Ayurvedic tips for the summertime

The pitta dosha governs all heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and body. 

by Dr. Meghana Thanki — 

According to Ayurveda, five elements exist both within and around us. They are fire, earth, water, air and ether. Fire and water are the elements that constitute the pitta dosha or type.

Pitta individuals are of a medium build. In balance, they tend to be organized, ambitious and passionate people with a competitive edge and a strong appetite. Unbalancee, they can become easily irritated and frustrated, and can end up with ailments such as heartburn, acid reflux, all the common “… itises” (bronchitis, arthritis, etc.) and allergies to name a few.

The pitta dosha governs all heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and body. Pitta is responsible for keeping alive our digestive fire or agni, as it is called in Sanskrit.

Existent around us as the summer season approaches is this fire element. The summer season translates into the pitta season when the sun is high, nature is in full bloom and our emotions begin to escalate. As a general fact, those of us who are predominantly pitta in nature will experience the most difficulty in the season that matches our primary body type. This means we must follow our constitutional regimens even more as these summer months from July to October progress.

Try the pitta cooling tips listed here to help you breeze through the summer with ease.

Pitta cooling tips

• Drink a glass of room-temperature water infused with fresh, organic steeped mint leaves and fennel seeds.
• Exercise in the early morning or near sunset. Finish with a cool shower and spray your body with rose water.
• Your biggest meal of the day should be around noon when the digestive fire is high.
• Eat pitta-pacifying foods — bitter (limes, cucumbers), astringent (apples, quinoa) and sweet (fruits and juices)
• Stay away from salty, sour and spicy foods, which are pitta aggravating.
• To cool the pitta (fire) element down, swim, take a stroll by the water or go for a moonlight walk
• Take time to enjoy nature.

Dr. Meghana Thanki is a naturopathic doctor who is trained in Ayurveda and is co-creator of AyurZona – An Integrative Wellness Center in Old Town Scottsdale. www.ayurzona.com or 480-425-ZONA (9662).

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 27, Number 3, June/July 2008.