Time for a seasonal reset?
Author: Linda Sinden Date Posted:2 April 2019
As the season turns, what do I need to do?
Recently, I sat with a client who said “Now that Autumn is on the horizon Linda, what do I need to do? Summer was quite hot and my digestion was pretty good, now my digestion has become quite changeable, going between hot with soft bowel motions to not being hungry at all. So I think I need to do a seasonal cleanse. What do you suggest?”
Ginny has been following Ayurvedic principles in her life for over 30 years and I regularly see her at the change of season. Now in her 70’s she is fit and hearty and her pulse shows a youthfulness and vibrancy. Ginny has experienced the power of prevention and swears by her seasonal pulse check and seasonal reset.
What’s a seasonal reset?
As summer gives way to autumn the heat that has accumulated within the tissues of the body is released into the circulation, ideally for cleansing out of the body. Nature in her infinite wisdom has designed within us a spontaneous mechanism for cleansing as one season disappears and the next starts to arise. This sandhi or gap between two seasons is the ideal time to balance any imbalances that have accumulated in the previous season. Ayurveda recommends it as the choice to cleanse between seasons is the key to prevention and for maintaining health.
Why cleanse now?
Have you been noticing signs that you could do with a cleanse too?
Our bodies are constantly replacing cells, generating new muscles, and essentially renewing from the inside all the time. When we eat, our body utilises the nourishment and intelligence within the food as building blocks to rebuild and renew.
That is why Ayurveda says we are what we eat and recommends we use fresh foods, freshly prepared by a happy cook, eaten when hungry, in a timely manner and with full attention for optimal nourishment. Then ojas the final and most refined product of digestion and metabolism is formed to help sustain our life, health, contentment and strength.
Processed foods, frozen or canned foods and leftovers are considered non-fresh foods, in which the life-giving quality, nourishment and healing property of the food is greatly minimised or lost. This lack of vitality interrupts the digestive process so the food is not correctly broken down creating a build up of impurities or ama, the opposite of ojas. When mealtimes are changeable or we eat a large quantity in the evening, including meat, cheese or eggs, then ama increases considerably.
This accumulation of ama builds first in the stomach and digestive organs and intestines and then moves deeper into the tissues causing or contributing to either emaciation or weight gain, dullness, tiredness, stiffness, aches and pains, sugar and fat metabolism issues, reduced immune functioning, fertility issues, mood upsets and much more.
Ama + Summer heat
The heat of Pitta imbalance that has accumulated over a hot summer can combine with the impurities caused from your food choices and eating habits to form a more toxic form of ama. It is important to cleanse this ama out of your system so that it does not go deeper into the tissues as Ayurveda explains this can form the basis, or seed of later disease.
What can I do?
Here is what I suggest for a 7-10 day reset:
- Favour only fresh foods, freshly prepared with main quantity of food taken at lunch time and a light evening meal of soup, kitchari, lightly spiced vegetables over a small amount of rice, quinoa or barley.
- Drink Be Trim Tea throughout the day, taking sips every 15-30 minutes to create a gentle flushing.
- Start the day with some freshly stewed apples or pears cooked 1-2 cloves and with some figs, raisins or prunes that have been soaked overnight and added to the fruit at the start of cooking.
- Herbal Help: Take Congest Assist 2 tablets first thing upon waking and again 30 minutes prior lunch and the evening meal.
Take one tablet of Elim Tox and one t with Tulsi 1 tablet 15-30 minutes after breakfast lunch and evening meals. If you have a lot of heat in your system causing loose bowel, hot flushing, feeling angry, or find you are easily upset then take Elim Tox O instead Of the Elim Tox. - Prepare for the changeable qualities of Vata that dominates during autumn and winter with a regular bedtime by 9.30 to 10.00 pm.
- If you have difficulty going to sleep then consider taking 2 tablets of Blissful Sleep prior bed.
- If you find you wake during the night take Deep Rest 2 tablets at bedtime
Wishing you the bliss of balance.
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Linda Sinden has been a practising Maharishi Ayurveda Consultant since 1990 and is a regular contributor to our weekly Insights. She has a practice in Auckland, New Zealand and also provides phone or Skype sessions for those who need assistance, but don’t have a consultant in their vicinity. Email: lindasinden@orbislife.co.nz Skype: Linda.Sinden |
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