Why Summer Can Leave Us Feeling Depleted: A SVA Perspective on Soma

Do your eyes burn more in the summer? Do you find yourself craving more sweets? Or maybe the summer heat simply leaves you feeling…depleted?

In Shaka Vansya Ayurveda (SVA), there is actually a connection between all of these.

We call it Soma.

Many of you know that Ayurveda teaches that there are three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

What fewer people know is that each dosha has five subdoshas, each governing different aspects of the body’s physiology.

One of Pitta’s five subdoshas is called Alochaka Pitta, and it governs the eyes and vision.

Here’s where it gets fascinating.

Vaidya Mishra compared Pitta to gasoline.

It’s rich in Agni, the fiery aspect of Prana, the body’s vibrational life force. But Pitta also contains a small amount of Soma, its cooling, nourishing aspect.

That small amount of Soma keeps Pitta liquid so it can flow through the body without burning the channels it travels through.

What happens to Soma during the summer?

During the summer, the intensity of the sun gradually burns through some of that liquid Soma.

The amount of Agni doesn’t necessarily change. But because there’s now less Soma, the relationship between Agni and Soma changes.

With less Soma to balance it, Pitta becomes relatively hotter.

One place we notice that is in the eyes. Alochaka Pitta receives more heat and less cooling Soma, leaving the eyes burning, irritated, dry, or more sensitive to light.

It’s also one of the reasons many people notice they’re more impatient, reactive, or irritable during the heat of summer.

Once you understand that, summer self-care starts looking very different.

You’re not just trying to cool the body. You’re replacing the Soma that summer has gradually burned through.

It changed how I think about sunglasses, too.

For years I wore sunglasses almost all of the time when I was outside.

Then I stopped wearing them a few years ago after learning how important natural light entering the eyes is.

Interestingly, over time my brain and nervous system felt better. My vision improved. I simply felt better.

But this summer, I began noticing something else. More internal heat. More dryness. Headaches. More signs that my Pitta was becoming aggravated.

Then, while recently rereading Vaidya Mishra’s summer recommendations, I noticed something I had completely forgotten.

He specifically recommends wearing sunglasses when going out into the strong summer sun.

Suddenly my own experience made sense.

I still believe that receiving natural light through the eyes is incredibly important, especially in the early morning.

What I am going to change is that during the summertime, especially between about 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Pitta time), I plan to wear sunglasses if I am outside.

For me, this feels like a simple way of reducing the amount of Agni entering through the eyes during the hottest part of the summer day while still receiving the benefits of natural light the rest of the time.

I don’t think wearing sunglasses all day is the answer.

I also no longer think never wearing them is the answer.

Shaka Vansya Ayurveda rarely asks, “Is this good or bad?”

It asks a different question:

What is appropriate for this person, in this season, at this time of day?

Like so many things in SVA, it isn’t about “always” or “never.”

It’s about understanding what your body needs in this season.

And what about those summer sweet cravings?

If you find yourself wanting more sweets this time of year, there may actually be a reason for it.

In SVA, Prana is the vibrational life force that animates everything. Prana has three aspects, and one of those is Soma, which derives from the vibration of the moon.

Soma is cooling, nourishing, and restorative. It replenishes the tissues, calms the nervous system, and helps us feel deeply satisfied.

Summer naturally consumes Soma.

So does chronic stress, environmental toxins, cell phones and the electromagnetic frequencies we’re surrounded by, and many of the demands of modern life.

When Soma becomes depleted, we often begin craving sweetness.

Most people reach for white sugar.

The irony?

Refined white sugar may satisfy our sweet cravings in the moment, but it also burns through Soma even faster. The very thing we reach for to feel better can leave us feeling even more depleted!

Nature has always had a different solution.

Sweet, juicy fruits that ripen in the heat of summer don’t just taste good. They help cool the body and give back some of what summer gradually burns through.

Your cravings aren’t asking for more sugar. They’re asking for more Soma.

And the beautiful thing is that SVA gives us many ways to replenish Soma, and very few of them have anything to do with eating sugar.

Simple ways to replenish Soma in the summer

SVA teaches us so many ways to actually REPLENISH the Soma that the heat of summer gradually consumes.

And some of them are SO simple.

Spend time in the moonlight.

The moon nourishes Soma. Just being outside in the moonlight on a summer evening is one way to receive more Soma.

Before bed, rinse your eyes AND your mouth with cool water.

Such a simple thing to do.

If your eyes are still feeling hot, tired, or burning, another wonderful option is Vaidya Mishra’s Skin Clay. Make a thick paste, place it in a piece of cheesecloth, and rest it over your closed eyes for about five minutes before bed. It gently draws excess Agni away from the eyes while helping replenish Soma.

• Surround yourself with Soma-rich aromas like sandalwood, vetiver, and rose.
• Sleep in a cool environment and let your head receive cool air whenever possible.
• Eat sweet, juicy, hydrating foods. Rice with ghee, seasonal fruits and other nourishing foods help replenish what summer is taking from us.
• Spend time in nature. Forests, parks, being near cool water. Nature itself gives us Soma.

There are so many ways to replenish Soma. And I love that they aren’t complicated.

Moonlight.
Cool water.
Beautiful aromas.
Nourishing food.
Nature.

Sometimes the simplest things really are medicine.

 

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I’m curious to hear your experience.

and I’m glad you’re here.

With care,

—Dr. Lisa 💙

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If this resonates, I offer a 20-minute Clarity Call to explore whether this path fits what your body is asking for. $50, applied to your care if you move forward. No pressure, just listening.

Book a Clarity Call here: somaradiantwellness.com/book

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