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Sharad — Autumn

शरद् — Sharad — Mid-August – Mid-October

Sharad is the season of Pitta release. The Pitta accumulated silently through summer is released as temperatures cool in autumn. Ashtanga Hridayam documents Sharad as producing the highest frequency of Pitta diseases: fevers, inflammatory conditions, skin conditions.

Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana 3.14
Sharade pittam prakupyati — Pitta is aggravated in autumn. Having accumulated in Grishma, the Pitta is provoked by hot days and cold nights. Virechana is the primary Panchakarma for Sharad.

Classical autumn regimen

Diet

Sweet, bitter, astringent — Pitta-reducing

The three Pitta-reducing tastes: Madhura, Tikta, Kashaya. Light, cool, digestible foods. Shali rice, moong dal, Amalaki, pomegranate, tender coconut water. Avoid: pungent, sour, salty, hot foods; alcohol; fermented foods.

Chandrodaka

Moonlit water practice

Collecting water in open vessels during full moon nights in Sharad and drinking this Chandrodaka (moon water) in the morning. Charaka Samhita documents the cooling, Pitta-reducing effect.

Panchakarma

Sharad Virechana

Autumn is the classical season for Virechana (therapeutic purgation). Clears accumulated summer Pitta from Pitta channels. Requires a qualified practitioner.

Vishama Jwara
Ashtanga Hridayam documents Vishama Jwara (irregular fever) as the classic Sharad disease — aligns with the post-monsoon fever pattern documented in modern epidemiology.