Know Yourself

A combination of fire and water elements, pitta has the characteristics of being hot, oily and light. Summer season is said to be the season of pitta. Pitta dosha is the energy of digestion and governs the metabolism and transformation that takes place in the body. Pitta predominately controls how we digest food and discriminate between right and wrong. Pitta dosha concerns itself with the digestion power or ‘agni’ and makes sure it does not go into an overdrive causing you discomfort and stomach related ailments. It functions through carrier substances such as organic acids, hormones, enzymes and bile. The main location of pitta in the body are the small intestines, stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, blood and eyes. It is known to provide heat and energy to the body through the breakdown of complex food molecules and governs all the processes related to conversion and transformation throughout the mind and body.

People of pitta type are usually intelligent people and are governed by the emotions of joy, willpower, courage, anger, jealousy and mental perception and.

Physical Characteristics of Pitta Dosha

People of pitta body type are usually of medium height and have a delicate and slender body frame. Their muscle development is moderate and usually have a fair or reddish kind of complexion. They are blessed with a soft skin and hair is usually silky but more on the thinner side and may have a tendency for premature greying. The colour of their eyes usually range from green, grey or copper brown and be of medium prominence.

The pitta people have a strong metabolism and good digestion which results in them having a strong appetite. They have a natural craving for both sweet and bitter food items and may take food and liquids in large quantities.

The Pitta Mind

People with pitta body type have a sharp mind with excellent concentration powers. They tend to quickly comprehend situations and react with agility. They are considered to be good orators and generally possess good management and leadership skills. They are usually competitive by nature and enjoy challenges.

Characteristics of Imbalanced Pitta Dosha:

When there is an excess accumulation of pitta in the body, you may experience the following:

1. Excess generation of heat in the body
2. Acid reflux, Gas, Indigestion
3. Inflammation of the joints
4. Nausea, Diarrhea or Constipation
5. Anger and Irritability
6. Bad breath
7. Body odour
8. Excessive sweating

Balancing Pitta Dosha Through Diet

Before understanding how to balance pitta dosha, it will be useful to know the causes of pitta imbalance in the body. There are a lot of factors that contribute towards accumulation of pitta dosha or pitta imbalance. Some of the most notable among them are:

1. Exposure to pitta opposing or provoking diet
2. Excessive consumption of preservatives
3. Exposure to the sun
4. Exposure to too many chemicals
5. Emotional or physical stress

Ayurveda prescribes simple yet effective pitta remedies, applying which, you can easily get rid of the pitta imbalance in the body. These methods include a pitta pacifying ayurvedic diet that aids in cleansing the body of all the harmful and toxic waste material and regularizing the bowel movements for a happy and healthy gut. Doing so on a regular basis will calm the body and allow it to function properly. Here’s your guide to a wonderful pitta pacifying diet, following which you can easily tackle the problem of how to control pitta and feel healthy at the same time.

Pitta is pacified by consuming a combination of fresh, cooling, grounding and carbohydrate rich foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables work best to control pitta dosha. Fruits that are sweet to taste and slightly astringent help pacify pitta. When picking pitta pacifying foods, it is important to distinguish between the tastes as anything sweet can work in your favor, but a fruit or vegetable that is bitter to taste can work against your body. So anything that tastes bitter among the specified pitta pacifying foods category needs to be discarded immediately. Also, fruits, vegetables and juices are best enjoyed alone and not as an accompaniment to any other food. Best would be to have it 30 minutes before or an hour later to any meal. It will help you digest the food properly and make the maximum of your diet.

1. Fruits:
Apples, apricots, berries, cherries, coconut, dates, pear, papaya, plums, pomegranate, mango, orange, melons, watermelon, strawberries, figs and grapes

2. Vegetables:
Avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cilantro/coriander, peas, pumpkin, radishes, cabbage, sweet potato, spinach, lettuce, okra, cucumber, potatoes, leafy greens, and mushrooms among others.

3. Grains:
Barley, couscous, oats, quinoa, granola, wheat, tapioca, wheat bran, pasta, pancakes, amaranth and rice (basmati. among others.

Grains to avoid: Corn, buckwheat, millet, museli, rye, yeasted bread, polenta and brown rice.

4. Legumes:
Legumes are astringent in nature and therefore, help pacify pitta. One must include the following legumes in everyday diet: Black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, soya beans, tofu, lima beans, mung dal and black-eyed peas.

