Remember our dadis and nanis scolding us for eating too much of the wrong food? The one line we would always hear is, “this will cause pitta dosha and surely make you regret being a glutton”. Though we didn’t know what it meant, the inflammation and diarrhoea is enough to deter us. So what is pitta dosha?
Ayurveda, the ‘mother of all healing’, has helped millions by being a great alternative medicine option. This ancient science states that everything in the Universe consists of five elements; Water (Jal), Fire (Agni), Air (Vayu), Space (Akasha), and Earth (Prithvi). Ayurveda believes that a person’s body prakriti (nature) is influenced by these elements.
The one where the fire element is dominant is called pitta dosha and pitta is responsible for heat, metabolism and transformation. It controls the digestion, and metabolism of our sensory perceptions, along with how we discriminate things as correct or wrong.
So what causes pitta imbalance and how to determine whether one is suffering from it?
Causes And Symptoms Of Pitta Dosha:
Causes:
- Eating certain foods; for instance pungent, sour, salty, very spicy, deep fried, processed and red meat
- Consuming too much alcohol, caffeine or nicotine
- Roaming around in the hot sun and overexposure to the sun
- Stress, both emotional and physical
Symptoms:
While ulcers and aversion to spicy foods are the most common symptoms of this underlying issue, here are some more symptoms of pitta imbalance.
I. Excessive Hunger And Thirst
Pitta dosha is related to the fire element and the imbalance causes digestive problems. This leads to increased hunger and thirst.
II. Fevers
A rise in body temperature and, that too, often is a sign of pitta imbalance. Remember, a fever is one way our body is trying to fight an ailment.
III. Burning Sensation
Pain during bowel movements is one of the most common signs of pitta problems. This, accompanied by a burning sensation, are the obvious symptom of this issue.
IV. Inflammation And Sweating
As a result of fire and water, pitta causes inflammation. And people who suffer from this dosha sweat profusely. Also, they emit a foul odour.
V. Craving Cold Food
If you are constantly craving cold drinks and foods, you might be experiencing pitta dosha. This happens because the body is trying to regulate its temperature and sends signals to your brain to consume something cold.
If the symptoms match and your doctor confirms that you have pitta problems, how do you deal with it?
5 Effective Home Remedies For Pitta Dosha
1. Pitta Dosha Diet
A healthy, balanced diet can cure almost anything and everything. The kind and type of food you eat affects your body in many different ways. Spicy, fried, junk, sour and salty foods cause pitta imbalance. Include pitta-pacifying foods like milk, honey, ghee, buttermilk and butter in your diet. A curated pitta dosha diet aids in cleansing the body of all the toxic waste material and regularising bowel movements. This leads to a happy and healthy gut and decreased pitta problems.
2. Healthy Lifestyle
With a tailored diet you can see amazing results. Along with that, you need to upgrade your lifestyle. Eat your meals at regular intervals. Make sure you get 8 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Regular exercise helps your body run smoothly and efficiently.
3. Yoga And Meditation
Since stress has a negative effect on your body chemistry, it causes pitta imbalance. Yoga and meditation are great ways to regulate your pitta levels. Meditation is, in its essence, the best way to manage stress. Check out these yoga exercises that work well to pacify pitta dosha.
- Cat stretch (Marjariasana)
- Child’s posture (Shishu asana)
- Moon salutation (Chandra namaskara)
- Chair posture (Utkatasana)
- Cobra posture (Bhujangasana)
- Superman posture (Vipareeta Shalabhasana)
- Seated forward bend (Paschimottanasana)
- Half boat posture (Ardha naukasana)
- Half shoulder stand (Ardha sarvangasana)
- Bridge posture (Setubandhasana)
- Corpse posture (Shavasana)
4. Choose Wisely
While avoiding certain foods will do great to get rid of pitta issues. Fruits like apples, apricots, berries, cherries, coconut, dates, pear, papaya, plums, pomegranate, mango, orange, melons, watermelon, strawberries, figs and grapes will help. Include vegetables like avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, coriander (dhaniya), peas, pumpkin, radishes, cabbage, sweet potato, spinach, lettuce, bhindi, cucumber, potatoes, leafy greens, and mushrooms in your diet. Grains like barley (jau), oats, wheat, amaranth (rajgira) and granola are good for pitta dosha.
5. Ayurvedic Medicines
Ayurvedic medicines are safe since the side effects are minimal. So you can try some of these to help with the pitta problems, provided you consult your doctor first.
- Amlapittari vati (for hyperacidity)
- Avipattikar churna (digestive problems, hyperacidity)
- Yashtimadhu (for acid peptic diseases)
- Nishamalaki (anti-allergic)
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are pitta dosha symptoms?
A. Along with the above-mentioned symptoms, diarrhoea, skin irritations and a hypercritical or intense mental outlook are some other symptoms of pitta dosha. Impatience, jealousy, hot flashes, sore throat and greying hair are also symptoms of pitta issues.
Q. Is pitta and acidity the same?
A. Pitta is the heat energy within every cell, but it is mainly located in the stomach area. This vitiated pitta dosha becomes sour (amla) in taste, that’s why it is called acidity (amlapitta). Excess pitta can manifest in the body as an uncomfortable feeling of heat in the body along with acid reflux, gastric or peptic ulcers and heartburn.
Q. How can I fix my pitta dosha?
A. Since summer is approaching you can try the following tips to maintain pitta balance.
- Watch what you eat
- Avoid spicy, oily, sour and salty foods
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun
- Cut down on caffeine and alcohol
Key Takeaways
- The best solution to fight pitta dosha is to actually make some changes in your diet and lifestyle.
- In case of severe pitta dosha, consult your doctor.
- Being mentally balanced is as important as eating healthy.
- Everyone has a unique body chemistry and it is vital to tailor your remedies accordingly.
No one likes to be in pain and pitta is certainly something you can easily control. You are not alone and a majority of the population suffers from it. The only difference is that you know how to manage pitta problems. So give these home remedies a try and watch your pitta issue go away.