About Pitta dosha

♦ Pitta's characteristics ♦ Pitta symptoms ♦ How to balance Pitta

Characteristics
Physical Pitta people are medium height, with a moderately developed physique. The face is a moderate size and shape, with sharp contours, and redness in the skin. The eyes are moderate, tend to redness, and the gaze is sharp (penetrating). The hands are angular with redness. The body weight is moderate and Pittas can easily lose or gain weight if they need to once they put their mind to it.
Appetite Strong, sharp. Always hungry for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Often able to digest anything and eat lots without gaining weight. Can't skip meals. Irritable if food is late, especially lunch.
Stools Abundant, loose, can be yellowish, smelly, tends towards diarrhoea (can go 2-3 times a day). Note: these are signs that Pitta is in excess. A visit to a therapist is advised.
Menstruation Regular, a 28-day cycle, with flow lasting 3-5 days. Tends to a heavy flow. Possible pain beforehand, and often frustrated and irritable before flow starts.
Mental Has purpose and passion, and likes to have goals and challenges.
Negative tendencies Irritable, angry, critical, frustrated, likes to control things, overly analytical, overworks, fanatical. Anxious about their goals, and of what others think of them. Likes to be right.
Positive tendencies Perceptive, determined, passionate, organised, reliable, logical, articulate, good leaders, enterprising, good discipline, sharp intellect, sharp sense of humour. Desire to help people understand the nature of things. 

Pitta symptoms
If you're a Pitta type, you have more of the fire element in you (and secondarily water). Pitta types will tend to get Pitta-type ailments such as loose stools, diarrhoea, acidity, acne, excess heat, burning sensation, cold sores, skin conditions with redness and heat, sore throat, tonsillitis, ulcers, inflammation, infection, fever. The main symptom of Pitta is heat.
IMPORTANT: Pitta dosha can also become aggravated in a Vata or Kapha person, causing Pitta illnesses. Then the guidance of a practitioner is needed. Contact us to make an appointment. 

How to balance Pitta
Pitta dosha is sharp, slightly oily, hot, light, bad-smelling and mobile (spreading). As Ayurveda works on the principle that like increases like, Pittas should avoid heating foods and activities. Avoid hot weather, hot baths, stress, anger, overwork, over-exercising and over-competitiveness. Don't have hot spices, alcohol, cigarettes, oily or fried food, and acidic and fermented foods like vinegar, yeasted breads, soy sauce, yoghurt, sharp and sour fruits, and hard cheeses. Stay cool! (Literally and mentally.)

Eat cooling, mild tastes, mainly wholegrains and vegetables, with sweet fruits, fresh dairy, beans, fresh tofu, chicken (if a meat-eater) and interesting salads. Have cool showers, do yoga, tai chi, fun team sports, walks in nature or other non-competitive exercise, let go of control, make time for meditation, breathe... and smell the roses!