According to Ayurveda, it's important to maintain balance. When a person's dosha becomes imbalanced, they may experience physical, mental and emotional health issues. That's why it's important to understand what each dosha imbalance looks like so you can guard against it. Learn about the characteristics of a Pitta imbalance below.
What causes a Pitta imbalance?
A Pitta imbalance results from a build up of hot, dry, fiery, sharp, spreading, subtle and clear qualities. This can happen if you're participating in activities that aggravate Pitta, like:- Eating Pitta aggravating foods (hot, light, spicy, pungent, salty, sour foods)
- Getting too much sun
- Consuming stimulants, like coffee and alcohol
- Emotional stress
- Pushing yourself too hard
If you're naturally dominated by the Pitta dosha, you're more likely to build up Pitta qualities. However, it's important to note that Vata and Kapha types can also succumb to a Pitta imbalance, especially during Pitta season.
Pitta Imbalance Symptoms
A Pitta imbalance can cause a number of unwanted side effects. A person with an imbalanced Pitta may experience physical, mental and emotional health issues.
Physical Symptoms
- Skin conditions such as acne, hives, rashes, dermatitis, or eczema
- Digestion issues like intense hunger, excessive thirst, heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers, loose stools or diarrhea, gastritis
- Hot flashes, fevers and excessive sweating
- Strong body odor
- Early graying of the hair (or falling out)
- Eye conditions and extreme sensitivity to light
- Inflammation, redness, infections, puffiness, and swelling
Mental Symptoms
- Overly critical
- Argumentative
- Judgmental
- Perfectionism
- Controlling
- Opinionated
Emotional Symptoms
- Anger
- Irritability
- Impatience
- Frustration
- Aggression
- Resentment
- Hatred
- Hostility
- Jealousy
How to Guard Against Pitta Imbalance
To maintain balance, a Pitta type needs to eat a Pitta balancing diet and engage in activities that embody the qualities opposite of their dosha. This means that they want to embrace a lifestyle that features cool, heavy, dense, slow, dull and static qualities. This will prevent Pitta from going into excess. However, even if you are not a Pitta type, you should embrace these qualities if you suspect a potential Pitta imbalance.