HealthCare >> Alternative Medicine >> Ayurveda >> Pitta Dosh

Pitta is responsible for the entire metabolism in our mind body. In its widest sense, it governs digestive function including all chemical and metabolic transformations in the body as well as processes which promote heat production. Pitta also governs our ability to digest ideas and impressions and to therefore perceive the true nature of reality. Pitta is often regarded as the "fire" within the body. The keywords as far as pitta is concerned are ‘heat’ and ‘intensity’ and these are reflected everywhere in the mind and body of a pitta person.

Symbol: Fire
Constitution: elements of Fire(Agni) and Water(Apa)
Principle: Transformation, metabolism and discrimination in body-mind.
Qualities: hot, sharp, light, liquid, sour, oily and spreading.
Body characteristics: as pitta is hot, a pitta person has higher body temperature than vata or kapha people; pitta is sharp so pitta people have sharp nose, teeth , eyes; because of the hot, sharp and oily qualities these people have a tendency to grey prematurely. Strong appetite and strong body odour are the other characteristics.

Mental constitution: sharp memory, often wise and brilliant but tend to be dominating. They have a tenency to be overly critical and have a sharp tongue.

Pitta in balance:
Strong and complete digestion
Efficient assimilation of foods
Searchod complexion; healthy facial tone and coloration
Stimulated, open intellect

Pitta out of balance:
Incomplete digestion; poor differentiation between nutrients and wastes
Variable, blotchy skin color, inflamed; unhealthy appearance
Dullness of reasoning faculty

Diet for Pitta:

Prefer Wheat, barley, oats Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage leafy green vegetables Apples, cherries, coconut Butter, ghee(clarified butter), Chicken, turkey

Avoid Brown rice, corn Beets, carrots, onions Radish, tomato Apricots, bananas, papaya Cheese, yogurt Red meat

Likely diseases in vata people
Inflammatory disease like boils, abscesses; ulcers, irritable bowels, hemorrhoids, and diarrhea.

General methods of keeping pitta in balance
Since the key word for pitta is intensity, these people should make sure they don’t push themselves too hard. Aggression harms pitta people by causing conditions like heartburns and ulcers.
Regular meditation helps a lot.
Avoid artificials stimulants specially alcohol.
Coolness in any form helps pitta balance, try to keep your bedroom and if possible place of work a little cooler.
Take plenty of fluids.

Ayurveda Intro | Kapha Dosh | Tridosha | Vata Dosh | Panchkarma | Dinacharya
Tips on Diet | Tips on Sleep
Common Problems: Obesity | Common Cold | Arthritis | Constipation
Your mind/body constitution- the ayurvedic view