Understanding Pitta Prakiti

Understanding Pitta Prakiti

 

1.  Medium body frame, and weight

2.  Intolerance to heat

3.  Dislikes hot drinks, food and environment

4.  Excessive hunger and thirst

5.  Rapid digestion and metabolism

6.  Lots of moles, freckles, or Pimples

7.  Balding and hair-falling tendency

8.  Profuse sweat and urine, strong body odour

9.  Soft, firm joints and muscles

10.                  Medium fertility

11.                  Sharp, intelligent and creative in nature

12.                  Radiant, valorous, proud

13.                  Tendency towards anger, irritability under stress

14.                  Fond of arguing, difficult to subjugate

15.                  Moderate in strength, wealth, lifespan and knowledge

16.                  Requires a job in cooler atmosphere with creative, intelligent work

17.                  Dreams contain fieriness, gold, sun lightening, quarrels, struggles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The theme of pitta type is “intense”. Anyone with bright red happy face contains a good deal of pitta, as does anyone who is ambitious, Sharp-witted, outspoken, bold, argumentative or jealous. The combative side of pitta is a natural tendency, but it does not have to be expressed. When in balance, pittas are warm and ardent in their emotions, loving and content. Mocking, critical speech identifies our pitta imbalance.

 

Physically, pittas are medium in size and well proportioned. They maintain their weight without drastic fluctuations; it is not difficult for them to gain or lose a few kilos at will. Facial features are well proportioned. Eyes are medium in size, often with a penetrating glance. Hands and feet are medium; too, Joints are firm.

 

The hair is usually straight and fine, red blond or sandy in color and tends to gray too early. Baldness, thinning hair or a receding hairline is also a sign of strong or excess pitta. The skin is warm, soft, and fair; it does not tan easily and often burns without tanning at all (particularly if the hair is fair and fine). This gives pittas another reason to stay out of sun, which is their natural bent.

 

Pittas generally have sharp, penetrating intellects and good powers of concentration. Their innate tendency is to be orderly and to manage their energies, money and actions efficiently. They are calculative in spending money but love to have fine things around them. They tend to respond to the world.

 

 

 

Heat is expressed everywhere in pittas-by their typically short temper, warm hands and feet. Burning sensations in the eyes, skin, stomach or intestines are likely to appear if pitta goes out of balance. Because they are fire themselves, pittas are reluctant in having long exposure to the sun. They develop heat fatigue very readily and cannot cope with hard physical labor. Although they are ambitious and show good leadership qualities, pittas can be cutting and rough in manner, which alienates others.

 

 

Pittas speak precisely and talkatively. They often make good public speakers. They hold strong opinions and like to argue. They like challenges and meet them vigorously, but with only medium physical energy. Pittas stamina is moderate, and even though they have extremely strong digestion-the basis of their energy, it can be abused. But like other dosa types, pitta type has two sides. In balance, they are sweet joyous, confident and brave. If out of balance, they incline toward anger as their characteristic negative emotion and stress easily brings this out. They can be irritable and impatient, demanding and perfectionists, particularly if out of balance. Pitta type people can add or remove habits almost at will but they may have difficulty in distinguishing good and bad habits.

 

 

 

 

 

You may be a pitta personality if you

 

·      Feel frantically hungry if dinner is half an hour late

·      Live by your watch (generally an expensive one) and regret having your time wasted

·      Wake up at night feeling hot and thirsty

·      Take command of a situation or feel that you should

·      Learn from experience that others find you too demanding sarcastic, or critical at times

·      Have a determined step while walking

 

Diet guidelines for pitta types:

	More	Less	Avoid
Fruits	Grapes, coconut, avocado pomegranate, sweet lime, melon, banana, apple, custard apple, guava, pear	All other Fruits	Very sour fruits
Vegetables	Asparagus, cucumber, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, onion, garlic, radish pumpkin, bottle gourd, Snake gourd, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, lettuce, potato, sweet potato, zucchini, yam okra, green leafy vegetables	Carrot, beet, tomato, Onion, Garlic, radish.
Grains	Wheat, rice, barley, ragi	Com, millet, rye	White-flour (Pizza, Bread)
Dairy	Fresh milk, butter, ghee, buttermilk	Curd, cheese, sour cream, preserved milk
Nuts	Soaked or lightly boiled almonds, cashews, peanuts, in small quantity	Raw or roasted nuts
Pulses	Mung, soya beans	All other Pulses
Oils	Coconut oil, sunflower oil olive oil	Sesame oil, almond oil corn oil
Sweeteners	Jaggery, unrefined sugar	Honey, molasses	White Sugar
Spies	Coriander, cardamom, fennel, Pepper, ginger, mustard cinnamon, fenugreek, clove, capsicum, cumin, celery		Pickle, spicy condiments sour salads, dressings, vinegar, red & green chilli

