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Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Health Care in Humid
Weather
by Dr. Savitha Suri
Monsoon! Monsoon!
Please come quick
To water the plants
That looks like sticks
We need the rain
We need the rain
To trickle down
Our dried up drains …
This poem
caught my eyes while browsing internet. Monsoon brings joy as plants
wear a green look, rivers swell to brim and dry lands become wet. The
grim side of this season is increased humidity which troubles humans.
What is humidity?
 Humidity is the amount of water vapor in air. It is usually described as
“relative humidity” and expressed in percentage. 100% humidity means the
water vapor in the air is at its maximum at that particular temperature.
When humidity is low (amount of water vapor is less in air), the
evaporation from the surrounding areas is rapid. Hence the clothes dry
quickly, soil dries up, sweat evaporates from skin etc.
When humidity is high (amount of water vapor is more in air), clothes
dry slowly, sweat does not evaporate from skin and we feel sticky and
uncomfortable.
We feel comfortable when humidity is 45-50% and temperature 20 to 22
degree Celsius. Any broad variation in these may cause health problems.
Effects of increased humidity on
human body :
Human body maintains its temperature by transferring body heat to
surrounding air through evaporation of perspiration (sweat). When
humidity is high in air the evaporation of sweat decreases and
maintenance of body temperature is altered. Along with high humidity if
atmosphere temperature is high, the blood circulation increases on
surface of skin and decreases in muscles and other organs. Hence we
experience fatigue in climate which is high in temperature and humidity.
Molds,
mildews, bacteria, virus, dust mites proliferate when humidity increases
in surrounding air. They grow on air conditioners, shower heads, damp
walls, toilets , wet carpets and on other moist substances. Their spores
which are called bio-aerosols, are constantly released into air.
Bio-aerosols cause infection and allergies. They trigger asthma attacks
and other respiratory diseases.
Researchers have found that osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
flare up in high humid weather.
According to Ayurvedic texts the humidity increases during rainy season.
The Agni (body fire or digestive power) which is reduced during
summer decreases still further and gets vitiated by doshas. Doshas get
vitiated due to changes in weather like increased humidity, coldness,
dampness etc.
How to reduce humidity at home
- Repair
the source which is causing dampness or wetness at home .Leaking
roofs, taps and tanks should be repaired to prevent leaking.
- Keep the rain drain free from clogs and let the water from rain
drain flow away from your basement.
- Switch on exhaust fans or vent fans after bathing and cooking.
- Do not dry clothes inside. This increases humidity inside home.
- Use a digital hygrometer to monitor humidity.
- Use a dehumidifier to bring down the humidity to 50% or less.
Ayurvedic
tips to keep healthy in humid conditions:
- One has to undergo detoxification therapies like Vamana and Virechana.
- Asthapana basthi (An enema of herbal decoction) has to be
administered to keep away humidity related health problems.
- The digestive system gets weakened due to dehydration in summer. This
leads to low digestive power. This is further weakened by vitiation of
doshas and dhatus due to increased humidity. Hence following diets which
increase power of digestion and strengthen the digestive system would be
beneficial.
a. Light foods prepared out of old barley, rice and wheat.
b. Sour and salted soups of vegetables.
c. Drinking boiled and cooled water mixed with little honey.
d. Consuming little quantity of wine prepared out of grapes.
e. Adding ginger and green gram in daily diet.
f. Eating warm food.
g. The taste of food must be preferably sour and salty.
- Do not walk in bare foot. Always wear dry foot wear to prevent growth
of fungus on nails and between toes. Dry your feet and webs with soft
dry cloth whenever they are wet.
- The clothes should be fumigated using fragrant herbs. Drying clothes
with fumes of loban and dry neem leaves is recommended in ayurvedic
texts.
- We should not sleep in basement as it will be damp and growth of
moulds and fungus will be more.
- Fumigating the house with smoke of dried neem leaves in evenings for
1-2 minutes is an excellent ayurvedic method to check the growth of
microbes,
- Always keep the surrounding dry and clean. Do not allow water to get
accumulated around.
Ayurvedic Home remedies for Humidity related diseases
- Apply castor oil or sesame oil on cracked feet and skin.
- A freshly prepared paste of turmeric, neem and sesame seeds is
recommended in ayurveda for fungal infection between toes.
- Drink a glass of warm water mixed with a tea spoon of honey in empty
stomach. This flushes out accumulated toxins.
- Freshly prepared radish juice is the best remedy for cold.
- A pinch each of long pepper powder and rock salt mixed in warm water
reduces cough
August 25,
2007
Disclaimer
The above article is educational in nature, and is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical
condition, please consult your physician.
Dr.Savitha Suri has been an Ayurvedic Practitioner since 1989. After
getting a graduation degree in Ayurveda (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine
and Surgery) in 1988 from University of Mysore, India, she started
practicing Ayurveda . Her articles about Ayurveda have been published in
news papers, health magazines and websites. Dr.Savitha Suri lives in
Mysore, Karnataka, India. She gives consultations in Mysore and also in
Bangalore, the silicon valley of India. By arrangement
with
http://www.ayurhelp.com
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