During this time of year on the Sunshine Coast, and relevant in other areas around Australia also, I encounter an increase of Pitta-aggravated conditions coming into the clinic. Health conditions effecting the skin such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, fungal conditions, low B12, low iron anaemia, digestive disorders, IBS, and autoimmune ailments.
Since we are heading into that time of year when Pitta gets aggravated, I would like to share some helpful hints to support your well-being this summer and balance Pitta during this season
Pitta is closely related to our blood; whole blood contains both red and white blood cells. Blood is a specialised fluid tissue essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, removing waste products, and supporting immune defences. It is composed of various cell types, each with specific roles.
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) carry oxygen via haemoglobin, enabling energy production in tissues. White blood cells (leukocytes) are part of the immune system, protecting the body against infections and foreign invaders. Types of white blood cells include neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils, each with unique functions in immune response.
Healthy blood supports overall vitality by ensuring effective oxygen delivery, waste removal, and immune function. Blood also carries vital enzymes and proteins that are essential for our health, so it’s obvious that blood, being the carrier for these substances, should then be essential to maintain for optimal balance.
Healthy blood means we maintain homeostasis (balance of the 3 doshas), prevent infections, and promote nourishment to the body’s tissues for harmony of mind and body.
As we approach summer Pitta influence is strongest and it becomes the perfect time to care for your blood and maintain Pitta balance.
In Ayurveda each dosha has a dominant site within the body on a cellular level. Vata, Pitta, and Kapha also exist, but the main sites have been mentioned in Ayurveda as the cause of where the aggravation begins. In particular, this can manifest during the season dominated by the dosha. Pitta guna, or quality, is hot, so naturally, it is aggravated more in the summer season, no matter what body type you are. Pitta’s subtype is Pachaka Pitta, closely related to your digestive fire, Agni, so it is an important part to consider for balance in our health and wellbeing.
The specific location of the Pachaka pitta is the small intestine, a fundamental and important function of digestion and absorption of nutrients takes place at this site; hence, the need to look after this area. It’s a really great way to understand the digestive system rather than just looking at it in a manner much seen in the health industry today that your poor digestion just means an imbalance of microbiome and enzymes. This effort to simplify a complex environment only goes so far, you cannot just break the body down into parts to simplify it for an audience to result in a sale it does not work that way
What you can do daily throughout summer
- Morning routines
- Scrape tongue
- Drink warm water with ½ tsp lemon, honey, and grated ginger, add ½ tsp of fennel powder or bitter melon powder
- During the pitta time of day around 10am-2pm before lunch drink 1 cup of buttermilk is highly important. I encourage you to have this daily as it’s the most important out of all the recommendations. Medicated buttermilk drink will take the heat out of the small intestine and help in absorption of nutrients. This also reduces the damage excess heat can do to this area leading to digestive disorders so aggravated pitta or heat does not start to enter the body and cause imbalances in the tissues or dhatus.
- Buttermilk Recipe – 1/2 cup natural yoghurt, 1 cup water, 1/2 tsp dry roasted and ground cummin seeds, 1/4 tsp pink salt, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. Combine all ingredients in a jug or vessel and whisk until well combined. Skim off any foam on the top and is ready to drink.
- Cook using ghee and Pitta spice mix
- Drink Pitta tea throughout the day helpful hint: make a flask of this in the morning and drink it throughout the day warm or at room temperature, Pitta tea’s main ingredient is sandalwood, often drunk in India in warm climates called medicated water we refer to it as tea but medicated water does have a nicer tone to it and more resembles its actual purpose.
- Pitta oil self-massage (can also use coconut oil) keep the skin hydrated so it can easily radiate excess heat, pitta oil also helps in mitigating this process, allowing you and your blood to feel cooler for the summer.
- Book a Pitta oil massage
For further help, book a consultation the above recommendations for the summer season are not to treat any specific medical conditions, we recommend a more specific tailored approach for this.
Pitta cleanse
Those interested in a more in-depth Pitta cleanse and tailormade program can book in for a consultation. This will involve 4 weeks of cleansing to help eliminate excess Pitta. This cleanse can be undertaken at any time through the summer months or more specifically at the junction points in the season. This program involves more detail than what I have provided in the general overview above and is most helpful for those looking for something more thorough. The cleanse includes:
- Consultation
- In-depth Ayurvedic home program
- 4x Abhyanga massages recommended weekly.
Cost: $630
