August Selfcare Tips

Jeannine Love
14 hours ago
2 min read

Assorted fruits and vegetables, including grapes, pears, tomatoes, zucchini, and peaches, nestled in lush green leaves in a garden setting.

Although we’re still in summer, which is Pitta season in Ayurveda, we can feel that summer is winding down, preparing us for the transition to Autumn. Fall begins Vata season, which is characterized by the qualities of cold, dry, light, and mobile. Many of us notice these qualities in our bodies in the Fall, which can manifest as dry, rough skin; dry mucus and nasal passages; chapped lips, increased urination at night; depleted electrolytes in the body; earaches; insomnia; constipation; bloating and gas; scatterbrain; anxiety, restlessness, hyperactivity; forgetfulness; sensitivity to cold; prone to colds/flus; and irritation. To avoid any of these issues in the Fall, prepare your body now by following some of these selfcare tips for August.

August Selfcare Tips

Diet

Include juicy foods in your diet this month like peaches and grapes to prevent dryness. Peaches are also high in fiber, but don’t eat too many because they're warming and we’re still dealing with hot temperatures. However, grapes are juicy and cooling. Tomatoes are also juicy, but they are a nightshade plant so they may aggravate Pitta or Vata constitutions.
Zucchini and yellow squash are in season now and they’re light and cool.
By late August, pears will be in season, and they're cooling, so give them a try.
Lighter proteins that are easy to digest include yogurt, legumes, fish and poultry.
Good fats to include in your diet are ghee, coconut, olive oil, and avocados.
Limit or avoid drying and/or diuretic foods such as parsley, celery, asparagus, popcorn, walnuts, millet, barley, pomegranate, dried fruits, as well as coffee and black tea.

Herbs

Herbs and spices that cool and moisten the body are licorice root, marshmallow root, shatavari, vidari, chyavanprash and amalaka.
Add a slice of lime and a pinch of mineral salt to your water to help your body stay hydrated.

Lifestyle

Woman in floral top walks a dog on a leash in a sunny park, with green trees and a clear blue sky in the background, exuding happiness.

Take a walk or hike in the cooler mornings or evenings.
Extra sleep is needed in the Fall, so prepare now by getting to sleep by 10 pm.
If you’re prone to dry skin, especially in the Fall, prepare your skin with an oiling self-massage (or Abhyanga).
Use Nasya Oil to keep your sinus and nasal passages lubricated.
For those who garden, the top harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere is from now to November. So preserve your harvest if you can’t eat all the food now.