Legumes to avoid: Soy meat, miso, urad dal, and soy sauce. These things have high salty content and can aggravate pitta dosha.

5. Dairy products:
Unsalted butter, cow’s milk, cottage cheese, goat’s cheese, ghee, ice cream, yogurt and goat’s milk.

Dairy products to avoid: Salted butter, buttermilk, frozen yogurt, sour cream, hard cheese, and fruit or preservative based yogurts.

6. Nuts & seeds:
Most nuts and seeds are known to have high oil content in them and so are advised to be kept outside of the pitta diet chart. However, there are some nuts and seeds that can be consumed in moderation to tackle the issue of how to reduce pitta from the body in a healthy manner. Pitta diet friendly nuts & seeds include: almonds (soaked & peeled., flaxseeds, coconuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and popcorns (unsalted & plain.

Nuts & seeds to avoid: Cashew nuts, almonds with skin, pine nuts, pecans, pistachios, tahini, walnuts, sesame seeds, chia seeds and peanuts

7. Meats:
Animal meat that is sweet in taste and dry, works best to reduce pitta. The meats that you can consume in your diet include chicken, shrimp, rabbit, venison, fish (freshwater., eggs (white. and buffalo meat.

Meats to avoid: Beef, egg yolk, duck, pork, salmon, seafood, sardines, lamb, fish (saltwater., tuna fish and turkey.

8. Oils:
Coconut oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, primrose oil, sunflower oil, soy oil, ghee and walnut oil.

Oils to avoid: Almond oil, sesame oil, corn oil and apricot oil

9. Spices:
Spices play a very integral role in our cooking. You can have these spices to balance Pitta: Basil, black pepper, coriander, ginger, fennel, mint, orange peel, saffron, peppermint, cinnamon, dill, cardamom, parsley and vanilla.

Spices to avoid: Bay leaf, garlic, mace, hing, nutmeg, mustard seeds, salt, sage, thyme, cloves, fenugreek, rosemary and mace.

10. Sweeteners:
Sweet food items are known to balance pitta and should be taken in moderate quantity. Sweeteners to eat: Maple syrup, dates, barley syrup

Sweeteners to avoid: Honey, jaggery, molasses, white sugar

For a person who has excess of pitta dosha, must take care of the below given pointers:

1. Favour cool over warm or hot
2. Nourishing & light food must take precedence over dense or heavy food items
3. Dry food over liquid help curb pitta dosha
4. Mild drinks like fresh juices over hard ones like alcohol or caffeine based drinks

Pitta dosha pacifying yoga

Yoga is a great workout as well as a spiritual practice to be incorporated in one’s ayurvedic daily routine for balancing a person’s health foundation. Yoga always benefit the most when balancing is done according to the dosha one has as it makes easier to practice the pose. Those with pitta dosha are basically the ones who perspire a lot. They easily get irritated in hot weather and prefer cooler climates. The main body organs like eyes, skin, liver, brain and intestines are ruled by pitta and thus its imbalance creates problems like rashes, heartburn, fever, infection etc. Pitta also has psychological imbalance effects like feelings of anger, anxiety and hatred. People with pitta dosha are also prone to mental disorders. Thus, it is important to maintain the balance by doing Yoga for pitta dosha.

The pitta pacifying yoga for an individual should promote empathy, recognition and calm efforts. Pitta dosha is ruled by fire and water and the energy is associated with not just digestion but also enzymatic and endocrine systems as recommended by ayurveda. It helps in digestion of nutrients providing energy and vigor to the body. There are many good postures in yoga that help in providing stability to the pitta dosha. It is very important to know that not too many strenuous backbends should be performed as they heat up the body fast.

Pranayama

The easiest yoga for pitta imbalance is pranayama, which focuses on the cooling and systematic breathing. According to yoga, exhaling through mouth is a good way to release heat and helps balance the pitta dosha in the long run. Pranayama help in treating body ulcers that pitta body types are prone to. Sitali or cool breath practice is a part of this pitta yoga and doing at least ten rounds of this helps tremendously. For sitali, one should roll their tongue around the lips and inhale through the rolled tongue, then close your mouth and exhale through the nose.

Surya Namaskar or Vinyasa
Another effective way to do yoga for pitta dosha is by doing vinyasa or rounds of sun salutations. This asana should be done with slow and relaxed poses so as to bring calmness and cooling to the body.

Anjanasayana and Salsbasana
Anjanasayana or crescent lunge and Salsbasana or locust pose should be done in a relaxed manner, to bring more coolness to the body.

Uppavistakonasana
Forward bends or folds are cooling in nature and uppavistakonasana is a good one as it cools off the Pitta fire in the pelvis area.

Pascimottasana
Pascimottasana, or the Pigeon pose is a one with forward bend that is also good to perform.

Ardhamatsyendrasana
For the abdominal areas, twists like ardhamatsyendrasana or the half lord of the fishes pose is also very balancing in nature. One needs to stand straight and then bend forwards in bow pose and cobra pose in a bid to do pitta pacifying yoga.

Meditation

Another way to do yoga for pitta body type is to meditate with some nadisodhana or alternate nostril breathing in a seated position. Maitreya meditation overcomes the pitta dosha problems like hunger, short temper, impatience and anger. The pitta mind also responds well to the meditation that is centered on sounds that are soothing, good smells and bright colors. Make sure to surround yourself with cool and light colors, focus the gawk on an unruffled and soothing yantra that will guide your mind into a peaceful and serene state.

There are also restorative child pose and fish pose asanas that help balance the pitta. These poses help in being peace to the body and mind.

It is also important to know that while doing yoga poses for pitta dosha one must try to avoid doing headstands as they accumulate too much heat in the head and eyes, aggravating the condition. Since eyes are controlled by pitta, this creates serious imbalance.

For the pitta pacifying yoga one needs to follow some basic guidelines by doing asanas and poses that are fun to do and not pushing yourself too much. A very strenuous pose may heat up the body, aggravating the pitta. Also, always try to enjoy movements in the poses that help to make them more relaxed. While gazing on the ground downwards at the horizon and practicing yoga with closed eyes one can achieve the desired results faster. Make sure to keep changing the yoga asanas as monotony gets boring for the body as well. Always practice the pitta balancing yoga in a cool area so as to help get over the condition faster. Also focus more on inhalation as the cool breath helps to diffuse the heated pitta dosha faster. Exhalation helps to release and let go of built up anger and frustration easily. Breathing should also be regulated for the back body area as well as the front, especially the ribs. Make sure to notice the ribs position every time you perform an asana and try to inhale so as to draw them back into the body.

Kapha dosha is the energy of building and lubrication that provides the body with physical form, structure and smooth functioning of all its parts. It is the principal that holds the cells together which forms the muscle, fat and bones in the body. The main location of kapha in the body are chest, throat, lungs, head, fatty tissues, connective tissues, ligaments and tendons. It aids in lubricating the joints, store energy and give bulk to the tissues.

A person governed by kapha dosha usually have a strong built and strong stamina and are blessed with good digestion. Kapha people are usually warm, loving in nature, easy going, relaxed and slow paced. They are compassionate and non-judgmental people and have a graceful appearance. They do not get upset easily, are thoughtful and are known to be possessive by nature and so hold on to things and people for a long period of time. They are usually good in money matters and possess good amount of wealth.

Physical Characteristics Of Kapha

Kapha people usually constitute well-developed bodies but also have a tendency to carry excess weight. Their chests are expanded and braod and their veins and tendons are not visible because of thick layer of skin and good muscle development. They usually have fair complexion and have lustrous and oily skin. Their hair is thick, dark and of wavy kind and eyes are often dense and large and of black or blue shade.

They have a regular appetite but due to slow digestion they tend to consume less amount of food. Know how to improve digestion. They possess good stamina and generally remain happy, healthy and peaceful.

The Kapha Mind

People of kappa mind set are usually calm and do not get aggravated easily. They are of forgiving and peaceful nature and believe in maintaining harmony in their surroundings. However they do exhibit traits of greed, attachment, envy and possessiveness. Though they have slow comprehension, but once they understand a thing the knowledge is retained and stays with them for long.

Ayurvedic & Medicinal plants can be used to treat various ailments using the Ayurvedic home remedies.

Characteristics Of Imbalanced Kapha Dosha

People governed by kapha dosha are said to be active but in case of kapha imbalance in the body they can face the problems of weight gain, fluid retention, allergies and fatigue among others. Kapha imbalance in the body can also cause ailments like diabetes, depression, asthma and excessive of sleep. People with imbalanced kapha become quite stubborn and unreasonable.