Dosa Imbalances – Vikrti

 

The mind – body complex functions normally when the dosas are in balance. When they go out of balance, it leads to some malfunction in the system. If this imbalance stays continuously, it will eventually lead to a set of symptoms for an ailment corresponding to the vitiated dosa. Severity of the ailment depends on severity of the dosa imbalance. If the imbalance is attended to and corrected regularly, it will degenerate into a chronic condition. Let us now look at the mechanism of dosa imbalance and the initial symptoms so they can help us get an idea of what dosa might be vitiated in our system.

 

How your vata gets imbalanced?

 

·      Starving eating less food, habitual skipping of meals or ignoring hunger pangs.

·      Regular consumption of alcohol, tobacco or drugs

·      Staying up late night

·      Excessive Sex

·      Excessive Exercise

·      Insufficient Sleep

·      Erratic routine

·      Excessive exposure to visual or audio stimuli

·      Strenuous work, or over-work, physical or mental

·      Stressful lifestyle resulting in anxiety

·      Travelling (being in a moving vehicle)

·      Sudden change in lifestyle (new job, moving to a new location)

·      Anxiety, worry, or fear

·      Mental distress, Shock, sorrow

·      Change of Weather

·      Cold, dry or windy weather

·      Continuous intake of vata – aggravating foods

 

Vata aggravating foods are characterized as cold, dry rough or light with bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes.

 

·      Can cause vata imbalance even in small amount: White flour (cakes, biscuits, white bread, pizza etc.), soft drinks, white sugar, chocolates, deep fried food, fermented food, alcohol.

·      Aggravate vata only when taken in excess: Potato, cauliflower, cabbage, dry peas, all dals except mung, white rice, groundnut (Peanuts), fried nuts, corn, dry oats, rye.

 

How your pitta gets imbalanced?

 

·      Starving, ignoring hunger pangs, impure food and water.

·      Reacting to stress with anger and frustration

·      Placing excessive demands on oneself and others

·      Extreme, intense or passionate activity

·      Extreme exposure to visual or audio stimuli

·      Living under constant pressure of deadlines

·      Handling very hot (temperature) or acidic substances

·      Staying up late at night

·      Anger

·      Fatigue from heat and sunburn

·      Hot and humid weather

·      Continuous intake of pitta - aggravating foods

 

 

 

Pitta aggravating foods are spicy, sour and salty with extreme tastes and extreme temperatures.

 

·      Can cause pitta imbalance even in small amounts : Pickles, sauces, vinegar, food containing yeast, deep fried food, alcohol, stale food, artificially colored and flavored food, ice cream, chocolate, white sugar, candies, salted food, soft drinks, white flour (cakes, biscuits, white bread), red and green chili.

·      Aggravate pitta only when taken in excess: All dals except mung dal, tomato, mushroom carrot, beets, pepper, ginger, mustard, garlic, cloves, sour and unripe fruit, cheese, sour curd, sour cream, sesame oil, all nuts except coconut.

 

When pitta is increased

 

Pitta is a combination of the elements of fire and water. Therefore, general symptoms of excess pitta will be heat in the body, burning sensations, anger etc.

 

How do you feel on a pitta day?

 

·      Excessive thirst or hunger

·      Heartburn and acidity

·      Burning sensation in eyes, hands, sole

·      Hot flushes in body

·      Skin rashes, acne and boils

·      Vomiting bile (yellowish water)

·      Hypersensitivity to light

·      Strong body odour

·      Nausea and headaches

·      Loose motions

·      Snappy speech and actions

·      Judgmental or criticizing tendencies

·       Anger, irritability, hostility, impatience and restlessness

·      Bitter taste in the mount

·      Frustrated

·      Argumentative and aggressive attitude

·      Sensitivity to heat and desire for cool environment

 

What to do on a pitta day?

