Pitta, a combination of the fire and water elements has the qualities of being hot, sharp, penetrating, oily, light, spreading, and liquid. Let’s take a look at ways to fight Pitta inflammation.

The functions of Pitta include:

• Digestion, absorption, and assimilation
• Metabolism
• Maintenance of body temperature
• Appetite and thirst
• Coloration of blood factors
• Visual perception
• Cognition, reasoning, understanding

If there’s a disturbance in any of these functions, it means your Pitta is out of balance.

Major Causes Of Pitta Inflammation And Imbalance

• Eating too much hot, spicy, or fried food
• Eating too much sour or fermented food
• Prolonged fasting
• The summer season
• Exposure to toxins, chemicals, or allergens

Pitta-type emotions including anger, aggression, hate, competitiveness, comparison, judgment, and criticism.

One of the main indicators of Pitta is inflammation, infection, redness, or bleeding.

Any inflammatory conditions are indicative of an increased Pitta, it being the only dosha that has heating tendencies due to the presence of the fire element.

Inflammation can occur in the skin, muscles, joints, or organs, and usually, produces symptoms of redness, bleeding, and sharp/hot pain.

Treatment would vary depending on where the inflammation occurs in the body and what is causing it. This could be anything from food allergies to chronic stress.

How to manage Pitta related conditions?

Learn more about Ayurveda and how it can help with health and wellbeing, check out Cate Stillman’s course below.

Tips 1-12: Steer Clear Of Pitta-Aggravating Foods

Avoid these 12 foods.

• Sesame based food item
• Nightshades (tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, eggplant
• Hot, spicy foods
• Citrus fruits (except lime)
• Fermented foods such as vinegar and kombucha
• Salty, sour and pungent foods
• Fatty, fried foods
• Oils such as peanut, sesame, safflower and almond oil
• Red meat
• Coffee (even decaf)
• Refined grains (aged basmati is alright)
• Allergenic foods (different for different people but commonly soy, dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, shellfish and nuts)

Most of the above are Pitta increasing foods. It is common sense that when you have any kind of inflammation (high Pitta), you should try to avoid them.

Tips 13-23: Enjoy These Pitta Pacifying Foods

Include these 11 Pitta-pacifying foods in your diet.

• Clarified butter: Ghee
• Coconut oil
• Tender Coconut water
• Cilantro
• Lime
• Cucumber
• Cooling spices such as coriander, fennel, and cardamom
• Bitter greens such as kale, collards, and dandelion etc.
• Sweet, juicy fruits such as dates, apples (in less quantity), avocado, red grapes, ripe mango and coconut
• Aloe Vera juice
• Pomegranate juice

All of the above decrease and pacify Pitta.

Tip 24: Learn About The Pitta Pacifying Diet

Incorporate cooling and soothing foods into your diet.

Tip 25: Cool Down With Massage

You can use coconut oil and sunflower oil to massage your body. Do not massage in an acute stage of inflammation.

Recently researchers have found that altered response of the body to handle inflammation is the prominent mechanism through which stress may influence the progression of chronic diseases. Hence it is prudent to manage stress by all means.

Tip 26-37: Find New Ways To Reduce Stress

Consider doing the following to reduce your stress.

• Restorative yoga
• Mild exercise
• Meditation
• Nature walks (or any walking)
• Reduce your workload and prioritize your obligations
• Make time to relax your mind and body every day (even if it’s just for a few minutes)
• Avoid conflicts and disagreeable people
• Surround yourself with pleasant company
• Focus on your breathing. Take multiple deep breaths throughout the day
• Take it easy and keep activity low during menstruation
• Take a bath in water treated with khus, lotus, and white sandalwood.
• Herbs like shatavari and bacopa help reduce Pitta.

Please consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before following the guidelines mentioned in this article. 

About the Author

Dr. Rajat Sharma

Dr. Rajat Sharma hails from a family of Ayurvedic Doctors. He got formal education at Dabur Dhanwantry Hospital studying Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery. He also underwent special training for Diet, Nutrition, Naturopathy, Yoga therapy, Medical Astrology & Panchkarma. He was selected for Guru Shishya Parampara to learn Panchakarma under National Academy of Ayurveda. He has worked with many Ayurvedic health care system providers in India & abroad like Maharishi Ayurveda & Patanjali Arogya Kendra. He has traveled to different countries to teach and prescribe Ayurveda to public & health care professionals. He usually talks about the Health Benefits of Ayurvedic diet, lifestyle, herbs.

He runs an Ayurvedic center named “Chronic Disease Management Center of Ayurveda’ with Maharishi Ayurveda. He assesses the health seeker’s detailed medical history, Pulse(Nadi), parameters of health & diseases' stage according to Ayurveda. He helps them by educating about Diet, Lifestyle, customized Ayurvedic herbs, Panchkarma, and Yoga therapy. He has experienced the field of Ayurveda from production to prescription.

His key area of interest is in the management of Gut health, Chronic diseases like Respiratory, Digestive, Reproductive diseases, Blood sugar, Blood pressure, Obesity & High cholesterol, Liver-Kidney related problems, Piles, Skin Problems, allergies, Immunity, Joint pains, Improving Quality of Life in Cancer patients, Stress & Sleep issues, Sexual disorder, etc.