Ritucharya, the seasonal routine in Ayurveda - spring

Spring is the time of year when everything starts to sprout and bloom again. When the first buds open or the first flowers sprout from the earth, everyone is delighted.

The Ayurvedic approach is based on the concepts of macrocosm and microcosm, i.e. the idea that there is a similarity between humans and the universe in terms of structure, composition and properties. This means that both man and the universe are governed by the same principles. The individual is seen as a microcosm and the larger universe, the natural world, as a macrocosm. With this in mind, it is obvious that the seasonal changes also lead to changes in our bodies.
 Ayurveda therefore follows the seasonal cycle. Which means that the diet and activities are adapted to the respective season.

With spring the temperatures start to rise. The Kapha that has accumulated in winter is liquidated, in other words, melted. This leads to various ailments such as coughs, colds, allergies, sinusitis and indigestion, to name but a few. Many people cannot really enjoy spring because they are suffering from allergies.
Also our digestive fire is impaired.

The great Ayurvedic scholars have clearly described the diet and activities of each season.
In spring, there is a progressive shift to a lighter diet, favoring detoxifying foods such as young dandelions, young nettles, asparagus, etc.
During this time, light (laghu), warm (ushna) and dry (ruksha) foods should be preferred. In terms of taste, bitter, pungent and tart flavors should be given priority.

Light foods are e.g:
mung daal,
mung beans,
azuki beans, 

tofu,
basmati rice,
couscous,
barley,
quinoa,
young herbs such as: dandelion, nettles
ripe sweet fruit
cooked apples,
alfalfa sprouts
broccoli

Warming foods are e.g:
garlic,
ginger,
black pepper,
mustard seeds,
chili peppers,
salt,
onion,
honey,
lemon,
wild garlic
fresh parsley

The following are examples of drying foods:
honey
fresh parsley
black tea
celery
millet
buckwheat

Oily (snigdha), heavy (guru) and sweet (madhura) types of food should be avoided in spring as they increase kapha in the body, impair the digestive fire (jathragni) and can thus lead to disorders. Foods that are difficult to digest, according to Ayurveda, include dairy products, raw vegetables, sesame seeds, nuts, cakes, brown lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, etc.
(which foods specifically should be used depends, as always in Ayurveda, on the person and their doṣa type).

Moreover, spring is the time when physical activity should, in fact needs to be increased. Scholars emphasize the necessity of daily movement and exercise to reduce the kapha present in the body.

This period is suitable for mono diets or short periods of fasting. Traditionally, fasting was part of many traditions and therefore a customary practice. It was often part of faith and was also beneficial to people's health. Some cultures still follow this system today.
In Ayurveda, the decision on how to fast depends on the basic nature of the person. Complete fasting is rather rare in Ayurveda. It is often more about reducing or abstaining from certain foods or fasting on fruits, depending on the constitution of the body.
For instance, a Kapha constitution is able to follow a more rigorous fasting regimen than a Vata constitution.
In Ayurveda, a fasting cure is actually individually tailored to each person and their dosha type and should only be carried out in consultation with a professional. The approach in Ayurveda is always moderate and in harmony with nature. Ayurvedic fasting is therefore less about starvation. Rather, it is about giving the body a break and activating its self-healing powers. This process strengthens the immune system and brings clarity into the mind.

A mono-diet of 3 to 5 days with rice soups and/or kitchari (recipe here) can be sufficient for such a recovery break. According to the person, only one or two meals a day can be eaten and herbal and ginger tea can be consumed in between. A visit to the steam sauna or hammam, a walk in the forest or in nature can be enjoyed during this period. 
This cycle brings peace and relaxation to body and mind. 
Times of silence and retreat are of great importance in order to remain in balance and to master the demands of life.

Days or hours of silence can also be seen as fasting. While living in India, I have often noticed that people fast and/or observe silence on a particular day of the week. This tradition is commonly associated with Jyotish, Indian astrology, and is recommended by the astrologer directly on an individual basis. Apart from the positive planetary effects, this person has a weekly detox day, so to speak - on a mental and physical level (again, the type of fast depends on the physical condition). 
An Indian monk once told me: "People who have never been in silence and seclusion have only got to know the balcony of their existence.

Regular spiritual and physical cleansing are therefore of great importance for a balanced and healthy life.

All suggestions given here are for information purposes and are not medical information. Each user is responsible for checking that the information provided is correct, complete and up-to-date. The information provided here is no substitute for a medical consultation.