Pitta Imbalance: Characteristics, Symptoms, Diet, Lifestyle

What is Pitta Imbalance?

Pitta Imbalance causes disturbances in your body. Ayurveda, a form of holistic medicine, is based on the belief that life forces called doshas control how your body works. Pitta is responsible for metabolism, digestion and nutrient assimilation. When Pitta gets imbalanced, it can lead to inflammation in the body which can result into illnesses like gastritis, stomach and intestinal ulcers, acne, eczema and other skin diseases, as well as liver infections.

Pitta also rules digestion on a mental and spiritual level and is responsible for digesting impressions, emotions and ideas. The quality of Pitta are hot, light, penetrating & oily.

Characteristics of Pitta Type

Pitta is a sign of energy, power and strength of will. Pitta in your body keeps you warm and helps in the circulation. Pitta also signifies ambition, determination, intelligence, and communicating feelings. Without Pitta, your emotions are dulled. Impulsivity, intensity of feeling, irritability, impatience, jealousy and extravagance are typical.

Other Attributes, especially to this type in Ayurveda:

Skin: bright, shiny, pale and warm with a tendency to burn in the sun. Tends towards moles, freckles and rashes
Hair: Fine and pale, usually blonde or ginger
Face: heart-shaped, often with a well-formed chin
Throat: averagely proportioned
Nose: pointed, straight, average size
Eyes: average size, bright blue, bright grey or green
Mouth: middle sized
Teeth: middle sized, gums bleed easily, pale and pink
Physique: medium
Intellect: sharp intellect, precise, clear speech
Sleep: deep but short sleep
Communication: angry, opinionated
Personality: enterprising, courageous character with a tendency towards impatience and anger

Ayurvedic Care for Health and Wellness

Signs & Symptoms of Pitta Imbalance

Physical Attributes of Pitta Imbalance:

Strong intolerance to heat, hot flushes and inflammation
Loose or frequent bowel movements (diarrhea), acid indigestion,
Excessive and strong acidic smell to the urine and sweat
Skin irritations, rashes, acne, hives, psoriasis, dermatitis
Heartburn, acid reflux, mouth ulcers, cold sores
Excessive thirst or hunger

Mental Attributes of Pitta Imbalance:

Irritation or a short temper
Prone to judgement to others or themselves
Overly competitive behavior, jealousy
Perfectionist tendencies

Diet for Pitta Imbalance

Pitta types should eat anti-acid and pacifying foods. It is important for Pitta to keep cool by avoiding fried, spicy foods and stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, tobacco and chocolates.

They should choose fresh vegetables and fruits that are watery & sweet, especially cherries, mangoes, cucumbers, watermelon, courgettes (zucchini), and avocado. They can include salads with dark greens.

Mint, coriander and fennel are also great herbs to add to your food or make tea with, as these herbs have cooling effect on your body and can cool heated Pitta down.

Rose Flowers Balances all Three Doshas

Also use cooling oil such as coconut oil to cook your food.

Add sweet, bitter and astringent tastes in your food and avoid sour, salty and pungent.

Examples of food that have a sweet taste are sugar, honey, rice, milk, cream, butter, bread and grains.
Examples of food that have a bitter taste are green leafy vegetables, endives, chicory, lemon peel, turmeric and fenugreek.
Astringent foods are anything that make dry sensation in the mouth – so for example, dry beans, lentils, apples, pears, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and potato.

Add cinnamon, coriander, cardamon, fennel, turmeric and ginger to your food.

Lifestyle habits to Balance Pitta

It’s important for Pitta types to keep cool by avoiding overexposure to direct sunlight, overworking, and overheating.

It’s also important for Pitta types to relax and not work late. It is advisable to switch off electronic devices after dinner and take a walk in nature to calm their mind.

Pitta types tend to be materially successful with their high-achieving nature, but they tend to feel something still lacking in their lives and have difficulty exploring alternative lifestyles. Pitta types should include exposure to a wide variety of people and concepts on a regular basis for a balanced lifestyle.

Pitta should exercise moderately. Avoid strenuous and frantic activities such as dynamic styles of Yoga and opt for more meditative and slower paced yoga, Tai chi, walking, and swimming. Avoid competitive exercises or sports and opt for co-operative or team sports.

How to Balance Pitta with Yoga

Pitta types should cultivate balance through cooling, nurturing and joyful practice.

Recommended Yoga Poses for Pitta Imbalance

Shoulder-stand, Standing Forward Bend: To release excess heat and for cooling
Moon Pose, Side bends & seated spinal twists for Liver and bile cleansing
Gentle Back-bends: to release tension from the mid-abdomen, small intestine and liver
Spinal Twists for Calming
Locust Pose: release tension from the mid-abdomen