Five easy remedies to calm and cool Pitta this summer
Pitta is the energy that creates change. It is the force of transformation. In our bodies, it is our digestion, absorption and assimilation. It is the digestion of our food, but also the digestion of our emotions. In balance, pitta gives us bravery and ambition. It gives us the courage to fight for what we believe in. When out of balance, pitta leads to anger, hatred and cruel self-talk. I can easily tell when I have too much pitta in my system because I get irritable and self-critical, and I’m not able to properly digest my emotions and transform them into useful action.
There are many things that can cause an accumulation of pitta energy: being outside under the hot sun, working on your computer all day without a break, or even eating spicy food! The key is to notice how it shows up in your own body, so that you can apply some simple remedies to bring it back into balance.
There are five major “sites” where pitta accumulates in the body. As you read the tips below, notice if there’s a particular site you feel pitta showing up in your own body.
1. Stomach/small intestine
The heat of pitta breaks down our food in the stomach and small intestine and transforms it into the energy our body needs. When there is too much pitta in our digestive tract, we’ll experience symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux or loose elimination.
Eating cooling foods is very soothing for excess pitta. Try this salad recipe with pitta reducing spices for an easy summer lunch on a hot day:
Cucumber Avocado Salad
- 1 avocado
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp ground coriander
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro or parsley
In a bowl, whisk the olive oil and lime juice with the spices and herbs. Chop the avocado and cucumber into small cubes and add to the bowl, tossing to coat. Enjoy on its own or as a side.
2. Liver
The liver produces bile, which in Ayurveda is seen as a form of pitta. The liver does so much work to filter our blood, removing excess hormones and toxins from our bodies. The liver is also the seat of emotions such as anger, hate and jealousy, and it is part of the liver’s job to process these emotions. In The Textbook of Ayurveda by Dr. Vasant Lad, he writes, “Paying total attention to a feeling or emotion allows the agni [digestive fire] of the liver to release it. The anger, fear or anxiety can then leave with awareness and maturity.”
There are many ways our bodies will tell us that our liver is being overworked, but paying attention to your emotions is a powerful place to start. If there is too much pitta, you may notice that you either feel shut down emotionally, or that you are getting fixated on feelings of anger or resentment. Ideally, you should be able to experience these emotions fully and powerfully, but then let them transform into constructive action.
To support the liver in all that it does, dandelion is a strong medicinal ally. I love sipping on this dandelion root tea through the spring and summer. The addition of cooling nettle and hibiscus also support blood clearing and help balance hormones. This is a great one for women, especially if you experience heavy, painful periods.
Dandelion Hibiscus “Iced” Tea
- ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers
- ¼ cup dried nettle
- ¼ cup dried dandelion root
- ¼ cup goji berries
- 1 inch sliced fresh ginger
- 8 cups boiling water
Pour the hot water over all the ingredients in a large glass pitcher, and steep for at least ten minutes. This tea is delicious hot, but I like to leave it out overnight and drink it at room temperature the next day. Even in the summer, we never want to consume “iced” or very cold drinks, as it dampens digestion. If you want to store this tea for a few days, you can keep it in the fridge. Ideally, pour some in a glass and let it come closer to room temp before drinking.
3. Brain/heart
Pitta is present in the grey matter of the brain, and the cardiac plexus in our heart. This type of pitta, (called sadhaka pitta) is responsible for assimilating our daily experiences and transforming that experience into healthy emotions. Here’s another gem from Dr. Vasant Lad: “We can only have a clear relationship with the truth if sadhaka pitta is healthy. Sadhaka pitta is necessary for the transformation of an object into pure experience.”
When our perception of the world is clouded by our own preconceived beliefs or judgment, we know that pitta is out of balance. One of the best ways to lift the veil of our own beliefs and experience “truth” is through meditation.
Any form of meditation that you are drawn to is great; or try this simple meditation for calming the brain and the heart.
Meditation for balancing outer and inner perception:
If you’re new to meditation, set a timer for five minutes to begin. Sit in a comfortable position, and close your eyes. Take a few moments to notice your breath. Then direct your attention to the space of your heart. Pay attention to the center of your chest and simply notice what sensations are present. See if you can direct all your focus toward feeling. When thoughts arise, come back to feeling the space of your chest.
After a few minutes, open your eyes, but maintain the meditative space. Let your eyes land on an object in your environment and take a moment to observe all the details of this object. Then close your eyes and bring your attention back to your heart space. Do this cycle a few times.
As we switch focus from our internal experience to our external experience, we can start to balance our perception and calm our reactivity. Try this practice for five minutes each morning and notice how you feel.
4. Eyes
The fourth site of pitta is the eyes. Also related to perception and our ability to see the world as it really is, many eye conditions are caused by a pitta imbalance. A major cause of eye strain and fatigue is overwork at the computer. Not only does the intense focus of hard work aggravate pitta, but the bright light of the computer screen stresses pitta in the eyes.
Restorative practice for the eyes:
To calm tired eyes, buy a lavender eye pillow, or make your own using dried lavender. I like to keep my eye pillow in the freezer on hot days, and take it out when I need a break. Pitta energy is at its highest around noon to 2pm, so before or after lunch is a great time to take your cooling “eye rest.”
Lie down on the floor or somewhere comfortable with your eye pillow over your eyes for at least 15 minutes. Listen to calming music, or perhaps do a yoga nidra for extra restoration! The added benefit of covering your eyes is that you’ll be forced to take a break from your phone or your computer for awhile.
5. Skin
The last place pitta shows up is in our skin. It’s important to remember that everything we put on our skin is transformed by pitta, and absorbed and assimilated into our bodies. That’s why I strongly recommend being aware of what’s in your lotions, body washes and cosmetics. Generally speaking, if I wouldn’t eat it, I don’t put it on my body!
Cooling body massage:
Body oil massage, or abhyanga, is perhaps the most popular and beneficial Ayurvedic practice. For a simple, cooling, summertime abhyanga, I like to massage my body with coconut oil. Chances are you have some in your kitchen for cooking, and that is safe to use on your body as well. After a shower, start at your legs and massage the oil into your skin, moving up your body towards your heart. Don’t forget your breasts and belly!
Usually with a more traditional abhyanga I will shower afterwards, but when using coconut oil on a hot day, I love to just leave it on my skin and let it absorb. It also smells delicious.
For an added sensory pleasure after your massage, spritz your body with pitta-calming rosewater. Now you have a protective layer to keep you cool, calm and strong all day long!
Remember these tips as we move into summer and things continue to heat up. When the problem feels too big or overwhelming, I encourage you to come back to simple acts of self-care. Let me know how you’re taking care of yourself this summer.