Grishma Ritu: Summer in Ayurveda, Cooling Food and Routine

Grishma is the hot, dry summer of the Ayurvedic year, running roughly from mid May to mid July in northern and central India. It is the last season of the half-year in which, according to the texts, the Sun draws strength from the world, and the tradition describes it as the time when people are at their weakest and most easily tired by heat.

This page sets out what the classical texts advise for Grishma, how that translates into everyday habits, and how it compares with modern heat safety guidance. It is a description of a tradition and not a medical plan, and heat illness is a medical matter. If you feel very unwell in the heat, seek care and do not rely on a routine.

The season as the texts describe it

The Ashtanga Hridayam describes Grishma as a season of fierce Sun, dry winds and scorching days, when the heat dries the body and the earth, and when strength is said to be at its lowest. It is the end of adana kala, the period of taking, so the tradition describes the world and the people in it as drained of moisture. The classical image is of thirst, tiredness and a weak appetite.

In the doshic scheme, the dry heat of Grishma is said to make vata accumulate, since heat and dryness are described as increasing its qualities. According to the tradition, that accumulated vata is then liable to be disturbed in the first rains of Varsha. Read more of the cycle in the ritucharya overview.

What the texts advise

Food and drink. The advice is for food and drink that is sweet, cold, liquid and oily. Rice, milk, ghee, thin soups, fruit juices, and drinks made from rice or grain flour with sugar and water appear in the classical lists. Salty, sour and pungent foods are said to dry the body further and are advised against, as is very heavy food. Meat of desert animals and wild game appears in the lists of those who eat meat. Modern teachers usually suggest simply hydrating, watery foods such as cucumber, melon and buttermilk.

Alcohol. The Ashtanga Hridayam says that alcohol should not be taken, or only in small quantity and well diluted, in the heat. The modern advice is simpler: alcohol dehydrates, so it adds to heat risk.

Exercise. The texts advise against hard exercise in the heat. They say that effort in this season drains strength, so it should be reduced. A gentle walk in the cool of the early morning or evening is the modern version of this rule.

Rest and sleep. The texts describe sleeping through the middle of the day, in a cool, shaded room, with breezes, fans, water and cool materials such as sandalwood paste, flower garlands and moonlight in the evening. Daytime sleep is discouraged for most of the year but permitted in Grishma, when nights are short and the heat is tiring.

Clothing. Light, loose and thin clothing. The texts describe cool, damp cloths and well-ventilated places.

Turning it into modern habits

• Drink fluids regularly through the day, before you feel thirsty.
• Eat lighter meals with plenty of water-rich fruit and vegetables.
• Do outdoor work and exercise early or late, and rest in the shade or indoors in the middle of the day.
• Wear light, loose, light-coloured, breathable clothes and a hat or umbrella outdoors.
• Keep your home cool: close curtains in the day, open windows at night where it is safe.
• A short nap in the afternoon is a reasonable habit in hot weather if it does not disturb night sleep.
• Check on elderly neighbours and relatives, who are most at risk.

What modern research says

The seasonal routine for Grishma has not been tested as a whole, but much of its practical content matches public health guidance on heat. Health agencies advise drinking regularly, avoiding strenuous activity in the hottest hours, wearing light clothes, staying in the shade or somewhere cool, and avoiding alcohol. Afternoon naps have mixed evidence. Short ones are linked with alertness, and long or late ones with poor night sleep.

The idea that vata accumulates in the heat has not been tested. The classical drinks, made with sugar, are a real consideration, because sugary drinks add calories and are unsuitable for many people with diabetes. Claims for “cooling” foods, such as particular fruits or spices, lower body temperature have little direct evidence.

Safety notes

• Heat illness is dangerous. Heat exhaustion causes heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness and weakness. Heat stroke, with confusion, hot dry skin, fainting or a very high temperature, is an emergency. Move the person to a cool place and call emergency services at once. In India that number is 112.
• Fluids and health conditions. People with kidney, heart or liver disease or who have been told to limit fluids should ask their doctor how much to drink. Water-tablet users and people on some blood pressure medicines are more susceptible to dehydration.
• Sugar. Sweet drinks and rice-based sweet preparations can raise blood sugar, so people with diabetes need to take advice.
• Oil and spice-based drinks and herbs. Do not add herbs or “cooling” remedies in large amounts. They may interact with medicines, and some are unsafe in pregnancy.
• Children, older adults and pregnancy. They are more vulnerable to heat. Never leave a child or pet in a parked car.
• Outdoor work and exercise. Take regular breaks, and stop if you feel faint or unwell.
• Dairy and food safety. Heat spoils food quickly. Keep milk and cooked food cool, and eat it fresh.
• Do not stop or change prescribed medicines because of the heat without speaking to your doctor.

Moving on

After the heat, the first rains bring Varsha, and the texts advise a slow adjustment: see ritu sandhi. The season before this one is Vasanta. Some of the cooling ideas here also appear in the way the texts treat exercise, which is reduced in the heat. If you live in a tropical or southern hemisphere climate, read living by the seasons outside India.

This page describes a tradition and is not medical advice. Please read the medical disclaimer, and see a doctor if you are affected by heat or have a health condition.

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