Ritucharya in Ayurveda: A Preventive Health Strategy for Lifestyle Disorders in the Modern Era – A Critical Review.

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Published Aug 3, 2026
https://doi.org/10.52482/ayurlog.v14i03.1372
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Vol. 14 No. 03 (2026): July-Sept | AYURLOG: NJ-RAS

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Anant Vijaykumar Jadhav
Mahesh Kumar Harit

Abstract

Lifestyle disorders have become a major public health concern due to rapid urbanization, unhealthy dietary habits, physical inactivity, disturbed sleep, and chronic stress. Ayurveda emphasizes preventive healthcare through Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam, among which Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) is a fundamental principle. Ritucharya advocates modifications in diet (Ahara), lifestyle (Vihara), and behavioural practices according to seasonal variations to maintain equilibrium of Dosha, Agni, Bala, and Dhatu. The present narrative review evaluates the classical concept of Ritucharya and correlates it with contemporary scientific evidence regarding chronobiology, circadian rhythm, chrononutrition, immune regulation, gut microbiota, and lifestyle medicine.


Classical Ayurvedic texts, including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya, were reviewed along with recent scientific literature from indexed databases. Evidence indicates that seasonal dietary and lifestyle modifications improve metabolic homeostasis, digestive efficiency, immune competence, and adaptation to environmental changes. Ritucharya offers a holistic, economical, and sustainable preventive strategy that may reduce the burden of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and stress-related disorders. Integration of Ayurvedic seasonal regimens with evidence-based modern preventive medicine may provide an effective approach for promoting health and preventing chronic non-communicable diseases.

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Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Mahesh Kumar Harit

Dean, Professor and Head, Dept of Sanskrit Samhita Siddhant, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, School of Ayurveda Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India.

How to Cite
Anant Vijaykumar Jadhav, & Mahesh Kumar Harit. (2026). Ritucharya in Ayurveda: A Preventive Health Strategy for Lifestyle Disorders in the Modern Era – A Critical Review. Ayurlog: National Journal of Research in Ayurved Science, 14(03). https://doi.org/10.52482/ayurlog.v14i03.1372
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