Back to article list

Summer Living

As the heat of Summer is upon us I thought that I would introduce some specific comments on balancing the quality of fire and pitta in the body. As you know the effects of the environment upon our health is very significant. How we live in relation to the changes in the environment is crucial.

The Summer is a time when the qualities of heat, dryness and lightness are emphasisied in the natural world. This means that they increase in us as well. We can see this as cracks in the soil, melting roads and dry lawns. We can feel it as the sensation of heat, sunburn, feeling thirsty and getting light-headed if we are out in the sun all day.

Ayurveda has numerous insights for healthy living during hot times of year. As the sun, heat and the pitta constitution all relate I will compare this with a healthy lifestyle for pitta types.

Pitta Lifestyle Recommendations

Qualities of pitta:

The pitta dosha is made up of tejas (fire) and jala (water).

It is filled with the qualities of being pungent, hot, penetrating, oily, sharp, liquid, spreading and sour.

Its primary function is transformation.

It is the force of metabolic activity in the body associated with the endocrine function, digestion, body temperature, visual perception, hunger, thirst, and skin quality.

Mentally it plays a role in understanding, in digesting sensory impressions. It resides in the eyes, blood, sweat glands, the small intestine, stomach and lymph.

Its primary site is in the small intestine.

In Western terms we can categorise the activities of pitta in terms of amino acids, enzymes, bile, hydrochloric acid and hormones.

This explains the seemingly contradictory combination of fire and water to form pitta. Pitta exists as water or oil in the body, thus preserving the tissues from the destructive aspect of fire.

How to aggravate pitta: It is aggravated by pungent, salty and sour flavours (as they increase heat), in the middle of a meal, at midday, by anger and irritation, repressed emotions, in summer, from adolescence to middle age, from excessive ambition, a hot and damp climate. There is a natural tendency to be attracted to these.

How to balance pitta: As pitta is ‘hot’, ‘oily’ and ‘intense’ it is aggravated by these tendencies. It is best balanced by their opposites: cooling, calm, loving, compassionate, moderation.

Less pungent, salty, sour foods (chillies/spices, salt, fermented foods - i.e. alcohol, pickles)

Less aggression, competition

Less hot environments: saunas, working outside in the heat of the day

More sweet, bitter and astringent foods (whole grains- oats, basmati rice, barley, sweet fruits, asparagus, lettuce)

More cooling drinks - rose water, peppermint, coriander

More calming massage with light oils- almond, coconut, grapeseed

More compassionate meditation and uncompetitive yoga.

Foods

Eat More: Asparagus, broccoli, basmati rice, cucumber raita, mung dal, summer squashes, courgettes, green salads

Eat Less: Sour fruits, citrus, tomatoes, carrots, beetroots, garlic, onions, chilis, cheese. These are all sour or salty and this aggravates acid and pitta in the intestines and blood.

Herbal Remedies

Pitta is alleviated by clearing pitta from the digestive system

Try using Triphala Plus as a mild laxative to clear heat toxins from the body.

Guduchi & Neem formula contains cooling herbs that can help to clear congestion from the liver. As this is the organ generating the most heat in the body it is essential to keep it cool during the summer.

Amla & Peppermint formula has been created to clear pitta toxins from the intestines and to help with some of those inflam