 

·      Cool or warm but not hot food

·      Moderately heavy food

·      Bitter, sweet and astringent tastes

·      Less butter and added ghee; more milk, grains beans and vegetables

·      Less salt, less spicy, less sour and no overeating

·      Cool, refreshing food in summer with less salt, oil and spices

·      Salads and legumes with bitter, astringents taste

·      Eat in soothing and orderly atmosphere

·      Avoid pickles, fermented foods, fried foods, yogurt, sour cream and cheese; fresh lemon juice can be used in small quantity instead of vinegar in vegetable salad

·      Breakfast – fruits, juices, cereals, apple juice.

·      Pitta tea

·      Cool (not refrigerated) water

·      A head massage, warm oil body massage and cool shower

·      Asanas followed by pranayamas, sudarsan kriya and meditation

·      Listen to relaxing music and sound of flowing water

·      If pitta is aggravated, two teaspoonful’s of ghee in warm milk is good to take as dinner or breakfast.

For chronic pitta imbalance

Avoid	Intense sun exposure, midday sun, exposure to heat, arguments
Herbs Suggested	Aloe vera, Amla, Amrt, Brahmi, Calamus, Guduci, lotus, Manjista, rose, Sankapuspi, sandalwood, Satavari, Yastimadhu
Diet	Raw food, salads and juices in summers. No spicy, Pungent or oily food.
Atmosphere	Cool and calming atmosphere
Massage Oils	Coconut oil, sunflower oil, ghee. Brahmi and Bhringraj oils promote hair growth
Essential Oils	Sandalwood, rose, jasmine, lotus, honeysuckle, vetivert (khus)
Colours	White, Blue, cool green. No bright or strong colours (red, black, grey, brown)
Ayurvedic Therapies	Netra tarpana, Sirodhara, Nasya.
Exercise	Swimming, water sports, sports that requires medium exertion, non-competitive sports
Massage	Regular, medium-pressure massage with warm coconut or sunflower oil from an Ayurveda therapist. Daily self-massage with warm coconut oil or sunflower oil for five or ten minutes.
Asanas	Moderate speed suryanamaskar (sun salutation), candranamaskar (moon salutation); sitting, lying asanas.
Pranayama	Shitali Pranayama, sitkari Pranayama, Nadisodhana Pranayama, Sudarsan Kriya
Gems	Rudraksa, emerald, blue sapphire, moonstone, pearl
Metals	Silver, white gold
Sounds	Relaxing, instrumental music, nature sounds, sound of water.
Recommended	Ghee, cool breeze, moonlight, water bodies, gardens, flowers. Drinking sufficient water or liquids.

Effect of sattva, rajas and tamas on vata, pitta and kapha personalities:

When vata prakrti person is sattvic

Energetic, adaptable, flexible, communicative, belongingness, enthusiasm, positive, initiator

When in a vata prakrti person, rajas is imbalanced Indecisive, unreliable, restless, disturbed, anxious, talkative, disruptive, superficial

When in a vata prakrti person, tamas is imbalanced Fearful, depressed, self-destructive, mentally disturbed, suicidal, sexual perversions

When pitta prakrti person is sattvic

Intelligent, clear, perceptive, discriminating, warm, friendly, ability to lead

When in a pitta prakrti person, rajas is imbalanced

Wilful, impulsive, ambitious, aggressive, manipulating, controlling, reckless, proud, vain

When in a pitta prakrti person, tamas is imbalanced Hateful, vile, vindictive, destructive, psychopath, likely criminal, drug dealer or mafia

When kapha prakrti person is sattvic

Calm, peaceful, content, stable, consistent, loyal, loving, devoted, nurturing, faithful

When in a kapha prakrti person, rajas is imbalanced Attached, greedy, materialistic, controlling, clinging, sentimental, indulgent

When in a kapha prakrti person, tamas is imbalanced

Dull, gross, lethargic, apathetic, untidy, coarse, uncomprehending, insensitive, likely thief

 

How to promote sattva

For practical purposes, the best ways to increase sattva in our being are through diet, lifestyle and spiritual practice.

Diet: A sattvic diet improves mental quality and energy, thereby improving the state of consciousness. It purifies the body and calms the mind; also helps restore the harmony and balance of body and mind.

Rajasic foods stimulates the body and mind into action but in excess. These foods can cause hyperactivity, restlessness, anger, irritability and sleeplessness. They also increase the level of toxins in the blood.

