Six Ways to Minimize Pitta

The hot summer days are here. Are you enjoying some coconut water, a refreshing watermelon and maybe a  delicious piece of melon? Ah, summer fruit so hydrating !

While the dog days of summer are here, the qualities of summer can unbalance us in many ways .
According to Ayurveda, the qualities of summer are hot, sharp, and penetrating. That’s why our pitta dosha—the subtle energy that controls metabolism  can cause us to overheat and tends to flare up when the temperatures rise.
Pitta-related imbalances include sunburn, hot flashes, exhaustion, acne, and diarrhea. Emotionally, excess pitta can manifest as anger, jealousy, and impatience. Do any of these sound familiar?

If your primary dosha is Pitta extra care is needed during the summer as “like increases like”.

Here are six ways to minimize Pitta:
1.Take a 10-to-15-minute walk in the morning when the gentle rays that fall on your face and skin will stimulate sadhaka pitta—an energetic principle that, according to Ayurveda, is a mood lifter similar to serotonin and melatonin and promotes creativity and joy. Sunlight also helps stimulate the body’s production of vitamin D—a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in calcium absorption, which in turn leads to stronger bones.
2. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily to stay hydrated and add a pinch of Himalayan salt to your water for added electrolytes.
3. In a previous blog I mentioned eating cooling foods. Some examples are watermelon, cantaloupe, cilantro, cucumber, parsley, alfalfa sprouts and mint. Avoid hot, spicy food and alcohol.
4. For your skin a nourishing massage with unrefined coconut oil will surely keep your skin hydrated and cool. A drop of sandalwood oil as aromatherapy will recharge your whole aura.
5. Adjusting your bedtime to 11pm is a good summer practice. Going to sleep when the heat has dissipated is beneficial.
6. Explore a creative outlet. You don’t have to paint or draw to be creative. How about dancing? singing? humming?Studies show that even a short bout of singing can increase immunoglobulin A, antibody. Don’t we need some of that to boost our immune systems right now?

 with fierce love,
Gedalia