What is Pitta?

Do the words burn-out, hot head, fired up, irritable, rage, anger, or rash spark familiarity in you?

All of these words reflect imbalances caused by excess heat in the body. Ayurveda calls this heat pitta.

How Can I Balance Pitta?

• Eat more foods that are Sweet, Bitter, Astringent / Cold, Heavy, Oily: such as salads, steamed vegetables, fruit, and coconut oil.
• Eat fewer foods that are Pungent (Spicy), Sour, Salty / Hot, Light, Dry: such as coffee, chips and salsa, and spicy foods.
• Eat more vegetables.
• Sip cool or room temperature water with cucumber slices or drink coconut water to keep cool and hydrated.
• Take Brahmi Brain, Neem and Amalaki to keep your mind cool and calm, to cleanse your blood, and to prevent inflammation. Take 500-1000mg of each, 1-2/day after food.
• Drink herbal teas such as mint, hibiscus, dandelion, and chicory.

What are Daily Routines (Dinacharya) for Pitta?

• Self-massage with Tri-Doshic Massage Oil, Lymphatic Massage Oil, or coconut oil.
• For 8 minutes daily, breathe slowly in and out through the left nostril. With your right thumb, hold your right nostril closed. Pause at the inhale and exhale. This is cooling and calming.
• Avoid excessive activity during midday heat as it can be draining.
• Do not skip meals. Enjoy a big, relaxing lunch before 2pm.
• Carve out time each day to rest, rather than push yourself.

What are Signs of Excess Pitta?

• Irritability and impatience, occasional heartburn, occasional acid reflux, occasional stomach ulcers, sensitivity to heat, lethargy, sarcasm, skin rashes, boils, acne, low blood sugar, difficulty falling asleep.
• If you experience some of these signs, schedule a consult and follow the above guidelines.

Summer / Pitta Grocery List

>>> See the Summer Tips and Grocery List “Pitta-Balancing Diet“

Pitta Functions

• Metabolism – from digestion of food to transformation of all other material.
• Thermogenesis – maintains the proper body temperature.
• Vision
• Comprehension of information into knowledge, reasoning, and judgment.
• Complexion – gives color and softness to the skin.

Pitta Body Type Characteristics

• Medium frame, medium weight.
• Thin, lustrous hair with fine curls.
• Soft, medium oily, pink to red skin.
• Penetrating eyes.
• Small to medium yellowish teeth.
• Average walking pace, competitive.
• Good strength and endurance.
• Sharp intellect, aggressive, good general memory, medium pitch / clear voice.
• Slow changing moods, angers easily, quick temper, likes things to be orderly.
• Sharp hunger, can’t miss a meal, good digestion, normal elimination.
• Aversion to dry and hot weather.
• Prefers cold food/drink and eats at an easy pace.
• Saves money, but is a big spender.
• Moderate sex drive.
• Sound, medium length sleep, dreams are fiery, violent, and angry.

Pitta: Hot, Moist (Oily), Light

• Elements: Fire and Water
• Season: Late Spring/Summer
• Times of Day: 10pm – 2am and 10am – 2pm
• Taste/Qualities (+): Pungent, Sour, Salty / Hot Light, Dry. To decrease pitta, use LESS of these qualities in food, beverage, and environment. For instance, chips and salsa (pungent, salty, dry) will increase pitta.
• Taste/Qualities (-): Sweet, Bitter, Astringent / Cold, Heavy, Oily. To increase and balance excess Pitta, use MORE of these qualities in food, beverage, and environment.
• Best Oils for Pitta: Sesame, Coconut, Ghee, Sunflower

Do you know your Ayurvedic body type? Take our Dosha Quiz to find out!