Signs That Point Towards Increase Of Kapha In The Body Include:

1. Heaviness
2. Lethargy
3. Laziness
4. Excessive sleep
5. Constipation
6. Poor appetite
7. Nausea
8. Excess salivation
9. Diarrhoea
10. Indigestion
11. Sweet taste in mouth

Balancing Kapha Dosha Through Diet

What we eat can have a positive as well as adverse effect on us and our body. According to Ayurveda, it is important to eat a healthy diet in order to both remove excess of kapha from the body as well as balance it. Because kahpa is easily aggravated by heavy, pungent and oily substances, therefore, when it comes to the question of how to remove kapha from body, a kapha pacifying diet of light, dry and warm foods is recommended.

Here is a guide to what to eat and what to remove from your diet to balance kapha in your body.

1. Liquids:
A day of liquid diet per week can help you balance as well as remove excess kapha from your body. Ingesting fresh fruit and vegetable juices & smoothie and hot beverages like herbal tea & soups are the best examples of a kapha pacifying diet.

2. Dairy Products:
While dairy products are known to aggravate kapha, at the same time, consuming their low fat and calorie versions can help you find an answer to the question of how to balance kapha dosha via kapha pacifying diet. Low fat milk is a good option. Always boil it before consuming. You can also add a teaspoon of turmeric or ginger to it as it helps in reducing any kapha increasing qualities of milk. Also, consuming yogurt or ghee made of low fat milk is a good example of kapha pacifying diet.

3. Fruits:
Light fruits like apples, pears, watermelon, pomegranates, apricots and cranberries etc., form an integral part of a kapha diet. They are any day better than consuming their heavier or sour counterparts like bananas, oranges, pineapples, avocado, coconut and dates among others.

4. Sweeteners:
Except for honey, most of the other sweeteners must be avoided if you are looking at definitive answers to the question of how to remove kapha from body. Honey is considered to be the only sweetener that can best pacify kapha and hence advised for consumption. To help release excess kapha from the body, a teaspoon of raw honey each day can be made a part of your kapha diet.

5. Hot/Warm Beverages:
Herbal teas and soups are advised to be included in your everyday kapha diet, as they tend to stimulate the digestive system as well as sharpen the taste buds. Read more on different types of taste. Wondering how to remove kapha from body? Drink 3-4 cups of teas like ginger, mint or cinnamon tea can do the trick. To make this tea:

1. Boil 4-5 cups of water in a pan
2. Add ½ inch of ginger and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes
3. Take the pan off the heat and steep 1-2 herbal flavoured tea bag in it
4. Remove the tea bag after a while and store the tea in a tea pot
5. Drink it through the day as part of your everyday kapha diet

6. Spices:
Remove salt from your diet. Instead use pungent spices like pepper, mustard seeds, ginger, cloves and cayenne in your diet. These spices will not only stimulate and balance kapha but also make your digestive system to function properly.

7. Oils And Nuts:
Kapha diet suggests intake of lighter oils like olive oil, almond oil, sunflower oil and pure ghee. Also, favouring pumpkin and sunflower seeds is a better option over heavy nuts like cashews, pistachios and pine nuts among others.

8. Light Meats Over Red Meats:
For those who love their non-vegetarian offerings, lighter and organic meats like white chicken, eggs, turkey and other variety of seafood is recommended over lamb, pork or beef.

9. Grains:
Grains form an integral part of our diet. So, to redeuce kapha, the diet should consist of barley, corn, millet rye and buckwheat is favoured over a diet of Oats, Rice and Wheat.

An ideal kapha diet is the one that fills you up with energy and vigour. If you want to know how to balance kapha dosha, the key lies in eating at designated times, eating healthy and in moderation. An ideal diet should consist of three meals a day wherein the heaviest meal of the day should be had in the morning followed by a hearty lunch and light dinner. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours of rest to your stomach between each meal and must avoid going to bed immediately post any meal. Include a bit of physical activity in your everyday regime and you will be able to live a healthy and balanced life.

Kapha Dosha Home Remedies

To get the toxins and stress out of the system, the following things should be included in your everyday regime.

