064: Cool Your Pitta This Summer

A core principle of healing and wellness in Ayurveda is understanding the connection between one’s body type and mother nature. There are 3 main body types also known as doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The three body types are reflections of the qualities of nature: Vata = air & ether, Pitta = fire & water, Kapha = earth & water.

Every season, there is an accumulation of the extreme properties of that season. During the summer, heat or “pitta” accumulates. As the heat accumulates in August and September, we begin to dry out and overheat.

Becoming aware of how the accumulated heat of summer can put you at risk for constipation in November, sleep concerns in December, mood imbalances in January, vata imbalance in February or acute sensitivity to environmental irritants next spring is critical to maintaining optimal health. As we enter summer, learn how, why and when to cool and balance your pitta to prevent a host of seasonal health imbalances in the months to come.

To get the most out of this podcast, take our Body Type Questionnaire so you can create a personalized plan according to your predominant body type.

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Air Date: July 10, 2017
Playtime: 1 hour, 2 minutes

Link: Download mp3 (right-click here and select ‘save’)

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Summer Pitta-Pacifying Grocery List:

Related Programs & eCourses:

• Ayurveda 101 – Summer (Pitta) Session
• The 3-Season Diet Challenge
• 6-week Meditation eCourse: Transformational Awareness

Recommended Reading:

• Balance Your Pitta This Summer
• Gut Health by Body Type (Vata, Pitta, Kapha)
• The Benefits of Cilantro and Coriander
• Bitter Is Better
• Yoga For Pain, Pleasure and Life
• Live with the Natural Cycles
• Reset Your Circadian Rhythms with a Plant-Based Diet
• One Minute Meditation

Pitta-Balancing Herbs & Foods:

Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica), also known as Indian Gooseberry, is a small fruit from the Amla tree. Amalaki may be most well known for its support of antioxidant activity and healthy skin via the encouragement of natural collagen and elastin production. In this way, Amalaki supports not only the health of the outer skin, but also the inner skin that lines the gut, respiratory tract, and all the mucous membranes of the body.	This unrefined, 100% organic coconut oil is sourced from non-GMO coconut trees and pressed immediately after harvest for the freshest coconut oil you can get. With no time at all to ferment before the precious oil is tapped, the resulting oil is as freshly fragrant as it is pleasing in its bright milky white appearance and clean in taste. This oil is free of bleaching agents, preservatives, artificial flavors, and all other chemicals.	Neem leaves are harvested each spring in India and used as a tea, food and medicine from spring through summer. In the spring, there is a surge of new microbes in the digestive tract. Some are beneficial and some are not. Neem has been used for thousands of years to help re-populate the gut with healthy microbes and defend against the proliferation of unwanted microbes. Throughout the spring and summer, neem maintains the health of the skin, both inside and out, while maintaining optimal microbiology.

LifeSpa carries Ancient Organics ghee to be used for cooking, oleation (ghee cleansing), netra basti (ghee eye bath), or a luxurious skin moisturizer. It can also be used as a carrier of herbs, particularly for vata imbalance in the winter months. Our ghee is salt-free, casein-free, lactose-free, kosher, contains no trans fatty acids, no oxidized cholesterol, no GMOs, and no bovine hormones. This is an excellent choice as part of a balanced diet.	Via its cooling and rejuvenating properties, Brahmi supports energy and mental clarity while simultaneously encouraging deep, restful sleep. Famous as a tonic for nerve and brain cells, cerebral circulation, memory, intestinal health, and sleep, Brahmi is revered as one of the most powerful and spiritual herbs in Ayurveda.	Cool Digest cools a pitta digestive tract while simultaneously strengthening the digestive function. When we are under any kind of stress, the digestive system can produces excess amounts of acid, which can overheat the system and imbalance the mucus lining of the stomach wall. This can result in weakened digestion and a pitta stomach and/or upper intestinal lining. The imbalance can also affect the esophagus, causing discomfort.  Combining Amalaki, Guduchi, and other traditional Ayurvedic herbs, Cool Digest is designed to kindle digestive ability while supporting the mucosa of the stomach wall. For weakness in the digestive system or a system that is experiencing excess heat, Cool Digest may provide support.

Podcasts with Dr. John Douillard, DC, CAP are dynamic, hour-long lectures on a wide array of topics blending the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with modern science! You can join us for free, from anywhere in the world, using either your phone or computer.

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