ABSTRACT

Pitta Dosha is involved in digestion, how to metabolize sensory perceptions, enzymes,temperature regulation, hormones and the difference between right or wrong. Let’s discuss Pitta Dosha in detail!

Introduction

Pitta Dosha is the principle of fire, and controls the essential digestive ” Agni ”. Dosha can get aggravated due many reasons like  food , lifestyle, stress and other factors too. Let us take an example: if a person consumes food which is very spicy and hot and then goes out in the hot midday sun it leads to an increase in fire element of the body. This is considered as an example of pitta dosha imbalance due to increase in pitta levels.Secondly it is also possible to have decreased pitta levels in the body. The low pitta level can be detected by low appetite, decreased  body temperature, pale lackluster skin etc.

What Is Pitta Dosha?

Pitta interprets it roughly as fire. Ayurveda also states that pitta dosha is basically the mind & body element which is in association with fire(primarily) and water which controls heat, metabolism and transformation. The main functions of the human body are digestion, metabolism, anger, thought process, levels of energy can all be certified to the pitta dosha. All the three doshas are further divided into 5 definite types of sub-doshas

Sub-Types of Pitta Dosha

Each of these 5 subdivisions of pitta inhabit in different parts of the body and are accountable for a specific function of the overall pitta dosha:

• Pachaka : Pakwamashyaya madhya {stomach & intestines}  (A/C Sushrut & Vagbhata )
• Ranjak : Yakrit and pleeha {liver & spleen } (A/C Sushrut ) amashaya ( A/C Vagbhata )
• Sadhak : Hridya {heart}  ( A/C Sushrut & Vagbhata)
• Alochaka : Netra {eyes} ( A/C Sushrut & Vagbhata)
• Bhrajaka: Twacha {skin} (A/C Sushrut & Vagbhata)

The stability, health and functional activities of the other pitta are influenced with the help of pachaka pitta. The main aim should be on keeping pachaka pitta healthy and active as if it gets unhealthy the functioning of the other sub pittas gets affected which leads to diseases.

Ayurvedic Home Remedies to Help Balance Pitta levels

1. Ghee (Clarified butter): One should take a tsp of ghee with warm milk on an empty stomach.
2. CARDAMOM (Elaichi): It is a spice commonly used to lower pitta levels. Boil 2 cardamoms in one glass of water and have it.
3. Turmeric Powder (Haldi): using one tsp of turmeric powder (haldi) twice daily with water aids in reducing infections and skin allergies.

4. For Reducing Pitta and Other Skin Problems

• Raisins( dakh)  20 and should be soaked overnight
• Cumin (jeera ) seed powder – 1/2 tsp
• Coriander (dhania) seed powder – 1/2 tsp
• Fennel ( saunf ) seed powder – 1 tsp

The juice from the overnight soaked raisins should be squeezed and then added to the blend properly and should be consumed twice daily.

5. For Eliminating Excess Heat And Toxins

• Haritaki (harad , BN: Terminalia chebula)-50gm
• Castor oil ( erand ka taila): 5gm
• Black salt ( kala namak): 5gm
• Ajwain seed powder ( owa) – 10gm

Mix all the above ingredients and keep sealed away from moisture. consume 1 tsp with water daily at night.

1. CUMIN WATER: cumin water can be consumed after lunch for reducing excess pitta.
2. Body rashes because of pitta : kokum oil ( garcinia) application
3. Amla ( Indian gooseberries) helps to scrub the pitta from the digestive system and can be consumed as a pickle or as a fruit.
4. Neem– It is bitter and it can be taken in the form of tablets or herbs.
5. Triphala: It can be consumed in the form of capsules.
6. Cow’s milk

Lifestyle Tip for Pitta Dosha Balance

1. Diet

Pitta Balancing Food

1. Fruits: favorable fruits to remove pitta from the body : Juicy sweet fruits like watermelon, pomegranate, mango, orange, melons, watermelon, strawberries, figs, grapes, peaches, plums, apple, apricots, berries, cherries,coconut, dates, pear, papaya, plums, .
2. Vegetables : favorable vegetables to remove pitta from the body:  Avocado,raddish, lettuce, okra, cucumber, potato, leafy greens ,  broccoli, peas, pumpkin, cabbage, sweet potato,
3. Grains : favorable grains :couscous, rice ( basmati ), barley,amaranth ,oats, wheat bran, pasta, pancakes.
4. Legumes: Legumes nature is astringent hence placate pitta split peas, chickpeas, lima beans, soyabeans, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, tofu, mung daal, black eyed peas.
5. Dairy products: Unsalted butter, cow’s milk, cottage cheese, ice cream, yogurt and goat’s milk.
6. Nuts and seeds: almonds (soaked & peeled), flax seeds, coconuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and popcorn.
7. Meats: Chicken meat, shrimp, rabbit, venison, fish (freshwater) , eggs (white) and buffalo meat.
8. Oil: coconut oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, olive oil, ghee and walnut oil
9. Spices: Blackpepper, coriander, ginger, fennel, mint, orange peel , saffron , peppermint, cinnamon, cardamom, basil, parsley and vanilla

Pitta Aggravating food

1. Grains : it includes: Buckwheat, bread, corn , millet, brown rice
2. legumes: it contains soy sauce, meat, urad dal
3. Dairy: it contains: salted buttermilk, butter, frozen and fruit – flavored yogurt, sourcream and hard cheese
4. Nuts : it contains :Cashew nuts, peanuts, almonds with skin , pistachios, tahini, walnuts.
5. Oils:it contains: corn oil and sesame oil,Almond oil.
6. Spices : it contains , mustard seeds, rosemary, nutmeg , clove ,thymes, Asafoetida, fenugreek seeds
7.  Sweeteners : Jaggery (gud), white sugar and honey ( Madhu)

2. Herbs

Ayurveda Recommends several herbs for pitta dosha treatment some of the examples are as follows:

1. Amalaki: It is one of the best herbs among triphala for pitta dosha treatment. Without exasperating the digestive fire it stimulates the metabolism.
2. Guduchi: it can be consumed naturally.
3. Triphala

3. Classical Therapies:

1. Virechana:  A shodhana ( purification ) treatment which brushes up the body from pitta dosha and eliminates toxins from GIT, liver.
2. Abhyanaga (oil massage)
3. Chandra Bhedana (Moon piercing breath) : it is basically a practice of sitting comfortably in a quiet place and then block the right nostril with the help of the right finger and then take deep breath through the left nostril in and out for 3-6 mins .
4. moderate exercise
5. Meditation
6. walking in nature
7. yoga : Balasana (Child’s pose ), parsava sukhasana, Anjaneyasana ( crescent lunge pose ) , ardha matsyendrasana ( half lord of the fishes pose ), paschimottanasana ( seated forward fold pose )

Conclusion

At last we can say, Pitta dosha should always be in balance because its abnormal range always leads to numerous health concerns. So always keep yourself healthy and away from diseases.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY!