable or unpredictable, rely on your reasoning (yukti). This involves observing current environmental cues — such as unexpected humidity or dryness — and adjusting your lifestyle, diet, and routines accordingly. For example, if a winter season feels unusually warm, incorporate more cooling practices to balance pitta, which might arise in such conditions. This practical application of reasoning ensures that your body remains attuned to the environment despite its fluctuations.

Āyurveda and Contemporary Climate Challenges

In today’s world, climate change and erratic weather patterns amplify the principles outlined in Janapadodhvansa. Extended heat waves, unpredictable rainfall, and shifting seasonal rhythms have far-reaching effects on our well-being. 

To better adapt, consider these Āyurvedic practices:

• Adjust Your Diet: eat seasonally appropriate foods to balance doshas. For example, enjoy hydrating and cooling foods in summer to pacify pitta, and grounding, oily foods in autumn to counteract vata.

• Adopt Seasonal Routines (Rtucarya): each season calls for specific lifestyle adjustments. Prioritize self-care rituals like oil massages (abhyanga) in the dry, windy seasons to soothe vata, or lighter exercise routines during kapha-dominant months.

• Erratic Weather as a Form of Ṛtusandhi: increasingly unpredictable weather patterns can mimic the characteristics of Ṛtusandhi within a single season. Sudden temperature changes, unexpected storms, or prolonged rains can act as micro-transitions that destabilize the body. Recognizing these shifts and responding with adaptability — such as modifying clothing, hydration, or dietary habits — can help maintain balance during these unpredictable phases.

• Cleanse Periodically: seasonal detoxifications help reset your body and mitigate accumulated imbalances. Practices such as panchakarma are excellent for transitioning between seasons.

• Build Immunity (ojas): strengthen your resilience with nourishing herbs like ashwagandha and tulsi, as well as a wholesome diet and proper sleep.

Cultivating Awareness of Nature’s Rhythms

Āyurveda teaches us that our health flourishes when we live in harmony with nature. Even as weather patterns shift due to climate change, reconnecting with the foundational principles of Āyurveda allows us to adapt and thrive. By aligning our diet, daily habits, and mindset with the cycles of the seasons, we can maintain physical and mental harmony in an ever-changing world.