Keeping cool in Pitta season

It’s Suummmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (wooo hoo!), which according to Ayurveda is Pitta season. Pitta is made up of the fire and water elements and is the energy of digestion and transformation.

The qualities (gunas) of Pitta are hot, light, clear, mobile, oily, subtle, soft, smooth, sharp and liquid. In Ayurveda like increases like, and opposite qualities create balance. So if your pitta is too high then you would need to take in the opposite qualities outlined here to balance it.

The Pitta time of day is 10am -2pm or 10pm to 2am. This is why lunch time is the best time to eat your main meal according to Ayurveda, as you digestive fire is at its strongest.

Excess Pitta tendencies are anger, frustration, critical, controlling, judgmental and competitive. A balanced pitta person is charismatic, a natural leader, productive, confident, mentally sharp and likely to be very successful in life.

Summer is very much like a pitta dominant person - go, go, go! We have lots of energy from the sun, we’re out and about socialising, staying up later than usual, and getting things done!

Too much of this busy Pitta fire energy can easily make you burn out and become hot and bothered physically, mentally and emotionally! Pitta out of balance can look like heartburn, acid reflux, loose stools, sunburn, hot flashes, irritability, etc. So here are some suggestions on how to stay cool and balanced during Pitta season.

• Watch out for too much heat, excessive sensory engagement and over committing to work or socialising!
• Focus on fresh juicy summer fruits, lighter proteins and adequate rest and down time!
• Cooling spices and herbs such as fennel seed, coriander, cilantro, cardamom, mint, hibiscus and rose water.
• Bringing in the water element will soothe, so getting into water is great, and the earth element will ground, so nice grounding Yoga practices and a cooling breath like Sheetali.
• Grounding essential oils like cedarwood, sandalwood, lavender, sweet orange or jasmine.

I’ve also created a lovely healing sunflower summer meditation for hormonal healing and fertility, which you can give a try and let me know what you think!