Cool Down With The Help Of Your 5 Senses

In Ayurveda, every season is governed by a unique element and it is no surprise that the warm (and sometimes hot or very hot depending on where you live) days of summer are associated with the element of fire. Ayurveda, a natural system of medicine, originated in India more than 3,000 years ago, and the word translates to knowledge of life. Based on the idea that disease is due to an imbalance or stress in a person's consciousness, Ayurveda encourages certain lifestyle interventions and natural therapies to regain a balance between the body, mind, spirit, and the environment.

Symptoms of imbalances may include:

  • Feeling overheated and irritable

  • A tendency to get impatient or angry

  • Red skin or eye conditions

  • Burning indigestion (heartburn, diarrhea)

Balance in Ayurveda rests on the simple yet profound principle that like increases like and opposites decrease each other (or, as Hippocrates wisely put it, “opposites are the cure for opposites”). Using the five sense therapies (taste, smell, sight, hearing, touch) and more, here are some ways you can stay as cool during the dog days of summer.

TASTE

Examples of cooling foods to favor in your summer diet include:

  • Vegetables: Cucumber, summer squashes (zucchini), celery, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, and all leafy greens (spinach, kale, chard, etc.)

  • Grains: Basmati rice (white), quinoa, and oats

  • Herbs: Cilantro, mint, and dill

  • Fruits: Melons, grapes, berries, and stone fruits such as peaches and pears

  • Teas like black, chicory, dandelion, or mint (room temperature or cool)

  • Fats and Oils: Like a fire, the summer season can have a drying effect on the body. Modify this by lubricating your foods with healthy oils. The best oils for summer include: Avocado, coconut, ghee, sunflower oil, and olive oil.

Examples of heating foods that you should eat less of or avoid during summer include:

  • Alcohol

  • Hot spices or excessive use of spices

  • Fried foods

  • Vinegar

SMELL

Use sweet and relaxing aromas like jasmine, rose, honeysuckle, lavender, chamomile, geranium, and ylang-ylang to stay cool and centered in the summer. Rose water is especially cooling. Use rose hydrosol as a refreshing toner or pick me up—spritz on your face, the back of your neck, and onto the soles of your feet to instantly cool down.

Take a soothing aromatherapy bath with a few drops of these essential oils or use them in a diffuser. Or make a spritzer like the one below that you can use throughout the day.

Cooling Spritzer-

½ oz. distilled water

½ oz. rose hydrosol

6–8 drops jasmine or ylang-ylang essential oil

4–6 drops lavender or roman chamomile essential oil

Mix all of the ingredients together in a glass bottle and shake well. Spray as needed.

SIGHT

Cooling shades such as blues, pastels, white, and even gold work best. Bring in these colors through your clothing, accessories, and home décor (think pillows and throws, as well as accessories such as vases and candles). Household plants in pleasing hues of green offer a welcome respite to your sometimes-irritated summer eyes.

Colors of nature that are calming and cooling include the blue waters of the ocean, greenish/blue tinged rivers and lakes, as well as the cool green of a forest trail or the countryside. Remember to avoid being out in the direct sun when it is at its strongest, generally from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

SOUND

Sounds of nature (ocean waves, the gentle summer breeze, chirping birds, crickets on a lazy summer evening) can be refreshing, soothing, and calming.  Listening to calming and soft music—stringed instruments like harp, dulcimer, flute, and ambient music with a soothing rhythm can also be balancing.

TOUCH

Wear loose, breathable, light, and natural fabrics like linen, cotton, and hemp to stay cool all summer long.

Use natural products that have rose, cucumber, or aloe in them, as well as a cooling moisturizer like coconut oil for moisture and massage.

 

Peggy Van Cleef