By: Gabrielle Marchese
Keeping our doshas balanced is essential to maintaining a healthy body and mind throughout the year. Seasonal shifts are big news in the world of Ayurveda and can cause doshic imbalances if we aren’t honoring their cycles and living accordingly. While the summer season is a magical time of year, it is also Pitta season, and if we don’t adjust our diets and lifestyle to keep Pitta at bay, we risk accumulating excess heat in the body. A Pitta imbalance can show anger, irritation, loose stools, acid reflux, skin disorders, and more.
Herbs play a decisive role in Ayurveda and are a fantastic way to keep doshas balanced during seasonal transitions. Include some of the following herbs in your self-care regime to prevent Pitta imbalance and feel your best all summer long.
Hibiscus
The bright and beautiful tropical Hibiscus flower is a delicious and highly effective herb for balancing Pitta. There are over 300 species, but Hibiscus sabdariffa has traditionally been used in Ayurveda to treat various health conditions and keep Pitta at bay.
Hibiscus typically grows in warm or tropical climates. The flower has a sweet taste and a cooling effect on the body, making it highly effective for balancing excess Pitta. Some of the benefits of Hibiscus include maintaining healthy skin and hair, supporting the liver, and promoting good circulation and blood health. Hibiscus can be taken internally as a tea for a delicious way to stay cool all season.
Neem
Neem is an evergreen tree that provides a variety of healing benefits. All parts of the Neem tree have been historically used to treat disorders in the mind and body. Neem is a cooling herb that can be used both internally and externally for Pitta-related conditions. It is highly cleansing for the blood and is especially useful for skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, or eczema. Neem is quite bitter in taste, which gives it powerful cooling properties to pacify excess Pitta. It can be applied topically on the skin as oil or taken in capsule form for internal use.
Amalaki
Amalaki is a potent herb that is highly revered in Ayurvedic tradition. It is one of the three herbs in the powerful Ayurvedic digestive formula Triphala. It is a fruit that nourishes tissues and detoxifies the body. Amalaki removes excess pitta from the system, cleanses the digestive tract, stimulates Agni or our digestive fire, and is a natural antioxidant. It is typically taken alone instead of Triphala for those with excess Pitta in their digestive tract. You can take Amalaki in capsule form or as tea.
Pitta Balancing Tonic
Ingredients:
Tsp dried hibiscus power
¼ tsp Amalaki
2 cups hot water
Fresh mint
Tsp of honey
Directions:
Place Hibiscus and Amalaki in a teapot or mug and pour hot water over them. Steep for five minutes.
Muddle a few fresh mint leaves and place them at the bottom of a mug.
Strain the mixture and pour it into the mug. Add maple syrup and stir. Let it cool slightly before drinking and enjoy it fresh.
