6 tips to borrow from Sadhguru to cool the body during extreme heat and humidity

Time of India

5 hours ago

When the heat outside starts to mirror the heat within, even the smallest things, like walking to the kitchen or trying to focus at work, can feel like a struggle. Sadhguru, the spiritual teacher, shares simple and effective tips to balance the body's energies.
Especially during extreme heat and humidity, certain lesser-known practices can help regulate internal heat naturally, without popping pills or depending solely on ACs and coolers. Here are six of Sadhguru's practical and powerful tips, unpacked and explained for everyday life.
Check for internal heat
According to Sadhguru, signs of internal heat go beyond sweating. Warm eyeballs, painful urination, or the urge to urinate without being able to do so—these are signs of heat building up in energy centers like the navel (manipura), the heart area (anahata), and the throat (vishuddhi).
A simple trick from him: Apply a bit of castor oil on these specific points—navel, center of the chest, throat, and behind both ears. It's not just folk wisdom. Castor oil has anti-inflammatory and cooling properties that help balance body temperature. Within minutes, the body starts to feel calmer—no exaggeration.
Also known as petha, this pale, waxy vegetable is a summer classic in traditional Indian diets. It has a cooling effect on the system and is often used in juices or cooked with minimal spices. Ash gourd supports gut health, helps reduce body heat, and is great for hydration when the sun feels relentless.
Ash gourd
While fruits help, Sadhguru calls ash gourd (petha) the most cooling and energy-rich vegetable. Regular consumption of ash gourd juice in the morning (preferably on an empty stomach) can bring down internal heat, increase mental clarity, and even reduce tendencies toward inflammation.
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Research from traditional systems like Siddha and Ayurveda also supports its use in detox and cooling therapies. But there's a catch—ash gourd is very cooling. Those with cold or asthmatic tendencies should add a pinch of black pepper or a teaspoon of honey to the juice to balance the effects.
Sprouted green gram
Yes, but it does more. According to Sadhguru, sprouted green gram (not just boiled dal) is a powerful cooling food. It balances the internal fire without dulling energy levels.
When eaten raw or lightly steamed with minimal spices, green gram aids cellular repair, reduces body heat, and brings a sense of lightness—exactly what's needed during humid summers that make one feel sluggish. Plus, it's easy to digest and doesn't add to gut heat like heavy lentils or deep-fried foods.
The ash gourd energy vs coffee agitation debate
It might start the day but often adds agitation. As Sadhguru puts it, coffee gives energy through stimulation, while ash gourd gives energy through stillness.
The juice provides a sustained, calm energy that helps maintain clarity and focus, especially under heat stress.
This isn't just a spiritual metaphor. Caffeine raises cortisol and dehydrates the system—already a concern in hot weather. Ash gourd, on the other hand, is nearly 96% water and packed with electrolytes, making it a natural summer drink.
The five-minute
castor oil cooling therapy
Not all oils behave the same. Sadhguru highlights castor oil as a direct remedy for excess heat.
A few drops applied on the navel, chest center, throat, and behind the ears can bring noticeable relief within minutes.
Why these specific spots? Yogic science sees them as energy portals—where cooling interventions work fastest. From a physiological view, applying oil here can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting calm and easing internal inflammation.
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It's like resetting the body's thermostat naturally.
Light food is good, but life-enhancing food is better.
Sadhguru categorises food into three types—positive pranic (energy-enhancing), negative pranic (energy-depleting), and zero pranic (neutral). Foods like garlic, onion, and fermented items fall under negative pranic and tend to increase heat and lethargy.
Instead, focus on foods like ash gourd, sprouted legumes, fresh fruits, coconut, cucumber, and neem flowers—they support cooling, mental clarity, and sustained energy. These don't just satisfy hunger but regulate internal systems holistically.
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