Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c9.64

c9.64

The modifications which the dietetic regulations undergo according to the change of season, are called ṛtucaryā. Side by side with the common year, there is, according to Suśruta, a medical year which, like the former, has six seasons (ṛtu), but begins on the 15th February. Śiśira, the first season of the common year, is left out, but prāvṛṣ, earlier rainy season from 15th June to 15th August, is introduced as a third season. However, time is reckoned usually according to the common year. According to Caraka, one should eat in hemanta (15th November to 15 January) fat, sour and salt sauce of flesh of watery and marshy animals and goats and iguana roasted on the spear and the like and beasts and birds of prey (*prasaha*), because the cold increases the digestive power and enables the digestion of heavy and rich food. He should also take liquor, milk-preparations, sweets, fat, oil, new rice and hot water. Caraka also recommends the use of ointment, massage, anointing the head with oil, residence in hot chamber, in the sun or in a warm underground place or inner room, under the roof of a carriage, in bed and seat with warm cover, warm clothes and smearing the body with a thick paste of aloes wood (*aguru*) as well as sleeping with a fully developed woman. Similar rules are given for *sisira* (15th January to 15th March); only one should look for a still better and warmer room protected from the wind, and avoid pungent, light, cold and similar food and drink. In both these cold seasons man is at his best strength. In *vasanta* (15th March to 15th May) the accumulated *kapha* provokes many diseases; therefore, emetics etc. should be taken and heavy, sour, sweet food as well as sleep by day should be avoided. Exercise, massage, inhalations, water-gargling, ointment, washing and bath in cold water are likewise recommended. As for food and drink, barley and wheat and the flesh of stag, hare, antelope, quail and francoline, and certain kinds of liquor are recommended. In summer (*griṣma*-15th May to 15th July) one should eat tasteful, cold, fluid and oily things, cold preparation of barley with milk and sugar, deer, ghee, milk and rice. Spirituous drinks should be taken only in small quantity or not at all or largely mixed with water. Salt, sour, pungent and hot things, as well as physical exercise and cohabitation and sleeping by day in a cool place should be avoided. At night one should sleep in a place which has become cool by rays of the moon, particularly on the windy roof of the house, should anoint oneself with cooling sandal-ointment, get oneself fanned with a cool fan, live in cool forests etc. In the rainy season (*varṣāh*-15th July to 15th Sept.) the digestive system is weakened; therefore, one should keep diet, should avoid eating of *udamantha*, sleeping by day, physical exercise, cohabitation, sunheat etc., should eat barley, wheat and old rice with deer and boiled sauce, medicinal liquor in small dose with honey or water which is collected from rain or is previously boiled etc. Massage, baths, residence in dry place etc. are also advised. In summer and in rainy season man is the weakest. In autumn (*sarad*-15th Sept. to 15th Nov.) one should eat in moderate quantity things which are sweet, light, cold, bitter and which lessen pitta, as well as deer, rice, barley and wheat; should use pure water of a spring for washing, drinking, bathing, avoid bitter drink, ghee, purgative, blood-letting, fat and oil, eastern wind etc. (Car 1.6; Su. 1.6; 6.64; AS 1.4; AHr 1.3; Vr. 81; Bhav. 1.1.121ff. ).