Pitta is the second one of the three doshas. Doshas are an Ayurvedic concept to describe qualities of imbalances, lifelong tendencies, seasons, and times of the day. Your lifelong tendencies make up your Ayurvedic constitution - most people are combination types of two doshas. Knowing your type can help you understand your bodies’ weaknesses and strengths, as well as where and when a disease is more likely to manifest. By simple adjustments in your day-to-day, you can already do a lot to avoid dosha aggravation. Simply by avoiding heating activities and foods and favouring things with cooling qualities, you can reduce the risk of aggravating pitta.
On the other hand, anyone can experience an imbalance of any dosha regardless of their constitution. Below you will find general characteristics of pitta, as well as, a list of symptoms indicating that you have accumulated too much pitta and find yourself in an imbalanced state.
Pitta is composed of the elements fire (Tejas) and water (Ap). A pitta person usually has a fiery temperament and a lot of heat in the body.
Pitta-dominant Individuals Tend to Have the Following Qualities:
Medium build, well-developed muscles
Reddish, coppery to yellow, warm skin that tends to be soft and slightly oily
Freckles and blemishes are common
Soft hair and nails
Light hair and eye colour
Regular, strong appetite (can get hangry), tendency towards loose stools
Medium stamina but strong mentally, can push themselves
Moderate sleep, can be disturbed by vivid dreams
Focused, driven, competitive
Drawn to competitive sports, natural leader
The qualities (gunas) of Pitta are hot, sharp, liquid, moderate oily or unctuous, sour and pungent. An excess of these qualities indicates a pitta imbalance.
Pitta dosha governs the metabolic and transformative functions in our body. It is responsible for breaking down food, skin, hair and eye colour, and the intellect. Moreover, it governs vision and maintains our body heat.
Our modern lifestyle can easily lead to generating too much heat and stimulation and pitta gets aggravated. Look out for the following signs and symptoms if you think your pitta might have gone out of balance.
Signs of Pitta Imbalance
Skin problems, irritated skin,
Inflammation
Digestive issue (e.g. acid reflux, heartburn, or even gastric or peptic ulcers)
Intense hunger (feeling irritated or uncomfortable when missing a meal)
Loose stools, diarrhoea
Burning, itching sensation or excess heat in the body
Excess Sweating with a pungent smell
Light-sensitive eyes, or red eyes
Frustration, anger, irritability
Judgment, impatience, criticism, intolerance, excessive perfectionism
How to balance Pitta
If Pitta has gone out of balance, focus on cooling and calming your mind and body. As pitta types tend to be very strong-minded, adopting a calming lifestyle can go a long way in balancing Pitta.
Diet
Consume cooling foods and drinks
Pitta balancing tastes are sweet, bitter and astringent. Avoid spicy, salty and sour.
Pitta also does well with raw foods in moderation.
Pitta balancing foods are cucumbers, courgette, leafy greens, rice, quinoa, coconut, milk (if you can digest it), watermelon, soft cheeses, okra, figs.
Avoid red meat, alcohol, caffeine, spicy and overly salty, or oily foods.
Use our Pitta Spice Blend in smoothies, over food or salads.
Other Pitta balancing spices are coriander, cilantro, fennel, cardamom, fenugreek, and neem.
Lifestyle
Water sports are excellent for pitta types. You can also try yoga and biking. Avoid exercising around midday. The cooler morning hours are the best time for exercise.
Meditate regularly to calm your heated mind
Try to have a regular schedule. Planning suits your personality and can give you a sense of satisfaction. Regular meals help to keep your mood stable.
For your abhyanga practice use cooling oils like sunflower or coconut oil or our specially formulated Pitta Massage Oil.
Listen to soothing music, find some relaxing activities like painting
Avoid excessive stimulation like extreme sports, intense films, or heated discussions until you are back in balance
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