Summer time - Pitta time
How do I stay in balance?
The damp and cold spring has done honour to Kapha dosha. Cold, damp and heavy are the most important qualities of Kapha. Then, very suddenly, it has become very warm - nature's pitta qualities have taken hold of us. Even though we are very happy about sun, warmth and brightness, we soon seek the cooling shade and the refreshing wet again. With these needs, our mind-body system expresses its need to maintain balance.
Properties of Pitta
Pitta dosha, which is the regulatory force that controls our energy balance, is formed from the elements of fire and water. The most important qualities of Pitta are light, oily, hot, pungent, liquid, sour, moving and corrosive. With these qualities, Pitta expresses itself in nature especially in midsummer and early autumn ("Indian summer"). We experience this season as hot and humid, corresponding to the elements fire and water. The seemingly contradictory nature of Pitta can already be seen in the combination of these elements. The combination of fire and water provides impulsiveness and surprising variety. In nature, we experience this as summer heat that seamlessly transitions into violent and cooling thunderstorms. The times of day with the strongest influence of Pitta are 10 am - 2 pm and 10 pm - 2 am. Especially at these times it is important not to expose oneself too much to the heat (10-14 o'clock) and to allow the digestive fire to rest accordingly (22-02 o'clock).
The Pitta type
Every person has all three doshas in the constitution in different combinations. When Pitta is dominant, Pitta characteristics are expressed in the mind and body. Bold thoughts and plans, euphoric emotions and courageous drive are mental-emotional components of pronounced Pitta. Seemingly inexhaustible energy reserves, great appetite and insensitivity to cold are physical characteristics of Pitta. Pitta people love challenges and extremes. When their fire burns for something, they cannot be stopped. They love beauty and the extraordinary, and they are also ready for extraordinary achievements.
Pitta imbalance
When people with a strong Pitta component forget to pay attention to their natural limits in the heat of their drive, they run the risk of "burning out". Mental signs of such Pitta imbalance are exhaustion, "burnout" and emotional imbalance, which easily ignites in other people as irascibility or cynicism. The main physical symptom of accumulated pitta is heat, which expresses itself in inflammation, first in the mucous membranes (e.g. gastritis or irritable bowel). If inflammation of the mucous membranes is not cured in the early stages, then it can spread to other organs such as the liver, skin, cardiovascular and nervous systems. Constant overheating also manifests itself in hyperacidity of the whole system. In summer, other body types are also at risk of Pitta disorders: Sunburn, summer diarrhoea, fever blisters or other inflammations can occur in anyone due to excessive Pitta influence.
Balancing Pitta
The most important measure to avoid Pitta disturbances is to avoid unprotected exposure to sun and heat in summer. Although brief full-body sunbathing - between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the degree of tanning - without chemical sunscreen is important to produce vitamin D and other sun-dependent messengers, one should not overdo sun exposure. Exposure to the sun unprotected for too long can permanently and dangerously damage the skin. If you cannot avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, headgear, sunglasses, light-proof clothing and sunscreen on unclothed areas of the skin are recommended. This is even more important the more Pitta dominates the constitution.
Diet for Pitta
The diet in summer should be light, yet oily. The flavours sweet, bitter and tart should dominate. We find these in vegetables such as courgettes, asparagus, broccoli, spinach and green leafy salads. Sweet flavours are found in sweet seasonal fruits, carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Since the midday heat can weaken the digestive fire somewhat, in summer the midday meal should not be too heavy. Since with the longer day the digestive fire is still active in the evening, an early evening meal may be somewhat richer than in winter or spring. As cooling spices you can use parsley, coriander (herb and seed), cardamom, anise and fennel well. Wonderful drinks are cooled tea made from mint, lemon balm or sage. Cooled pitta tea is also particularly recommended. A teaspoon to tablespoon of rose hydrosol over these Pitta-balancing foods and drinks adds a special, almost royal touch.
Avoid very spicy, sour, salty and heating foods and drinks on hot days (NB: especially all alcoholic drinks have a heating effect!!!).
Simple tips for hot days
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Recreation and holidays in areas with cool waters and forests
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Sporting activities in the early hours of the morning
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Drink enough
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Respect physical limits and don't overexert yourself.
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