When Summer Heat Carries Into Winter
As the heat of summer begins to fade, our bodies carry subtle impressions of the season. Ayurveda teaches us that each season leaves behind qualities that, if not balanced, can accumulate and cause discomfort in the next cycle. This is why the transition from summer to winter is such a powerful time for cleansing and resetting.
When Summer Heat Carries Into Winter
Summer is ruled by pitta dosha; fire and water. Long days, sun exposure, spicy foods, and irregular routines can build up excess heat in the body. If this heat isn’t released before the colder months arrive, it gets “trapped” under the blanket of winter’s heaviness (kapha).
Imagine trying to light a fire under a wet blanket — the smoke gets stuck. In the same way, pitta heat suppressed by kapha heaviness can smolder beneath the surface and create imbalance.
Symptoms You May Notice
When summer’s heat isn’t cleared before winter, you might experience:
- Digestive disturbances → acid reflux, sluggish metabolism, bloating.
- Skin issues → rashes, redness, breakouts, dryness with irritation.
- Emotional irritability → frustration, low patience, mental restlessness.
- Respiratory congestion → as the cold/damp qualities of kapha combine with leftover heat.
- Fatigue & heaviness → a sense of being weighed down, low motivation.
Important to remember: If you’ve noticed that you often get skin flare-ups in the fall, or that you catch colds easily and feel heavy during the winter; it’s not “just the season.” It’s the leftover imbalance from the previous season that was never released.
THEN…
Beyond the Holidays: What We Carry With Us
Many people think that the winter holidays bring heaviness, depression, or low energy simply because of the season itself. But Ayurveda teaches us something deeper:
✨ It’s not always the season. It’s what was left behind.
When summer’s heat or fall’s dryness hasn’t been cleared, it lingers and combines with the weight of winter. That residue shows up as:
- Emotional heaviness or sadness
- A tendency toward depression
- Food cravings and overindulgence
- Mental fog and lack of motivation
The result is that holidays feel heavy, not joyful. Ayurveda explains this as seasonal carry-over unresolved doshas and toxins (āma- undigested food) that cloud both the body and the mind.
Life Stages & Seasonal Imbalance
This seasonal residue expresses itself differently depending on age and stage of life:
- Young people → painful menstruation, acne and breakouts, irritability, and poor concentration.
- Busy mothers and fathers → fatigue, burnout, palpitations, sleep disturbances, and emotional exhaustion from overwork.
- Those in menopause or perimenopause → hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings intensify when the unprocessed heat of summer combines with hormonal changes.
- All ages → the holidays feel heavy, not joyful, as unresolved toxins cloud clarity and block vitality.
Ayurvedic Wisdom on Seasonal Transition
The sages were very clear about the dangers of carrying one season’s imbalance into the next:
- Charaka Saṃhitā
“Accumulation of doṣas in one season, if not eliminated, becomes aggravated in the following season and causes disease.” - Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya
“What is left undigested — whether food, emotion, or seasonal influence — turns into āma, obstructs the channels, and clouds both body and mind.”
Modern Ayurvedic Voices
- Dr. Vasant Lad reminds us:
“If seasonal impurities are not eliminated, the body’s agni becomes weak and āma accumulates. This leads not only to physical symptoms such as heaviness and congestion, but also to mental dullness; what we call brain fog.” - Dr. David Frawley emphasizes:
“The mind reflects the state of digestion. Just as physical toxins create heaviness in the body, mental toxins ; unresolved impressions, excessive sensory input, and seasonal residues; create fog, confusion, and loss of clarity.”
The Link to Mental Fog
When summer’s ( pitta ) heat is trapped under winter’s ( kapha ) heaviness, it does more than congest the body. It also clouds mind (sattva), the clarity of the mind. The result is:
- Difficulty focusing
- Sluggish thinking
- Emotional irritability mixed with fatigue
This is why many people say they feel “foggy” in winter — Ayurveda explains it as the body trying to process the old heat and toxins that weren’t released.
Why a Seasonal Cleanse Helps
Cleansing in early autumn offers the body a reset:
- Releases built-up heat → through light, cooling, and cleansing foods.
- Strengthens digestion (agni) → preparing your metabolism for the heavier foods of winter.
- Boosts immunity → clearing stagnation makes space for resilience during cold/flu season.
- Calms the mind → simple routines and sattvic foods bring clarity and peace.
Even a gentle 3-day reset with kitchari, digestive teas, abhyanga oil, and guided Yoga Nidra can transform how you enter winter.
Moving Forward With Balance
Ayurveda invites us to align with nature’s rhythm. By honoring the transition between summer and winter with a cleanse, we move into the colder months feeling:
- Grounded and nourished, not heavy.
- Calm and steady, not irritable.
- Clear and energized, not sluggish.
This is the wisdom of seasonal living; to reset before imbalance begins, so the body can thrive all year long
At Ayurveda Living by M.E., we now offer a 3-Day Seasonal Cleanse Box including meals, teas, ghee, self-care oil, and a guided Yoga Nidra practice; to help you welcome the new season with clarity and ease.