Tamasic foods are those which dull the mind and bring about inertia. Tamasic food can also increase the aggressive quality of rajas towards violence.

Lifestyle: Since we interact with our environment through the senses, it may be said that health results from our ability to use our senses wisely, in a balanced way.

1.  Speaking and hearing: Excessive use of speech leads to rajas, although when we speak of, or listen to, knowledge of the self, rajas does not increase. Also, listening to harmonious, melodious music increases sattva but very loud music or music with a hard beat increases rajas.

2.  Touch, including sex, stimulates rajas; and excessive indulgence in sex or obsessing on sex, increases both rajas and tamas.

3.  Visual stimuli: Excessive visual activity, as in too many hours spent watching TV, films, video games or computers imbalances the system.

4.  Smell: Strong smells cause tamas to rise, while sattvic or pure scents, as in sandalwood or the fragrance of flowers, calm the mind. Ayurveda encourages adorning the body with flowers and the use of sandalwood as perfume.

5.  Taste: Enjoying our food too often or in large amounts increases both rajas and tamas.

Therefore, the quest for pleasure which is at the basis of all sense stimulation, when taken to excess, leads to imbalance and, thereby, ill health. Also, a vicious cycle can be established in as much as increased activity raises rajas and the rise of rajas in the system creates a craving for intensity. This addictive tendency is also true of excessive tamas which causes an undue need for sleep, while too much sleep increases tamas. Therefore, the key to health is a balance between rest and activity.

 

Sleep: A certain amount of Tamas is needed in order for the body to rest, sleep will happen only when Tamas is dominant. As in the case of Rajas this requisite amount of Tamas, is present in grains, pulses and seeds which are usually stored before reaching the consumer and therefore no longer fresh.

Other points regarding lifestyle travelling (sitting in rapidly moving vehicles), excessive walking, as well any activity taken to excess, will increase rajas in the system. Conversely, absence or insufficient activity and movement will result in increased tamas.

Sattvic therapies work through sattvic qualities of love, peace and non-violence.

Rajasic therapies work through rajasic qualities of stimulation, incitation and agitation.

Tamasic therapies work through sedation, sleep and grounding.

Ayurvedic therapies are primarily sattvic and employ rajasic and tamasic modalities under special circumstances.

Ayurvedic psychology aims at moving the mind from tamas to rajas and, eventually to sattva.

 

 

 

Increased Dosas

An excess of one of the dosas in the body can adversely affect our physical health, mind and emotions. Let us examine how such imbalances can be managed by following simple measures.

In general, dosa specific herbs and diet, avoidance of provoking factors like heat or cold, specific asanas, exercises, pranayamas and massage will balance the body and mind.

In an excess of vata-dosa, one can avoid raw, uncooked foods that are light, cold or dry and include more well-cooked, easily digestible foods that have a moderate amount of ghee. Food should be varied and nourishing. All dry foods like dry fruit and nuts should be soaked overnight or left in boiled water to soften.

In an excess of pitta-dosa, one can avoid oily, spicy, hot foods and include more fresh, raw salads, sprouts, fruits, juices and cooling foods and herbs in the diet. Also, ensure that sufficient liquid intake is consumed. Do not consume deep-fried, spicy foods.

In an excess of kapha-dosa, one can avoid mucous-producing food like non-organic dairy products such as processed cheese, cold and non-spiced milk, too much butter, fats and oils, an excess of refined sugars and carbohydrates such as white sugar and flour, and all junk foods.

 

The Beyond or Balanced Personality type (Enlightened masters)

 

·      Perfect balance of body, mind and consciousness

·      Transcendence from the influence of three gunas (though may appear to be affected)

·      Meditation is not a practice for them; life itself is meditation (engrossed in Samadhi)

·      They have deep silence within, even though they speak and interact with the world

·      They perform every task that confronts them, being awake to the need of the world, carry out all actions with great skill and wisdom even whilst established in oneself

·      Perform selfless actions; whole life is service to humankind

·      Embodiment of love. The world benefits from their divine qualities and receives practical knowledge and wisdom

·      Live with humility – yet firm in truth

·      Free from craving, aversion, attachment, fear, pride.

·      Remain calm like an ocean, unaffected by any turbulence

·      Devoid of all desires

·      Transcendence from duality