Ayurveda Codex›Ritucharya›Shishira

Last verified: April 2026

Shishira — Late Winter

शिशिर — Shishira — Mid-December – Mid-February

Shishira continues winter but with increasing cold, dryness, and wind — conditions that begin to aggravate Vata despite the season's general nourishing quality. The regimen continues Hemanta's emphasis but adds specific Vata precautions as the season reaches its coldest and driest point.

Ashtanga Hridayam, Sutrasthana 3.22
Shishire shita vayu: kapha sanchaya — In Shishira, cold wind begins Kapha accumulation. Vata may be aggravated by the dry cold. Continue nourishment but add protection from cold and wind.

Classical Shishira regimen

Diet

Nourishing with added moisture

Continues Hemanta's emphasis. Added: warm, wet foods over dry — increasing dryness of Shishira makes oily, moist foods specifically indicated. Hot soups, ghee-rich preparations, warming herbs (ginger, cinnamon, cardamom). Avoid: cold, dry, raw, light, bitter foods.

Protection

Shita Vayu — cold wind

Cold wind directly aggravates Vata — joint stiffness, skin cracking, neurological sensitivity. Head covering is documented as protective. Do not expose the body to cold wind on empty stomach.

Herbs

Transition toward spring

Begin thinking ahead to Vasanta Kapha management. Triphala in the evening; Trikatu in moderate doses; continuation of Hemanta Rasayana protocols.

The Shishira-Vasanta transition
As Shishira ends, accumulated Kapha begins liquefying. Classical practitioners watch for early signs of spring Kapha aggravation and begin the Vasanta regimen before symptoms progress. Shishira's end is the classical preventive window.