Balancing Pitta
Balancing Pitta
Simple Guidelines For Decreasing Pitta
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Signs and Symptoms of Pitta Imbalance
Is your pitta out of balance? If so, you may be experiencing some of the following signs or symptoms:
red, inflamed rash, acne, cold sores
acute inflammation in body or joints
acid reflux, gastric or peptic ulcers, heartburn
nausea or discomfort upon missing meals
loose stools
uncomfortable feeling of heat in the body
frustration, anger, irritability
judgment, impatience, criticism, intolerance
red, inflamed or light-sensitive eyes
excessive perfectionist tendencies
To decrease pitta, Ayurveda has given us dietary, lifestyle and herbal treatment strategies. Here are a few underlying concepts that these strategies are based on:
Cooling
Surrendering
Moderation
General Guidelines for a Pitta-Pacifying Diet
Enjoy:
Foods that are naturally sweet, bitter, and astringent.
Cooling foods, both energetically and in temperature.
A balance of whole, freshly cooked foods and fresh, raw foods.
Most beans.
Cooling herbs and spices like coriander, cilantro, fennel and cardamom.
Dairy, if you digest it well, but avoid drinking milk with your meals. It is best to have it at least an hour before or after other food.
A moderate amount of high-quality olive, sunflower and coconut oils or ghee in your daily diet.
Routine times for your meals.
Taking a deep breath after swallowing your last bite and heading off for your next activity.
Eating your meal in a peaceful environment.
Avoid:
Warming foods, both energetically and in temperature.
Chili and cayenne peppers.
Highly processed foods (like canned or frozen foods, “TV” dinners or pastries).
Eating fresh fruit or drinking fruit juice within ½ hour of any other food.
Caffeine, nicotine, and other stimulants.
Red meat.
Deep fried foods.
Alcohol, except for an occasional beer or white wine.
Pitta-Pacifying Herbal Remedies
Herbs are useful allies when it comes to balancing the doshas. Ayurveda has a long history detailing the use of herbs and herbal combinations. Some Ayurvedic practitioners will customize herbal formulas to suit the unique constitutions of their clients. General formulas based on traditional combinations of herbs are also used. Below are some formulations that are especially useful for balancing pitta.
For a broad spectrum pitta pacifying herbal formula consider Healthy Pitta
To support healthy skin and a clear complexion consider Blood Cleanse
To balance pitta in the joints and muscles consider Joint Support
To support healthy digestion and a comfortable post meal experience consider Pitta Digest
For uncomfortable feeling of heat in the body consider Healthy Pitta
For frustration, anger, irritability consider Mental Clarity or Healthy Pitta
For judgment, impatience, criticism, intolerance consider Mental Clarity or Healthy Pitta
To Soothe the eyes and support their proper function consider Triphala
For excessive perfectionist tendencies consider Healthy Pitta
General Guidelines for a Pitta-Pacifying Lifestyle
Enjoy:
Surrendering rather than controlling.
A regular, daily routine with regular times for eating, sleeping, working, etc. Make sure you have time to play and to relax as well as to work.
A 10–20 minute self-massage daily with ½ cup warm sunflower or coconut oilbefore bathing. Click here for more information on abhyanga.
A moderate exercise routine that includes a challenging form of yoga, swimming or biking, about five times per week. Avoid exercising during the hot part of the day.
Keeping yourself cool, mind and body.
Sweet and soothing music, smells, scenes, and company.
Our lives, environments and health change regularly. We recommend that you take this Vikriti test again in about month. Then you can see how things have changed and decide which remedies would be the most beneficial to regain balance. It may be helpful to learn more about pitta so that you can understand why following these simple guidelines really can help. For more information about pitta, click here.