1. Seek newness:
Kapha is usually associated with the qualities of cold, heavy and dense and so require constant stimulation to keep them hooked and interested in a thing. Bringing about a change in your everyday routine and introducing new things on a constant basis can provide you with the required stimulation and excitement.

2. Exercise:
Any form of physical activity is good for the body. Indulging in yoga, walking, running, swimming etc., not only aids in keeping your body fit but also elimination of harmful toxins from the body by regularizing your bowel movements and keeping the gut clean. It also helps in building stamina and keep you strong. Also Learn about the various benefits of yoga.

3. Stay warm:
People of kapha dosha are normally sensitive to cold and damp places. It is therefore advised for them to stay warm. Using heat pads or wearing warm layering of clothes can benefit you to a great extent.

4. Detoxify to remove kapha dosha:
Try the detoxification diet. Doing it once a week can help remove free radicals from the body and remove any kind of congestion from the digestive system. Accumulation of waste in the intestine can lead to the problems of stomach disorders, indigestion, acidity and gas. A liquid and fruit based diet will help clear the blockages from the system and keep your digestive system and gut healthy and clean.

5. Favour warm substances:
If you need answer to the question of how to balance kapha dosha, start including warm substances in your daily diet. Warm beverages like herbal teas and soups and spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger etc., keeps the kapha stimulated.

6. Perform Ayurvedic neti pot:
Nasal cleansing aids in removing congestion of any kind from the lungs and the respiratory tract. Performing it every morning can help balance kapha dosha.

Kapha Dosha Pacifying Yoga

As the main sites of kapha are the lungs, stomach, and sinuses, poses to open the chest are highly indicated. Inversions are great for kapha as they stimulate circulation and help bring a feeling of lightness to the body. (Be sure to practice safe inversions, minimizing the pressure on the cervical spine.)

1. Surya Namaskar
Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutations invite heat and mobility to counteract the cold and stable qualities of kapha. They’re a great way to get the circulation and lymph moving first thing in the morning.

2. Parivrtta Utkatasana
This pose builds heat in the legs while simultaneously pushing out the stagnation that can build up in the chest and lungs from excess kapha. Moving from side to side with the breath, as well as longer holds, can be beneficial.

3. Ardh Chandrasana
Stimulating the side waist is a good way to ward off mandagni, or slow digestion, because it moves and awakens the digestive organs and stretches the entire abdomen. The side-to-side motion also offers spaciousness to the lungs, where excess mucus can build up from excess kapha.

4. Virabhadrasana I & II
Standing poses, especially with the arms and/or gaze raised, will help bring more heat and lightness into the body. You can do Virabhadrasana I and II (warrior I and II) and utthita parsvakonasana (extended side angle). This is the perfect pose for a long, heat-building hold to burn kapha. Keeping arms wide open brings space into the front body where the kapha dosha lives.

5. Utthita Parsvakonasana
Similar to Virabhadrasana 1 & II, this extended side angle standing pose, will help bring more heat and lightness into the body.

6. Trikonasana
The lateral flexion in the Triangle Pose, much like in Half Moon, aids in sluggish digestion and opens the lungs and chest space to get things moving. This pose is also great to challenge and strengthen the legs, back, and core.

7. Vriksasana
Standing on one leg means that all the other limbs are off the earth, balancing the earth element of kapha. Turning the gaze up while in Tree can invite even more spaciousness and lightness into the posture, to counteract the dense heaviness of kapha.

8. Urdhva Dhanurasana
Backbends can also help release tension in the areas of the chest and lungs. Urdhva dhanurasana (upward facing bow) is a great option—it is typically more challenging, it brings more heat/blood flow to the head through gravity, and it opens the chest. This supine backbend massages all the digestive organs and stimulates agni, our internal digestive fire.

9. Purvottanasana
Purvottanasana or Upward Plank pose is a great heat-building challenge for the arms, back and legs, and also opens the chest.

10. Salamba Sirsasana
When you reverse the blood flow in the body, accumulated fluid in the ankles and legs (which can be caused by too much kapha) gets the chance to move and drain. Headstand also shifts the tendency of kapha to get stuck in the same old routines, by offering a whole new perspective on the world.

11. Natarajasana & Salabhasana
Natarajasana (king dancer) and salabhasana (locust) are also great backbends for kapha. Forward bends also bring more heat to the chest by compressing that area, which helps to counter the cooling guna of kapha.