Keeping Your Cool When the Heat is On

Pitta Season is here:                                                                                                   

Pitta is the Ayurvedic constitution that is dominated by the fire

element.  Like the sizzling days of summer, Pitta people tend to run hot and can become easily aggravated during this season. Perhaps you will identify yourself or someone you know in the following description of Pitta.

Pitta people:

• medium-framed with sharp feature
• fair and sensitive skin with a yellowish tinge, often freckled
• thin hair, blonde, red or light-brown
• an intense gaze with blue or green eyes
• sharp or shrill voices
•  like to be in control
• are natural leaders
• have sharp, quick minds
• like detail
• are organized and productive
• are prone to rashes, heat exhaustion, sun sensitivity in general and liver problems
• When out of balance, pitta emotions run hot…anger, jealousy, hatred, impatience and frustration.  
• When in balance, their minds are clear, calm and alert and they are generous and inspire others with their passion.

We all have the tendency to experience Pitta symptoms in the summer.  Ayurveda has some tips to help you stay cool.

Tempering the Fire:

• Apply Brahmi or coconut oil to your scalp and forehead before going to bed and leave it on all night.  
• Book a milk shirodhara treatment with Satkiana.
• Stay out of the sun, especially during peak hours, 11am - 2pm.
• Take your triphala...that powerful Ayurvedic herbal trinity that detoxifies your body and acts as a gentle laxative and balances all 3 Ayurvedic constitutions.
• Meditate...give some quiet space to your mind.  An overactive mind increases Pitta.
• Go for a calming walk and sit by the water or a waterfall...the cooling nature of water calms Pitta and soothes the mind.
• Use neem soap in your shower.  Neem is a plant that has cooling and disinfectant properties.  
• Drink lots of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol...both increase pitta and disturb the liver.
• Follow a Pitta-pacifying diet.  You can book an Ayurvedic Nutritional Consultation with Satkiana.
• Have a heavenly Pitta-reducing eye treatment with Satkiana.  Great for anyone who experiences eye strain, sties, redness, swelling, glaucoma and early stage cataracts.
• Try this breath to calm down when you are feeling irritated:  Stick-out your tongue and roll the sides inward to form a tube shape.  Breathe in through the tube as if you were sipping from a straw.  Take long, deep breathes in through the straw and exhale through your nose.  Do this for 3 minutes.
• You can apply a drop of sandalwood essential oil to your third eye, (the space between your eyebrows,  your throat, breastbone, navel, temples and wrists.  Sandalwood is cooling.
• Try a pitta-pacifying drink: Into 1 cup of organic grape juice, add 1/2 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp fennel and 1/2 tsp sandalwood powder.  This super cool drink soothes an acidic stomach.  Or, drink the water of a fresh, young coconut.

Enjoy the simple, natural wisdom of Ayurveda as it supports you and the Pittas you know to gracefully meet the summer heat! 

Satkiana (Ayurvedic Practitioner)

www.satkiana.com