Beat the Heat: Ancient Wisdom for a Modern Summer

Gulrez Shah Azhar, a heat wave researcher originally from Uttar Pradesh, India, shares traditional methods for staying cool without air conditioning as extreme heat impacts much of the world. People in India and other parts of the Global South have long employed strategies like drinking electrolyte-rich fluids, such as sugarcane juice and lassi, and eating hydrating foods like cucumber.

Beyond hydration and diet, Azhar recommends leveraging architecture, like the jaali latticework found in buildings such as the Taj Mahal, and employing evaporative cooling techniques, such as hanging dampened grass curtains. He emphasizes the importance of wearing light-colored, breathable clothing and seeking shade, noting that cultural practices like wearing wet cloths around the head or neck are effective.

Azhar also cautions against exertion during peak heat and stresses the need for immediate medical attention if heatstroke symptoms appear. NPR is collecting heat coping strategies from cultures around the world, accepting submissions through July 20th.