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Pitta Dosha Balancing

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How This Helps

Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are the three life forces (Doshas), which give each individual a special constitution. This so-called Ayurveda kind is innate and doesn’t change during one’s whole life. It’s of particular significance in Ayurvedic medicine. Pitta comprises the properties of the fire and water component. However, the former is more conspicuous. Therefore, Pitta regulates all metabolic processes in the body in addition to body temperature as well as our hormonal balance. Hunger, thirst, and even brains are correlated with Pitta. For individuals with very conspicuous Pitta, it’s very important to avoid extremes. Exercise is good for the Pitta type to blow off some steam, but the best activities are those of moderate exertion like jogging, dancing, or biking. The same is true for food. Crucially, very large meals should be avoided. Understanding how to keep Pitta in balance will help bring balance in your health.

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What is Pitta dosha?

Understanding Pitta Dosha

According to the science of Ayurveda, there are three primary life forces in our body known as Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. These life forces, or doshas, are what lend each person a unique body and behavioral constitution. Each type of dosha is unique and does not change during a person’s lifetime. This is why Ayurveda places a lot of importance on identifying your own life force and keeping this force in balance. If the life force falls out of balance, then diseases and other health and mental conditions may occur. At the same time, each dosha is also known to control certain bodily systems, such as the Pitta dosha controls metabolism, digestion, and energy production. Read on to find out more about Pitta dosha and how to balance Pitta dosha.

Pitta is believed to contain the properties of water and fire, with the fire element being more dominating. This is why the Pitta life force controls all metabolic processes in the body, as well as the hormonal balance of the body and body temperature. Thirst, hunger, and intelligence are also associated with Pitta. The primary function of Pitta is the transformation in the body, and people who have a dominance of the Pitta element tend to have a fiery nature that is visible in both their bodies and mind. [1]

Pitta dominant people are typically medium weight and size and sometimes may have bright red hair. They are known to have excellent digestion, which often makes them believe that they can eat anything. They have a warmer body temperature and sleep soundly for short periods. [2] When the pitta dosha is in balance, Pittas are known for having a lustrous complexion, abundant energy, perfect digestion, and a robust appetite. [3]

However, when pitta imbalance occurs, Pittas tend to suffer from burning sensations, peptic ulcers, skin rashes, excessive body heat, indigestion, and heartburn. So how do you know if the pitta element is out of balance? Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of a pitta imbalance.

See: Diabetic DermopathyAyurvedic Natural Remedies

Understanding Pitta dosha

Pitta is believed to contain the properties of water and fire, with the fire element being more dominating. This is why the Pitta life force controls all metabolic processes in the body, as well as the hormonal balance of the body and body temperature. Thirst, hunger, and intelligence are also associated with Pitta. The primary function of Pitta is the transformation in the body, and people who have a dominance of the Pitta element tend to have a fiery nature that is visible in both their bodies and mind. [1]

Pitta dominant people are typically medium weight and size and sometimes may have bright red hair. They are known to have excellent digestion, which often makes them believe that they can eat anything. They have a warmer body temperature and sleep soundly for short periods. [2] When the pitta dosha is in balance, Pittas are known for having a lustrous complexion, abundant energy, perfect digestion, and a robust appetite. [3]

However, when pitta imbalance occurs, Pittas tend to suffer from burning sensations, peptic ulcers, skin rashes, excessive body heat, indigestion, and heartburn.  So how do you know if the pitta element is out of balance? Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of a pitta imbalance.

See: Dosha Quiz

Pitta Dosha Symptoms

Here are the common signs and symptoms that indicate Pitta dosha:

●       Acne

●       Cold sores

●       Red and inflamed rashes

●       Acute inflammation in the body or joints

●       Loose stools

●       Frustration, irritability, or anger

●       Acid reflux

●       Gastric or peptic ulcers

●       Heartburn

●       Nausea

●       Discomfort on missing meals

●       An uncomfortable feeling of hot in the body

●       Judgmental

●       Impatient and critical

●       Intolerant

●       Light-sensitive, inflamed, or red eyes

●       Excessive tendency to be a perfectionist

In order to decrease excessive Pitta in the body, Ayurveda suggests many dietary, herbal, and lifestyle strategies. [4] The underlying focus of Pitta balancing strategies is usually based on moderation, surrendering, and cooling.

Balancing Pitta Dosha

Pitta is a type of hot, sour, sharp, pungent, and penetrating element. In order to balance pitta dosha, a person must make choices that are sweet, cooling, and stabilizing.

The first step to balance Pitta dosha is to follow a Pitta pacifying diet. An excess of Pitta dosha tends to overheat the mind and the body, which is why a pitta balancing diet has to focus on having cooling foods and beverages. Foods that have a sweet, bitter, and astringent taste are the best options. At the same time, foods that are salty, sour, and pungent must be restricted or avoided altogether. [5]

Here are some dietary and nutritional guidelines for balancing Pitta.

