The Pitta-ful Days Are Upon Us
We are moving into more sun-filled days and hotter weather… the Pitta-ful days are upon us! If you’re Pitta dominant, then you know exactly what this means. But don’t fret… like literally please don’t Pitta person… there are many ways to make sure you balance that internal fire as we move into hotter days.
What does Pitta represent?
The origin of the fire element is the tanmatra of vision called rupa. Rupa means form or color. Both form and color are the result of perception. Rupa is the tanmatra, or primordial, unmanifested form of perception, light, vision and thus the fire element. Fire and the visual sense have a special relationship. Fire provides the light for perception. The eyes are the vehicle through which light is digested and perception takes place. Hence, disorders of visual perception are primarily those of the element fire.
The feet are the organ of action associated with the fire element. It is through the feet that we react to what we see. Use of the feet allows a person to change direction based upon perception. Not only may the direction be changed, but also the intensity of progress. The choice of direction and the intensity of action are functions of the fire element.
To know any element is to know its qualities. Fire is hot, light, dry, rough, subtle, flowing, sharp, clear and soft. Fire is neither stable nor mobile. Fire neither stands still nor generates motion. Inherent within fire is air, and it is the air that provides fire with its mobile quality. Although fire is subtle, its effects are clearly observable, and so we have a clear sense of what it is. It is the heat of fire that is most recognizable. We associate the element fire with the fires we can see. The ancient rishis idea of fire was more comprehensive. Fire represents light, heat, luster, energy, understanding, metabolism, and the power of transformation.
In the human body, fire is expressed in five distinct ways. The fire that provides our body with the capacity to digest food is called pachaka agni. The fire that ignites the intellect, digests ideas, and allows for understanding is sadhaka agni. The fire of perception that that digests visual impression into recognizable images is called alocaka agni. The fire that energizes and invigorates the body, adding color to the body is called ranjaka agni. The fire that digests touch and sunlight and gives off the radiance associated with healthy skin is the light provided by bhrajaka agni. Because fire has a destructive quality, in the body it is always mixed with a small amount of water to keep it from destroying the tissues. The container of fire and water is pitta. Hence, the five agnis are also called the five types of pitta.
Excess fire in the body results in a buildup of heat, and deficient fire results in a feeling of being cold. There are also other ramifications of heat. As it builds up in the body, there is a need to eliminate excess heat. Hence, the body sweats and urinates more, and the stools become looser and more frequent. The luster of skin increases and the eyes shine brighter. The mind becomes sharper and more focused while the intellect strengthens. If fire increases too much, there are negative consequences. The skin erupts in red rashes, the eyes become bloodshot, the mind becomes intense, the tissues of the body may become inflamed, and there may be fever. A lack of fire in the body results in a loss of luster as the skin takes on a gray or pale tone and metabolism slows down. In the digestive system food is poorly digested, in the mind it becomes difficult to digest new information. As the body tries to hold on to heat, sweating, urination, and bowel elimination all decrease.
The pitta dosha contains both fire and water but it is fire that plays the more dominating role. Hence, any vitiation of fire will ultimately result in a vitiation of pitta. Pitta remains healthy as the fires of the body are well tended.
Tending the fire in the body begins with monitoring pachaka agni or the fire of digestion. When the digestive fire is healthy, there is little gas and elimination is regular occurring on a daily basis 1-2 times per day. The digestive fire is increased primarily by hot, spicy, sour, and salty foods and is decreased by both heavy and cold foods. Hence, if digestion is weak and the fire low, the diet should made lighter and spicier until digestion normalizes.
Common Pitta Imbalances
In order for us to work towards our personal & spiritual goals this summer, it is important to keep pitta dosha in balance. According to Ayurveda, that means we need to counterbalance the heat that is associated with pitta. Here are some common signs of pitta imbalance in the physical & emotional body:
Anger & Irritability in the Mind
Heartburn
Smelly Gas
Loose Stools
Hyper-acidity
Inflamed & Sensitive Skin
Sunburn
Oily Skin
Acne & breakouts in the T-Zone areas of the face
General Recommendations for Pitta Balance
The beauty of Ayurveda is that it offers simple, effective tips to deal with each ailment listed above. It just takes observation & awareness of what is occurring in your body & mind. To help you tune into your own physical & emotional body, go ahead & step outside on a hot summer day, start to run in place for several seconds in the direct sunlight. Stop moving & observe the effects the heat has on first your body & then your mind. Bring a notebook with you & take some notes on what you observe. Your connection to self will help you understand the lifestyle practices that can assist you in maintaining balance as the fire comes into the forefront.
Below are some recommendations to help keep pitta in balance all summer long:
DIET
Favor sweet, astringent & bitter tastes.
Summertime is the perfect time to introduce fresh greens into the diet. Select a fresh kale & spinach salad to help purify & cool the body. Favor sweet juicy fruits like fresh strawberries & peaches over sour fruits. (Sour fruits have a tendency to increase the heat in the body). Also, take advantage of the hydrating fruits that are abundant like watermelon, honeydew melon & cantaloupes. If you eat meat, Ayurveda recommends chicken & freshwater fish over the more heat inducing saltwater fish.
2. HERBAL ALLIES
Look to seasonally appropriate culinary herbs
Summer is an ideal season to replace your hot spices like cayenne, mustard seeds, black pepper & cinnamon with more cooling herbs like peppermint, cumin, cardamom, calendula, lavender & fennel. These cooling, soothing herbs can help aid against inflammation, smelly gas & indigestion in the digestive tract.
3. EXERCISE
Avoid heat increasing exercise from 10am-2pm.
According to Ayurveda, the fire element is the strongest from 10am-2pm; thus, it is suggested to exercise during the cooler morning hours. Any endurance like exercise you plan to do, do in the morning & avoid physical labor in the late morning & afternoon. If you must perform physical labor between 10am-2pm, drink plenty of water or water infused with mint & breathe evenly through the nose to keep the mind & body cool.
4. YOGA ASANA
Focus on a gentle, forward folding practice.
If you have been aching to get into that mid-afternoon heated power flow yoga class, this might not be the season to start! Instead, focus more on a gentle, restorative practice that includes forward folding postures that can help soothe the mind & nourish the nervous system. If you still feel the need for a hot, sweaty, vinyasa practice, try one in the morning hours & commit to an overall more gentle practice throughout your week.
Make self-abhyanga apart of your daily routine.
If you have not begun to incorporate Ayurvedic self-care practices into your daily routine, begin this summer with replacing your body lotion with our Abhyanga Body Oil. The Herban Abhyanga Oil is designed to help your skin & entire body feel supported by earth-based ingredients formulated to work with the heat of summertime. Herbs of gotu kola, rose & coriander are infused into sunflower & sweet almond oil to cool irritated, inflamed skin. It also has the added benefit of easing stress or irritability in the mind. Balance the body with our Golden Milk bath soak after dry brushing for a light detoxification and lymph movement.
As we slide into the long, expansive, sun-drenched days of summer, I wish you the highest, most balanced manifestation of pitta in your being. I also hope that the above lifestyle recommendations assist you on your journey. Take a moment each morning to sit, breathe & observe the elements moving through & within you. You have the power to cultivate the life you love. Let Ayurveda share with you its ancient tools to help along the way.
