What is Pitta?
In Ayurveda Pitta is known as Energy of Digestion and
Metabolism. Pitta dosha (bio-energy) is a combination of
water and fire elements and formulated by the dynamic
interplay of the both. These elements are transformative in
nature thus they constantly modulate and control each other.
In human body Pitta represents the fire element; it includes
gastric fire or digestive fire, action of enzymes and amino
acids that play a major role in metabolism, and the
neurotransmitters and neuropeptides involved in thinking.
People with pitta personality are known for warm friendly
behavior and leadership qualities.
Pitta is hot, sharp, light, oily, liquid, and spreading in
nature. It is sour, bitter, pungent to the taste, and has a
fleshy smell. All these characteristics are revealed in the
body of the pitta person. The main centers of pitta in human
body are small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, blood, fat,
eyes, and skin. Pitta governs digestion, absorption,
assimilation, nutrition, metabolism, body temperature, skin
coloration, the luster of the eyes, intelligence, and
understanding. It gives the person appetite, vitality, and
the capacity to learn, understand and determine what is right
or wrong. The imbalanced pitta can cause many physical and
psychological problems like anger, criticism, negative
emotions, acidity, ulcers, heartburn, rashes and thinning
hair. Pitta can be thrown out of balance by, eating spicy or
sour food; being angry, tired, or fearful; or spending too
much time in the sun. People with a predominantly pitta
constitution are thought to be susceptible to heart disease
and arthritis.
Distinctive Features of Pitta people
Physical
Body Frame
– Pitta prakriti people have light to medium body frame with
well-built physique and medium height. Their chests are not
very flat and they show a medium prominence of veins and
muscle tendons.
Skin & Hair Type
– The pitta person may have coppery, yellowish, reddish or
fair complexion with fair or reddish, fine, soft, shiny, warm
skin. The hair may be fine red, fair or dark brown in color
and straight or thinning, shiny, fine and silky in texture.
Eyes
– Pitta people have distinct, bright eyes that are usually
blue, grey or hazel in colour.
Teeth
– Pitta people may have sharp but yellowish teeth with soft
and, at times, bleeding gums.
Other
– Pitta person has heart-shaped face with tapering chin and
pointed nose that is sharp and tends to be reddish at tip.
The nails are usually soft.
Some distinctive physical problems faced by pitta people
include rashes or inflammations of the skin, sunburns, acne,
boils, skin cancer, sensitive and burning eyes, hair loss,
premature graying of hair and baldness.
Physiological
Pitta people usually have a sensitive and reactive body with
a medium frame and weight. They usually keep in shape as they
rarely gain or lose much weight.
Pitta constituent people usually have strong metabolism, good
digestive fire and strong appetites. Thus they usually take
large quantities of food and liquid at a time and often get
irritated if they have to miss or wait for a meal.
Pitta type people have a natural longing for sweet, bitter
and astringent tastes and enjoy cold drinks.
Pitta people usually have average or medium sleep but keep
fresh and active, as their sleep is sound and uninterrupted.
Pitta is a fire element, thus people with pitta constitution
tend to have higher body temperature with warm hands and
feet. They do not feel comfortable in sunlight heat or hot
weather as heat makes them tired.
Pitta people do not like hard work as well as they also have
a tendency toward excessive perspiration.
Pitta people produce a large volume of urine and the feces
are yellowish, liquid, soft and plentiful.
These people also show tendency toward grey hair with
thinning hairline or baldness.
Pitta prakriti people are passionate and romantic and
sexually have more vigor and endurance than Vatas, but less
than Kaphas.
Behavioral or Psychological
Positive
Pitta people have sharp mind and superior memory hence they
boast outstanding learning, understanding and concentrating
powers.
These people are orderly, focused, assertive and
entrepreneurial by nature.
Pitta people have inborn leadership skills with good
comprehension power, focused vision and blessed wisdom. They
are usually good public speakers and also capable of sharp,
sarcastic, cutting speech. They have a desire to spread their
name and fame all over.
They have natural fondness for noble professions and often
make large amounts of money. They like to spend on luxurious
items like perfume and jewelry.
Pitta people appreciate material prosperity and they tend to
be moderately well off financially. They enjoy exhibiting
their wealth and luxurious possessions and like to surround
themselves with beautiful objects.
