Around the middle of August the weather starts to change. There is a change at the core of the earth, and the body feels it. The first cool morning shows up in the middle of August or early September, and that is when the body says "winter is coming" and starts building an insulating layer of fat. Ayurveda's August practices are about staying ahead of that: do not get dehydrated, start daily abhyanga, eat the apples that are coming in, and use the anantamul drink to keep Pitta in balance through the last hot weeks.
Why mid-August is when the body senses winter coming
The energy has been rising since the spring equinox. In the middle of August it starts to make its change. You feel that first cool morning, and the body responds. It says "winter is coming, I'm going to start building an insulating layer of fat," because that takes time. It starts pulling fat from the blood.
If you got too hot from the summer, the body is already dehydrated. The blood is already dehydrated. When the body pulls fat from the blood in this state, you may notice dry skin, constipation, insomnia, or anxiety. Not all of them, maybe one or more. It is a change.
Vata is rising. Vata is the big bully of the three doshas. Pitta and Kapha are lame without Vata. When Vata is moving too fast, it starts blowing fire on the flame. Things have gotten dried out over the summer, which is why there are wildfires at the end of summer. That is Pitta over the land, the excess heat drying out the land and increasing Vata.
How to prepare the body for the change
The body wants sweet, sour, salty tastes in August. Sweetness will help you hold on to water. Sweetness means something anabolic. Sweetness builds structure to hold on to water.
Sweet foods in this sense include meat, ghee, coconut oil, whey, and anything that would build you. A sprinkle of pink salt will help you hold on to water too.
Susan teaches that autumn is the fastest time in the world to age, especially if you got dried out in summer. If you lose weight during summer, remember that youth is about fat and water.
Why apples are the August fruit
Apples are growing almost anywhere in America in autumn. The earth produces apple pectin naturally, and pectin gradually reduces excess heat. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Apple is a remedy for both constipation and diarrhea. It is a truly magical food. It helps you reduce accumulated heat in a natural way. Look for organic apples.
The simple August recipe: bake an apple with coconut butter. The pectin opens, the coconut butter cools, and the body recognizes both.
What abhyanga is, and which oil for which dosha
August is the time of year for oil massage. Abhyanga will help you not dry out. Susan teaches a specific oil for each dosha:
- Pitta: Brahmi coconut.
- Vata: Aswaganda bala.
- Kapha: Brahmi sesame.
Daily abhyanga is the way to nourish the body. You are feeding the skin, and the skin is the largest immune organ in the body. It is your barrier. It has a healthy microbiome. When you oil it, you are feeding the good microbiome. We want healthy microbiomes because that is how the skin protects itself. All skin is severely compromised when dehydrated. You get cracks for things to walk in.
Focus on the skin in August.
How to use anantamul for late summer Pitta
Aloe is fantastic in August. Anantamul with aloe is the combination Susan teaches for bug bites and Pitta inflammation.
The anantamul drink, also called Indian sarsaparilla:
- One tablespoon of anantamul
- Four cups of purified water
- Boil it down to half
- To taste, mix in a little sweetener (maple syrup or maple water)
The flavor is delicious with a slight rootbeer note. It is India's rootbeer. Pitta balancing classic summer drink.
This is a great drink to start having every day, or if you have a bug bite. Do not travel without it in summer.
Why basti matters in early August
Basti (the medicated enema therapy) is one of the most important things you can do in early August. It addresses the Vata that has accumulated over the summer and is starting to rise as the body prepares for autumn. Talk to your Ayurvedic professional about whether basti is right for you.
What to avoid in August
Do not get dehydrated. Early August is when dehydration sets the stage for the depletion that shows up in October. Drink electrolytes (Ayurvedic gatorade is eight ounces of room-temperature water with a pinch of pink salt and a teaspoon of lemon or lime).
Avoid dry foods. Crackers and chips feed the dryness. The body needs moisture now, not bulk.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the body start pulling fat from the blood in August?
The energy has been rising since the spring equinox, and in the middle of August it shifts. The body feels the first cool morning and says "winter is coming." It starts building an insulating layer of fat because that takes time. It pulls fat from the blood to get a head start.
What is abhyanga, and which oil should I use?
Abhyanga is the Ayurvedic daily oil massage. Susan teaches Brahmi coconut oil for Pitta, Aswaganda bala for Vata, and Brahmi sesame for Kapha. You massage the oil into the skin, which is the largest immune organ in the body, and feed the skin's microbiome.
What is anantamul, and how do you use it?
Anantamul is Indian sarsaparilla. Susan's drink recipe is one tablespoon of anantamul, four cups of purified water, boiled down to half, sweetened with a little maple syrup. It tastes like India's rootbeer. Pitta-balancing. Great for late summer or for bug bites.
What foods help the body prepare for the August seasonal change?
Sweet, sour, salty tastes. Sweet here means anabolic: meat, ghee, coconut oil, whey, anything that builds the body. Plus a sprinkle of pink salt to hold on to water. Apples are the August fruit; pectin reduces excess heat.
Why is autumn the fastest time to age in Ayurveda?
Because the body is pulling resources from itself to build the winter insulation, and if you got dried out in summer, there is less to pull from. Youth, in Ayurveda, is about fat and water. Losing both in summer and then asking the body to build winter reserves in autumn sets up a fast depletion if you do not nourish.