Your monsoon health guide After a long and hot holiday, summer is about to pack off and make

room for a wet and sometimes messy monsoon across most parts of India. It is time to recalibrate your routine and health paradigms. Though monsoon giftwraps a much-awaited relief from the long spell of sultry summer, the season also tugs along a host of diseases and minor ailments. Here are a few health tips that can make your monsoon a season of joy: Dont expose yourself to rain It is wonderful to get wet in the rain. But leave that to the yuppie crowd who love to swing. If you are middle-aged of susceptible to common cold or infections, it is better that you avoid getting wet. Elderly people should cover their chest adequately and keep themselves warm. If you have got wet, change to warm clothings immediately. Children love to play in the rain. You could allow them to do so but ensure that the surroundings are clean. Waterlogged streets can be dangerous, especially in cities where muck from overflowing drains and manholes too get mixed. Take care of your stomach Ayurveda specialist say that during monsoon the intestinal functions along with the digestive system tend to become weak. This would make the body highly susceptible to infections. Hence, do not overeat. Light and easily digestible foods are ideal. Avoid spicy and fried foods. Hot rasams, soups, steamed rice etc are good. Maximum infections during this season are water borne and hence do not drink water which is not properly boiled and stored. Drinking water should be boiled and properly filtered. It is best advice to drink warm water with the meals for easy digestion. Do not expose your food for a long time because chances of these items getting contaminated with germs are high. Keep flies away from food. Cook the vegetables well and steam them properly in order to kill the germs, if any. Three Common ailments The common diseases of the monsoon are basically water borne and gastrointestinal infections. The top three are typhoid, diarrhoea and jaundice. Next on the list would

be malaria and dengue. Hence keep your surroundings clean and avoid accumulation of water either in your compound or on the roads. Such pools promote the growth of the mosquitoes causing malaria and dengue. Other common aliments include cold and cough, dryness, spasmodic pain, high blood pressure, gas formation and gastric disturbances. Diabetic, arthritic and asthma patients need to take extra precaution. Diabetics should take special care of their feet during the monsoon season. Patients prone to arthritis should exercise regularly and keep their joints in shape. Asthmatic patients should avoid dampness in their homes caused by seepage of water. Do not dry your clothes in your bedroom or living rooms. Clean the wooden furniture daily to avoid growth of fungus. Leather bags and shoes too need constant care as there are the places where fungi make their monsoon homes and cause health problems. Avoid a shocking experience Make a quick and detailed check of all electrical fittings. Electrical injuries due to leakage of current, water dripping on to live electrical wiring etc can cause major health hazards. Ideally you should put your electrical wiring systems thorough a good check-up. Employ a professional for this. Never handle electrical fittings on barefoot or with wet clothes and shoes. It is best to avoid any shocking experience. If a little extra care taken, monsoon can be as pleasurable as summer. So enjoy the rains! When lightning threatens Monsoon is here and so are the thunder and lightning that accompany it. Lightning occurs with every thunderstorm and must be expected as soon as thunderstorms form. Lightning results from the build-up and discharge of electrical energy between positively and negatively charged areas in the atmosphere and clouds. When thunderstorms approach there are some steps you should take to lower your chance of being a victim. They are: Get inside home or any large building or inside a vehicle during thunderstorm. Inside the home avoid using the telephone, except for emergencies. Stay away from windows. Do not hold any metal object nor use any electrical appliances.

If outside, get inside a safe building or an automobile. Do not stand under a natural lighting rod such as a tall, isolated tree. Avoid projecting above the surrounding landscape like standing on a hilltop, in an open field, on the beach, or fishing from a small boat. Get out of and away from open water. Get away from tractors and other metal farm equipment. Get off and away from motorcycles, scooters, golf carts and bicycles. Avoid standing in small isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas. In a forest, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees. In open areas, go to a low place such as a ravine or a valley. If you live in a thatched building, erect a lightning conductor near to but not touching the building. Do not take a bath or shower during the storm. Ayurvedic Health Tips Avoid cool drinks Dont sleep during the day Dont travel while it is cold or windy Dont drink water without purifying Avoid excessive physical exercise Avoid more oily, deep fried, excessive spicy foods Use honey with food and drinks Include sour or salty and fatty foods during this season

Include meat soups, old rice, barley, wheat, ghee and regular milk in the diet Foods like rasam with added pepper, fried vegetables or non-veg fries with little spice, fresh and warm foods are more suitable In drinks you may include wine or other fermented liquor mixed with little quantities of honey Boil and cool water before drinking to avoid water contamination Use clean and light cloths Reside in a place, which is free from humidity Apply dhoopa in house (a specific smoke of Aquliria Agalocha) i.e. Agaru In this season there are more chances of aggravation of vata. So take regular oil baths, oil massages and udwartanams (powder massages) to pacify vata Purify the body with vamana and virechana (emetics and purgatives) Foot For Thought Foot care problems can rob you of your monsoon zeal. Give your feet the attention they deserve. Foot evils which are very common during the season like corns, bunions, cracks, infections and ingrown nails can throw you off balance. Added to this, foot issues like numb legs and frozen joints can complicate matters. Looking after your feet need not be the focus of your life. Wash your feet well every time you return from outside. There is nothing like a good pedicure to give them a soothing touch. Do it at least twice a week during monsoon. Pedicure can be done at home as well. Soak your feet for 5-10 minutes in a bowl of warm water and wipe well with a dry towel. Cut your toe nails and keep them free from dirt. A little Ayurvedic foot care routine too can make them soft, smooth and supple.

Comfortable shoes are a must. Make sure your shoes have sufficient toe room, the heels fit well and your feet are well protected from dirt, wind and water. Diabetic patients need extra protection during monsoon. Do not walk barefoot as the soil, during this season, is a potential germ carrier. Dhobis itch is a common foot infection during monsoon. Characterised by a patch that develops between the toes either due to mud infection or unclean and damp feet, it is termed fungal infection in modern science. This foot condition is sometimes accompanied by pain and some discharge. If this happens, clean the wound with Triphala or neem water. Dry gently with sterile cotton and apply ghee and honey for instant healing. Apply either a neem leaf or sesame seed paste over the wound and bandage it. For Lustrous Mane When the texture of your hair starts changing, make sure the monsoon is approaching. Dandruff is a big villain. Hair is usually exposed to sudden showers and most often not completely dried. As a result, dandruff attacks are rampant during monsoons. Opt for a branded anti-dandruff shampoo to keep dandruff at bay. Keep the hair clean. Shampooing and conditioning of the hair are very important. Monsoon showers are not like the occasional drizzle you get during summer. Do not walk around without an umbrella or a raincoat. A raincoat with an effective cap is a good protection for hair. Make sure to dry the hair thoroughly. Like in any other season, short hair is more easy to manage even during monsoon. Consult your favourite hairstylist for a neat, stylish cut to your mane.