In Ayurveda, Pitta is the principle of fire. Pitta roughly gets translated as fire. But this is not meant literally. It is the subtle energy that governs all metabolic functions within the body. It consists of fire and water elements. It also regulates digestion, absorption, assimilation, and body temperature. It is present in all body cells. Ayurveda has mentioned a few locations in the body like the small intestines, stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, blood, and eyes that are the prime locations of this dosha.
In a balanced state, Pitta is responsible for digestion or the transformation of food in the body. It controls “Agni” or digestive fire, hunger, thirst, taste perception, vision, and skin complexion. It also regulates mental activities like intelligence, understanding, courage, and valor. Ayurveda states that all disorders arise due to weak Agni or digestion power. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain proper digestion.
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Pitta Dosha Characteristics:
It has hot, sharp, light, oily, liquid, pungent, sour, and spreading properties. These get reflected in various ways in a person having a Pitta constitution.
- The pitta body type is one of medium height and symmetrical build with good muscle development.
- Medium light-green, grey, or blue eyes with a deep and intentional gaze
- Fair, oily, and soft skin with freckles, prone to pimples and straight, fine hair with a tendency towards early thinning or greying
- Uncomfortable in warm, hot, or sunny weather and prefers the cold atmosphere
- Strong appetite and digestive strength. Consumes large quantities of food and drink.
- Love Sweet, bitter, and astringent foods
- Moderate but uninterrupted and sound sleep
- Gain weight quickly and can also lose it easily
- Alert, intelligent, quick learners with logical and investigating minds. They are competitive, aggressive, and have low tolerance levels.
What Are Aggravated Pitta Dosha Symptoms?
Excess consumption of pungent, sour, salty, deep-fried, and processed food, staying awake at night result in aggravation of this fiery dosha. This imbalance produces symptoms related to digestion, skin, and blood disorders.
Signs Of Pitta Imbalance Include:
- Fever and inflammation in the body
- Acidity, heartburn, indigestion
- Diarrhea
- Skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis
- Pitta rashes on the body
- Disorders of the liver
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding during menses
- Excessive sweating and body odor
- Hair thinning or loss and premature greying of hair
- Anger and irritability
How To Balance Pitta Dosha?
A combination of a healthy diet and an appropriate lifestyle helps to bring it into balance and prevent conditions caused by its imbalance.
Pitta Diet
Food plays a role in maintaining the balance of doshas. Foods that have qualities like Pitta aggravate it. These include sour, salty, pungent tasting, spicy and hot foods like peppers, tomatoes, citrus fruits, garlic, vinegar, fermented foods. You ought to consume sweet, bitter, astringent, cooling foods to combat the fire characteristics.
Here Is A List Of Recommended Pitta Dosha Diet:
- Whole grains: Oats, rice, wheat, barley
- Vegetables and beans: Sweet, astringent, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, peas, cucumber, cabbage, lettuce, asparagus, and green beans
- Spices: Use spices sparingly. Include sweet and mild spices, such as coriander, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, and mint.
- Fruits: Amla, bananas, coconut, pears, plums, figs, pomegranates, mangos, melons, grapes. Consume them at least one hour before or after meals. Avoid eating fruits in the evening.
- Dairy Products: Cow milk, unsalted butter, ghee, paneer, cheese
- Use coconut oil, sunflower or olive oil, ghee for cooking. Limit oily and fried foods. Drink plenty of cooling water, mellow, Amla juice, Aloe vera juice, fennel tea, aniseed, and caraway tea.
Try Not To Skip A Meal Or Fast For Too Long.
As mentioned earlier, the Pitta type has a strong appetite. Skipping a meal or fasting for a long duration lowers energy quickly, causes irritability, and increases Pitta. Have lunch as your principal meal of the day. Digestive fire is at its peak during this time which helps in better digestion.
Foods to Avoid to Balance Pitta
Pitta dosha is a combination of the fire and water elements. Pitta people are usually of average build, with good digestion and a strong appetite. They tend to have fair skin that sunburns easily, and they can be quick-tempered. To keep Pitta in balance, it’s important to avoid foods that are too heating. This includes spicy food, as well as anything that’s deep fried, greasy, or processed. Other Pitta-aggravating foods to avoid include sour fruits, alcohol, and coffee.
Stay Cool
Stay in cold places. Take a walk on green grass in gardens having pleasant and cold wind. If possible, sleep outside or on the terrace under the coolness of the moon. Use coconut oil or medicated oils like Brahmi oil for massage. Regular head and feet massage before discharging to the bed helps to reduce body heat, stress, and anxiety. It also helps to induce sound sleep. Wear light and airy clothes made of cotton, silks, or linen fabrics. Carry a hat and sunglasses when going out during summers.