– Try to increase dairy products as they help balance out the heat of Pitta. You can include milk, clarified butter (ghee), and butter. Limit the intake of sour and fermented products such as sour cream, yogurt, and cheese since sour taste aggravates Pitta.

– Except for molasses and honey, you must restrict the use of all other sweeteners, or take only in moderation.

– Grains such as rice, barley, wheat, and oats are best for reducing Pitta. Limit the intake of rye, millet, corn, and brown rice.

– The best oils for balancing Pitta are sunflower, olive, and coconut oils. Limit the usage of almond, corn, and sesame oil, which lead to more heating in the body.

– Reduce the intake of sour fruits such as apricots, berries, and grapefruits.

– Increase the intake of sweet fruits such as melons, cherries, coconuts, grapes, avocados, mangoes, fully ripe pineapples, plums, and pomegranates.

– Favor vegetables such as cucumbers, asparagus, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery, okra, green leafy vegetables, pumpkins, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, green beans, and zucchini.

Vegetables to avoid are hot peppers, carrots, tomatoes, beets, onions, garlic, eggplant, spinach, and radishes.

For balancing Pitta, you should opt for using seasonings that are both cooling and soothing. [6] These include:

– Coriander

– Cardamom

– Cilantro

– Fennel

– Saffron

Hotter spices such as black pepper, fenugreek, ginger, cumin, clove, mustard seed, and salt should be used sparingly. Very hot seasonings such as cayenne and chili peppers should be avoided.  A good suggestion is to chew on a couple of fennel seeds after having your meals to prevent the production of excessive stomach acid. [7] When it comes to meat and seafood, you should prefer to have chicken, turkey, and pheasant, while seafood, beef, and eggs should be cut down since they increase the levels of Pitta.

See: Evidence based ayurvedic approach to treat Diabetes Type 2

Health tips for Pitta dosha

For individuals with very conspicuous Pitta, it’s very important to avoid extremes. Exercise is good for the Pitta type to blow off steam, but the best activities are those of moderate exertion like jogging, dancing, or biking. The same is true for food; here, most importantly, very large pieces should be avoided. Otherwise, it helps to avoid sources of heat and instead try to find a cool, well-ventilated atmosphere. Feelings should be expressed peacefully.

Pitta skin health

Pitta-type skin can also be comprised of the flame and water elements. When in balance, pitta skin has a rosy, dewy glow. Pitta skin is delicate, naturally warm in temperature & may have freckles, beauty marks, or moles. When out of balance, this skin type is prone to excessive heat, inflammation, excessive oil, rosacea, broken capillaries, acne, & blemishes. Wrinkles tend to be predominant in between the eyes. Use optimum cooling, soothing & calming herbs to counterbalance the heated requirements of pitta-type skin.

See: Ayurvedic therapy herbs to increase breast milk to increase lactation

Tips for keeping healthy skin 

– Participate in calming activities like walks in nature and spending time with loved ones.

– Cultivate a daily meditation practice. Start with only 5 minutes a day and gradually move towards 20-30 minutes each day.

– Take hot baths with essential oils of peppermint, lavender, and geranium to soothe and cool the nervous system & body.

– Combine foods with herbs which will cool the digestive tract such as cumin, coriander, and fennel.

– Drink hot lemon water first thing in the morning to cleanse And detoxify the skin and inner organs.

– Perform self-massage daily with Pitta oils to maintain skin tissue healthy and calm.- Avoid hot, fried, too oily foods, alcohol, and caffeine.

– Create a yoga practice that highlights forward folds and Spins to cool & cool. Move slowly and softly. Avoid heating heated and yoga courses.

Summary

There are many ways to balance Pitta dosha in the body. Here are some general guidelines that will help you achieve a Pitta-pacifying lifestyle.

– Try to be more surrendering in nature than controlling.

– Put in place a regular daily routine in which you have fixed times for waking up, eating, sleeping, working, and other activities. You should also give sufficient time to yourself for relaxation.

– A moderate exercising routine is recommended. Exercises that are best for keeping Pitta in balance are yoga, biking, or swimming at least five times a week. You should avoid exercising during the hotter parts of the day.

– Try to keep yourself cool – both mind and body-wise.

– Include sweet and soothing smells, scenes, music, and company in your life.

Remember that our health and the environment we are in keep on changing regularly. This is why following certain guidelines to keep the Pitta element in balance is beneficial to keep you healthy. If your Pitta dosha is imbalanced, then it is very important that you avoid any extremes. This is also true for both exercise and food. Moderation in exercise and diet will help you keep your health in balance. By following the above mentioned simple recommendations, you can achieve a well-balanced lifestyle.

See: VataDosha Balancing

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