Summer is the season of sun, heat, intensity and fire – a celebration after the cold winter months. Depending on your constitution, summer may either aggravate your innate tendencies or compensate for your imbalances. For example, if you struggle with cold hands and feet in the winters, you will likely enjoy warm summer temperatures. If your body generally heats up quickly, you may find it challenging to tolerate summer heat.
How Do I Identify if my Pitta is imbalanced?
with a unique constitution and needs individualized care to regain their original state of balance. Online dosha quizzes can be a fun tool. However, they do not reveal the complete picture of your constitution. A Naturopathic intake incorporating Ayurvedic assessment includes physical exam (including tongue & pulse diagnosis) and complete health history to identify your balance of Vata, Pitta & Kapha. Furthermore, skilled practitioners can identify which organ system or tissue is being impacted by Pitta. For example, if Pitta accumulates in the mind, you may feel more angry or short-tempered, but if Pitta has increases in the blood, you may experience high blood pressure. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, tailored treatments can target the root cause of your health concern and assist in restoring balance.Pitta can accumulate in the mind, specific organ systems, channels or tissues and can manifest as health concerns such as:
- Acne & Skin Conditions
- Heartburn, Ulcers
- Body Odour
- Inflammation
- Bleeding & Infections
- High Blood Pressure
- Loose Stools
- Excess Sweating & Body Heat
- Red Eyes, Light Sensitivity
- Anger, Frustration & Irritability
- Judgement, Criticism, Impatience
What Can You Do?
Tips to Stay Cool this Summer and Pacify Pitta:
- Choose foods that are cooling energetically such as: cucumbers, dark leafy greens, mint and melons.
- Choose flavours that are bitter, astringent & naturally sweet – fresh local greens make great salads and ripe, juicy fruits make a delicious summer snack. Minimize flavours that are excessively spicy, sour and salty.
- Try incorporating coconut into your diet (coconut water, oil, cream etc.)
- Stay hydrated & avoid ice cold drinks. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, cold drinks are not advised to help you cool down.
- Avoid overexerting yourself and plan your exercise away from the hottest time of the day
- Be sun smart and stay out of direct sun during peak hours (~11 a.m. – 3 p.m.)
- Observe situations where you are controlling or pushing yourself or others. Bring awareness into surrendering and allowing.
- Enjoy essential oils with floral tones such as jasmine, rose or lavender.
If you think you may have a Pitta imbalance, summer is the best time to address it. Once you understand your unique constitution, steps can be taken to harmonize yourself with the changing seasons under the guidance of your naturopathic doctor and Ayurvedic practitioner. Making simple but consistent changes to your lifestyle and diet, in correlation with the change of seasons will allow you to experience your full energy and vitality this summer.
Dr. Leena Athparia is one of the few licensed naturopathic doctors in Toronto with extensive training in Ayurvedic Medicine. Blending modern diagnostic tools with traditional systems, she treats the person as whole, and uses Ayurvedic assessments to identify their unique constitution. With a strong focus in preventative medicine, Dr. Athparia emphasizes nutrition & lifestyle according to Ayurvedic dosha types and integrates Ayurvedic therapies into her naturopathic practice. A graduate of the Canadian College of Medicine, Dr. Athparia pursued further training in Ayurveda & meditation in India. She practices in Markham with a focus in digestion, travel health and musculoskeletal conditions. To contact Dr. Athparia, visit www.doctorleena.ca or email [email protected]