Negative
Pitta person is often stubborn, pushy, prejudiced, and
authoritarian.
They have emotional tendencies toward hate, anger and
jealousy.
Pitta people become commanding, irritated, angry, aggressive,
demanding, assertive
when out of balance.
Pitta people usually show extremist behavior and never yield
an inch from their principles. They can be judgmental,
critical and perfectionist, and tend to become angry easily.
Pitta person is subject to temper tantrums, impatience, and
anger.
Indications of Balanced Pitta
A balanced pitta is an indication of sound physical and
psychological health of an individual. When in balance pitta
ensures:
Good digestion
Energy
Goal-setting inclinations
Good problem-solving skills
Keen powers of intelligence
Decisiveness
Boldness and courage
Bright complexion
Indications of Imbalanced
Pitta
Pitta is imbalanced when any property exceeds or decreases
from its normal level. There are many factors that can cause
pitta imbalance including alcohol and cigarettes, hard work,
overexertion, and overheating. Pitta is a fire element thus
summer season is time when it gets easily aggravated. When
pitta is out of balance or disturbed the body shows some
distinctive signs or symptoms both physical and behavioral.
Physical symptoms include:
Acidity, Heartburn
Fitful sleep, Disturbing dreams, Insomnia
Diarrhea, Food allergies
Bad breath, Sour body odor
Sensitivity to heat, Hot flashes
Skin rashes, Boils and Acne
Ulcers, Hot sensations in the stomach or intestines
Bloodshot eyes other vision problems
Weakness due to low blood sugar
Fevers, Night sweats
Anemia
Jaundice
On behavioral Front one may feel:
Angry, Irritable, hostile
Destructive and Impatient
Critical to self and others
Argumentative, Aggressive
Bossy, controlling
Frustrated, Willful, Reckless
Mental
confusion
Health Problems caused by
Imbalanced Pitta
Pitta is an element of fire hence any imbalance in pitta
usually causes fevers, inflammatory diseases, acidity,
ulcers, rashes, digestive problem etc. It can also cause loss
of strength, heart problems, skin problems, jaundice and hair
problems.
General
Tips on Health and Wellness For Pitta
When in balance, pitta promotes intelligence and
understanding but when disturbed or imbalanced it produces
anger and jealousy. To ensure sound and healthy living one
should be aware with the causes and factors that can
influence pitta dosha and also the ways to regulate them.
It is very important for Pitta people that they lead a pure
and moderate life and try to keep cool. Pitta is a fire
element; hence to balance it one should avoid excessive heat,
oily, steamy and salty food, rigorous exercises that increase
body heat, etc. Such people should opt foods, attitudes,
behaviors, personal relationships, and environmental
conditions that can be instrumental in balancing pitta.
They should take food that is sweet, bitter, and astringent
because these tastes decrease pitta influences, do exercise
during the cooler part of the day, and do things that cool
the mind, avoid conflicts and choose cool climates. On
behavioral front developing the virtues of honesty, morality,
kindness, generosity, and self-control also help in balancing
pitta dosha.
Pitta prakriti people should do meditation as it helps to
control negative thoughts and calm mind and body. Optimum
meal times for pitta people are: breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch
at noon, a snack at 3 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.
The pitta people should use colors that are cool and calm,
for example, blues and greens. These colors provide a
soothing effect and help to control pitta. The stone should
be worn by pitta people is Moonstone as this stone associate
well with pitta dosha and drive positive influences.
A Food Plan to Balance Pitta Dosha
Pitta is related with fire and control digestion and
metabolism, body temperature, and biological transformations
in the body. Usually Pitta people have strong efficient
digestion, they can generally eat just about everything but
they should include cool or warm food in their diet with
less butter and added fat. Excessive use of salt, overuse of
sour and spicy food and overeating are the main causes that
trouble pitta so such food items should be reduced, instead
starchy foods such as vegetables, grains and beans, salad,
milk and ice cream should be included in the diet.
Alcoholic and
fermented foods should also be avoided. Pitta person should
not take coffee also as the acid in the coffee is also pitta
aggravating, instead they can have herb teas like mint,
licorice root or other that pacify pitta.
If your basic constitution is mixed like
pitta-vata or pitta-kapha, then you should include portion
for the second influential dosha.
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