How to Reduce Body Heat (Garmi) in Summer: What Works, What Doesn’t (Video)

Transcript

Cooling Down in Summer

When the sun turns up the heat, a lot of us feel that familiar “garmi”, the sticky, restless feeling that creeps over our bodies.

What “garmi” really means

People use the word garmi for a mix of summer complaints. It can be simple dehydration, too much sun, or not enough rest. Spicy, heavy meals can make the feeling worse. And if you notice persistent fever or swelling, that’s a sign to see a professional.

At a glance

Quick fixes are easy: drink water often, stay in shade between eleven and four, and wear loose cotton. Traditional cooling foods help you hydrate and add a bit of salt or potassium. If someone becomes confused, their skin is very hot, or they stop sweating, that’s an emergency.

What people mean

There’s no thermometer for garmi, but we can split it up. Burning palms, a dry mouth, headache and dark urine often mean you’ve lost more fluid than you’ve taken in. Boils or prickly heat show up when sweat gets trapped under damp clothes. A summer nosebleed can be the result of dry, air-conditioned air or too much sun.

Traditional view

In Unani medicine the body’s temperament shifts toward hot and dry in summer, so the remedy is to eat and drink the opposite, cool, moist foods. Ayurveda says pitta rises, so sweet, liquid, and cooling items are favored, while sour, salty, pungent, and hot foods are limited.

Hydration schedule

Most garmi eases when you sip water steadily instead of gulping only when you’re thirsty. Aim for about two and a half to three and a half litres a day if you’re mostly indoors, more if you work outside. Start the day with half a litre before tea, then a small glass every hour. Around noon, a light salty-sweet drink like thin chaas or a pinch of salt in water helps replace minerals.

Cooling foods

A typical desi summer table already includes cooling options. Watermelon, cucumber, falsa, sugarcane, and light curries all bring water and electrolytes. Yogurt-based drinks, basil seed water, and rose sherbets add a soothing sip. They’re not temperature-lowering medicines, but they do keep you hydrated.

Clothing & sleep

Loose, pale cotton or lawn lets sweat evaporate, which is the body’s natural cooling system. Tight polyester traps moisture and can cause prickly heat. Wear a cap or dupatta in direct sun, and stay in shade during the peak heat hours. Before bed, cool the room and change out of sweaty clothes for a restful night.

Three-day test

Before reaching for a sachet, try three days of the hydration routine, shift chilli-rich dinner to after dark, turn off screens by ten, and cool your bedroom first. If the burning soles, dry mouth and bad mood disappear by day three, it was likely heat and dehydration. If a symptom stays, it may be something else.

When to seek help

If someone is confused, agitated, slurring, or fainting, and their skin is extremely hot whether dry or still sweating, that’s an emergency. Move them to shade, strip extra clothing, and cool the skin with water and a fan. Call for medical help right away, don’t give fluids to a confused person.

Take care

For more details, read the full post on thecareonline.com, and remember this is general advice, not a medical diagnosis.