Seasonal Shifts: 3 Ayurvedic Best Practices for Spring

Roughly, the last week of March into the first week of April marks the transition from winter to spring. In Ayurvedic terms, we move from the cold, dry season of Vata to the cool, wet season of Kapha.

Kapha, one of the 3 Ayurvedic Doshas, is a combination of the water and earth elements. Kapha is in charge of the lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, and immune systems, and of fat and musculo-skeletal tissue.

In Ayurveda, each juncture of the seasons is the most vulnerable time of the year for us. The transition from one season to another usually marks a significant weather change that makes our immune system susceptible. Currently in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, we are quite rapidly moving from cold temperatures with very drying winds to warmer temperatures and rain (still very windy). So, remember to take extra care of yourself in these next two weeks.  

In the spring, the prominent colds and watery allergies are considered excess Kapha ailments. Here’s 3 basic actions I recommend that everybody can do to keep Kapha in check:

1. Use a neti pot daily. It’s not just great for when you have an itchy, dry, watery or congested nose; used daily, it nourishes the nasal and sinus mucosal membranes and removes debris that can cause allergies and inflammation. Studies show that it removes and protects against bacteria that cause upper respiratory conditions such as acute or chronic rhinosinusitis (inflammation of the nasal and sinus passages). Late spring/summer’s famous sinus infections are a result of rhinosinusitis, which more than 12% of the US population suffer from.

Directions: Fill your neti pot with a homemade saline solution (warm water and ¼ teaspoon sea salt). Hinge from your hips and lean over the sink. Place the spout up to your right nostril, so that the nostril seals around the tip of the spout. Turn your head to the left gently, and allow the saline solution to flow into your right nostril and trickle out of your left and into the sink. Breathe through your mouth during this process. Blow your nose, then repeat on the other side.

2. Eat seasonally. Bitter, astringent and pungent tastes help to balance Kapha. Bitter encourages mucosal secretions to get things moving in the body. Astringent helps to dry out tissues that are too wet. And pungent helps to stimulate the body and also “melt” away excess mucous. Spring’s bitter dandelion greens, pungent mustard greens, and spicy roots like onions and garlic are immune-boosting. Berries, high in astringency, also boost immune-activity, and are a great choice over pro-inflammatory foods that are carb-laden. Having a diet packed with essential nutrients is one of the ways to prevent seasonal colds and allergies. Seasonal allergies are easier to prevent than trying to “treat” them. If you know you are an allergy sufferer, being proactive early on (mid-February) is ideal, rather than when your symptoms begin presenting.

Herbs can also be very helpful for allergic conditions. However, I won’t be giving specific herbal advice here, as everyone is different. It would be best for allergy sufferers to book a consultation for herbal advice that is tailored to their specific situation. Reach out to me or your local herbalist— the earlier in the year, the better, but it’s still not too late!

3. Work the lymphatic system. It’s interconnected with the immune, circulatory, nervous, and digestive systems to name a few. It is mainly responsible for waste removal. The lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the circulatory system does (aka the heart), so daily intentional movement is essential (stretching, exercise, walking, etc.). Alternating hot/cold hydrotherapy in the shower widely improves circulation of blood and lymph, and increases detoxification. Daily self-oil massage, the Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga, is also very useful for the lymphatic system.

Additionally, you can take 1-2 Tablespoons of apple cider vinegar daily to support digestion and detoxification.

We all know someone who fits the profile: constant runny nose, sneezing &/or coughing, goes through a pack a day (of tissues, that is), with red and raw nostrils… So feel free to forward this to anyone you think needs to read it!