Yoga For Balancing Pitta Dosha
Yoga helps balance the tridoshas. Cooling, relaxing asanas with slow and deep breathing can help to control fiery Pitta. Asanas working on the abdominal area like Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes Pose), Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), and Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) help to reduce Pitta. Sitali and Sitkari Pranayam are some of the most beneficial breathing techniques for this type. It helps with hyperacidity and ulcers to which pitta body types are susceptible.
Pitta Dosha Lifestyle
Following a proper lifestyle is one of the most important things to keep the doshas balanced. Maintain a regular daily routine. Follow meal timings and do not wait to eat until you are ravenously hungry. Avoid unnecessary hurry and worry. Slow down and do not take on too much at one time. Add few drops of aromatic oils such as lavender or rose in massage oils. Swimming or aqua-aerobics help to keep you cool and fit. Reserve half an hour for meditation daily to help balance the emotions and enhance body-mind-spirit coordination. Stay cool emotionally and avoid unnecessary conflicts or arguments.
Pitta Dosha Treatment In Ayurveda
Ayurveda recommends few treatments like Abhyanga (Oil Massage), Snehan (oleation), Nasya (nasal administration of ghee or medicated oils), and Virechan (medicated purgation therapy) Enema with decoctions and medicated oils) to pacify Pitta dosha. Virechana cleanses the excess Pitta and purifies the blood by clearing the toxins from the body. Rakta Moksha or bloodletting helps to get rid of vitiated blood and benefits in skin diseases. Shirodhara balances Pitta and provides relaxing, soothing, and calming effects on the body and mind. You can consult an Ayurvedic doctor to know which procedure is beneficial for you.
Ayurvedic Medicine For Pitta Dosha
Cooling and nourishing Ayurvedic herbs like Amla, Shatavari, Giloy, Brahmi and spices like turmeric, coriander, cinnamon, and mint are useful in pacifying Pitta.
FAQs:
What is Pitta dosha symptoms?
Pitta imbalances can manifest as indigestion, acidity, inflammation, heartburn, ulcers, rashes, and acne. What foods should a Pitta avoid? A Pitta should avoid spicy, sour, or salty foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol.
What does Pitta dosha do?
Pitta dosha is responsible for metabolism and digestion in the body. It also regulates body temperature and helps to distribute nutrients throughout the body. Pitta dosha is also responsible for the production of enzymes and hormones in the body.
How can I remove excess Pitta from my body?
If you find that you have too much Pitta in your system, there are a few things you can do to remove the excess. First, try to add more cooling foods to your diet. Foods that are high in water content, like fruits and vegetables, will help to cool down your body. You should also avoid spicy and fried foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol.Exercise is another great way to reduce Pitta in the body. Taking a brisk walk or going for a swim are both excellent options. If you can, try to get outside in nature, as the fresh air will also help to cool you down. Finally, make sure to get plenty of rest and relaxation.Pitta is aggravated by stress, so taking some time out for yourself will help to reduce the excess Pitta in your system.
Is milk good for Pitta dosha?
Yes, milk is good for Pitta dosha. Milk is cooling and calming, which helps to reduce Pitta's fire energy. It is also a rich source of protein, calcium, and other nutrients that are essential for Pitta's health.
What should Pitta eat for breakfast?
Pitta dosha is best balanced with cooling, grounding foods. For breakfast, Pitta should eat a light meal that is easy to digest. Fresh fruits, cooked vegetables, and whole grains are all good choices. Pitta should avoid spicy, fried, or sour foods as they can aggravate the dosha.
Which food causes Pitta?
There are a few different foods that can cause Pitta. These include: -Spicy food: This is one of the most common triggers for Pitta. Spicy food can increase the heat in your body, which can aggravate Pitta. -Fatty food: Fatty food can also increase the heat in your body and aggravate Pitta. -Acidic food: Acidic food can irritate the stomach and cause indigestion, which can aggravate Pitta. -Processed food: Processed food is often high in salt and sugar, which can aggravate Pitta.
What increases Pitta dosha?
Pitta dosha is increased by hot, spicy, and acidic foods; by injury or trauma; by excessive sun exposure; by overheating; and by emotional stress.
Is lemon water good for Pitta dosha?
Lemon water can help to balance Pitta dosha by cooling and soothing the body. Lemon water is also rich in Vitamin C, which is known to be beneficial for immune system health. Additionally, lemon water can help to promote digestion and detoxification.
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