Changing seasons can have an effect on your Doshas. That’s why it is important to understand your Dosha imbalances with each season and find the best practices that would help you to adapt and be in good health despite the changes.
Kapha season usually refers to late winter and spring. The season is typically cold, damp and stagnant. Known as Shishira Ritu in Ayurveda, this is the season where Kapha Dosha gains dominance and your Agni (digestive fire) is at its peak.
Identifying Kapha
Kapha people are most likely to have a compact big-boned structure. They have deep-set eyes and strong hair, and tend to gain weight.
Excessive Kapha Dosha can manifest as chest and lung or nasal congestions. It can also cause digestive problems due to a sluggish gut. Emotional factors might create overeating & end up in gaining weight. Kapha imbalance is also associated with sadness and emotional turbulence.
It tends to favour a lethargic sedentary lifestyle. Individuals who have heightened kapha Dosha are likely to suffer from diabetes, gallstones, hypertension, varicose veins and oedema.
Symptoms of Kapha imbalance
A Kapha imbalance is usually marked by the following symptoms:
- Lethargy
- Excessive sleepiness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Indigestion
Ayurvedic tips to balance kapha
Ayurveda works on the principles of Doshas – Vata, Kapha and Pitta. While each of us has a unique proportion of each of the Doshas, a predominant Dosha tends to increase more quickly than the others.
Kapha season tends to bring on the Kapha qualities and symptoms of excess stagnation. The dominance of Kapha is represented as a heavy sluggish tendency, it is characterized by heaviness and slow gait. An imbalance in Kapha can lead to stubbornness. Trying out new routines or interests can stimulate a lethargic mind.
As per Ayurveda, a healthy balance can be restored by following a lifestyle, food regimen, and exercise pattern. A vigorous self-massage with warm organic sesame oil is prescribed to invigorate the stagnant Kapha. Sesame oil abhyanga aids in balancing Kapha Dosha.
Kapha season is when Kapha Dosha is dominant. It is characterized by slow movements and grounding qualities. Those people who are prone to Kapha Dosha must keep their feet warm and protect their chests from cold breezes.
Opt for warm food and steer clear of raw food as well as frozen foods and beverages. The consumption of bitter and astringent tastes has a lowering effect on Kapha.
Waking up before sunrise can also be very beneficial to a Kapha personality. Do not sleep late into the day. An early start can help balance a Kapha Dosha and a morning elimination routine.
A glass of warm water can help activate your bowels and cleanse your body as Kapha persons tend to suffer from constipation. Clearing of the nasal passage will provide relief from Kapha symptoms.
Ayurvedic tips to welcome the Kapha season
Keeping warm is intrinsic to handling the Kapha season. Avoid cold and damp places. Consume warm meals, warm teas, warm water and nuts. Add Tulsi or mint leaves to your tea to stimulate the digestive system. Consumption of warm beverages and sipping hot water throughout the day help in heating and detoxifying.
- Stay warm. Move out of cold damp spaces and choose warm dry places.
- Kapha season tends to bring lethargy. It might herald the onslaught of depressive and stagnant thoughts and feelings. Ensure that your psychological well-being is engaged and revved up.
- Another often-noticed fallout of the Kapha season is the lack of energy. It can get exacerbated due to stress and inadequate sleep. Combat Kapha imbalance with good sleep hygiene to improve energy levels.
- Activity is crucial for balancing Kapha Dosha. Yoga can help significantly during the Kapha season. You can balance Kapha by combining pranayama with yoga to ensure sufficient circulation and strengthen the respiratory system.
- Alternate nose breathing works wonders for Kapha imbalance. You can also incorporate Surya Namaskar into your yoga routine. Activate your body during the mornings and evenings with yoga and daily walks.
- Consume seasonal fruits like oranges, pears and apples. However, avoid very sour fruits. Also, do not consume heavy fruits like coconut, bananas, and dates.
- Incorporate turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, and nutmeg as they can help generate heat. These spices will pacify Kapha and stimulate the digestive system.
Correcting Kapha imbalance
Ayurveda can help you manage Kapha imbalance with lifestyle modifications and the right diet. Your diet must neutralize the Kapha properties. Since Kapha is light and cool, warm and dry foods can help restore the balance.
Foods that are light and spiced can help curtail the tendency to overeat. Heavy foods tend to burden the system and worsen Kapha symptoms. Oily and pungent foods aggravate Kapha. Do not consume them during the Kapha season.
Kapha tends to produce plenty of moist mucus and it is therefore recommended to eat dry foods with minimal ghee or oil. You can include grains, beans and seeds. It is not recommended by Ayurveda to consume buttermilk and milk products during the Kapha season.
Kapha is often aggravated by milk products. However, you can consider adding yoghurt or ghee to your diet. The consumption of wheat must be reduced too. Avoid processed foods and refined sugar. Sweets might increase the lethargic feeling. Refined foods have hardly any fibre and can aggravate Kapha.
Ayurvedic Herbs to Combat Kapha Dosha
Ayurvedic herbs that can support Kapha include Trikatu, Bibhitaki, and Arjuna.
- Bibhitaki is a traditional herb that is used to treat throat infections and other ailments related to Kapha imbalance. Its anti-oxidant properties relieve stress and improve gastrointestinal functioning.
- Turmeric has significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It works as a soothing agent on the digestive system and prevents the growth of yeast and bacteria.
- Ginger provides relief from digestive issues and nausea. It works on Kapha-related diseases such as poor digestion and sinusitis.
The Kapha season can be welcomed with simple lifestyle routines such as slowing down and connecting with nature. Stay active and navigate these cooler months with warm foods and warm teas. It is the time to appreciate nature and rejuvenate.
Follow simple Ayurvedic recommendations on diet and activity to smoothly navigate the Kapha season. If you need any help with the Ayurvedic diet, reach us anytime!